bobq : Yep, and not all of them are even there. 2 runs or less in their last 5 games and 2 of their pitchers are injured.

I can't really comprehend what's been going on with Yoenis Cespedes lately. He was a great player before he went to the Mets, he started playing even better when he got there, and now, I'm completely shocked at how he has been playing over these last few days in what could be one of the best streaks of the year.

In just 10 games this month, he had hit 7 home runs and has 7 multiple hit games which included 3 3 hit games. He had 16 RBI's, had scored at least 14 runs, and had 8 game streaks for hits and runs. His 19 hits and 13 extra base hits it 10 games are both just extraordinary. When he came to the Mets he was 3rd place in Xtra base hits, which is already really good and had fewer than 20 home runs, yet now he has the most XBH, and is maybe 2 weeks away from 40 home runs, and even has more RBI's than Harper, 5th most in baseball actually.

I will most likely have ordered this by 8PM tonight.

Today is the day for the Mets.

https://mobile.twitter.com/nymets18/status/647812673023963136/photo/1

Wow, Chris Sale just got his 270th Strikeout of the season. Of course it's not close to the 294 that Kershaw has, but it broke a record for the most K's in a season by a White Sox pitcher. What makes it even more cool is that having 2 pitchers in a season throw 270 K's is something that's quite rare these days. Heck, in the last 10 years there has been a few seasons where no pitcher even passed 250. The last time 2 threw 270+ each was in 2002 when Johnson and Schilling threw 334 and 316.

Wow, Chris Sale just got his 270th Strikeout of the season. Of course it's not close to the 294 that Kershaw has, but it broke a record for the most K's in a season by a White Sox pitcher. What makes it even more cool is that having 2 pitchers in a season throw 270 K's is something that's quite rare these days. Heck, in the last 10 years there has been a few seasons where no pitcher even passed 250. The last time 2 threw 270+ each was in 2002 when Johnson and Schilling threw 334 and 316.

Well the Reds season has been pretty dreadful to say the least. 63-97 and only the Phillies have a worse record in the MLB. Totally pathetic, at least Cincy's got a good NFL team in the Bengals to cheer for.

I'm gonna do a little breakdown of the NLDS series between the Mets and Dodgers. I'm actually one of the few people who didn't want home field advantage for the Mets because they would have no chance at winning with Kershaw and Grienke pitching at Citi Field. I mean heck, Kersh has a complete game shutout at Citi while the Mets beat him in LA, and their batting would do much better on the road.

The first 3 games of the series should be an easy matchup for the Mets.

Degrom has been doing really well against both LA and on the road this season. He played LA at home once and threw 7.2 shutout innings, and has given up 3 earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 15 road games.

Syndergaard has won each of his last two decisions on the road and over his last 3 road games, has a 2.29 ERA. Also in his only start in LA, gave up 1 run over 6 IP.

Then you have Harvey starting game 3 at home and he has given up 1 earned run or fewer in 6 of his last 7 home starts.

The Mets can easily win 2 of the 1st 3 behind those guys before things get really unpredictable.

The Houston Astros have won the Wild Card game, and will move on to face the Royals in the ALDS!

Now, the Cubs just need to beat the Pirates tomorrow, and it will be the best possible result.

I'm hoping for the following:

Blue Jays beat the Rangers
Astros beat the Royals
Dodgers beat the Mets
Cubs/Pirates beat the Cardinals

Astros beat the Blue Jays
Cubs/Pirates beat the Cardinals

Cubs/Pirates beat the Astros.

I'm expecting this to happen though:

Blue Jays beat the Rangers
Royals beat the Astros
Mets beat the Dodgers
Cardinals beat the Cubs/Pirates

Blue Jays beat the Royals
Cardinals beat the Mets

Cardinals beat the Blue Jays.

Yuck, worst possible WS.

There was no way that the Yankees were going to win that. When you have a pitcher who's that good go up against a team that doesn't have an ace in a one game Elimination round, you're asking for trouble. The same goes for the Cubs, there's little doubt that the cubs can lose the game.

zanderlex :

Well, the issue wasn't that the Yankees couldn't hit Keuchel, the issue is they couldn't hit off their bullpen either. Their offense went ice cold at the exact wrong moment, and they were playing poorly over the last week too.

Add in Sabathia getting checked into rehab, and I just don't think they were in game mode for the game, which is why a Keuchel on 3 days rest and an ok but not great bullpen held them to like three hits at home.

legacyme3 : In general, Keuchel has been a beast against the Yankees all season long. First he had the complete game shutout against them and then 7 shutout innings, and now this. Had he been on more rest, I seriously doubt the Astros would have went to their bullpen at all.

zanderlex :

Sure, but even so, the fact of the matter is he has had three days of rest. That's nowhere close to enough rest.

I don't care if you are Noah Syndergaard, Nolan Ryan, Max Scherzer, or Cy Young.

You go on three days rest in a playoff game on the road, odds are, you are not going to go 6 IP and give up about 3 hits total, against a team that has such decent hitters (not a great team offensively, but there are no bad teams in the playoffs).

Had he been on normal rest, Keuchel would have pitched the whole game, and there'd have been no doubt as to the winner.

Well, today wasn't surprisng at all, the Cubs Pitching and hitting did what they sis best. Arrieta only continued his dominance with his 7 scorless innings and then you have the thing Kyle crushed. The NLDS with the Cardinals will really be something to watch during the entire series.

The only problem I had with the Cubs/Pirates game were the fans and the fact the Pirates intentionally hit Arrieta even though he clearly hit two Pirates by accident.

Get real, guys, Jake Arrieta, ace of the Cubs, didn't just intentionally plunk two of your guys when his team had a slim lead over you in a one game elimination, where if he loses, he goes home. Not with the pressures of winning in Chicago.

Loved Arrieta stealing second though. Perfect response to getting hit.

Go Cubs. I want them to win so bad.

So excited to see the Mets go into the NLCS, it was an exciting game and this is the first time I have ever been able to pay attention to them in the playoffs so its a big thing for me. Its also really cool to see the Cubs make it this far, and they will most likely going to win, but under the right conditions, the Mets can make it past them. Holding to get tickets for game 1.

Yesterday was a blast, I was at game 2 of the NLCS. I sat in field level seat, just behind the left field wall about 5 rows back. We got free Mets towels which worked well as scarves and I watched Noah Syndergaard and Daniel Murphy destroy the Cubs to take a 2-0 lead in the series. It was a very electric game and it was the 1st playoff game that I have ever been to. Hopefully the Mets can win 2 more and make it to the world series.

zanderlex : That's awesome. Kill the Cubs. As long as I live I never want to see them win a World Series. I live 90 miles from Chicago, IN Wisconsin though but the fans are everywhere. It's generally an indicator of low-IQ in these parts. lol

Barry Zito had just officially announced he's retiring earlier today. of course, he was always expected to retire, but it was just made official. He spent 7 years with the A's and then 7 years with the Giants before spending a final few games with the A's this season.

Since the start of the 2007 season with the Giants, he went 63-80, but thanks to his excellent career in Oakland, he retired with a 165-143 record, nearly 2000 Strikeouts, and a Cy Young award.

I haven't really followed much baseball this year. Seems like the more years that go on, the more bored I get with the game.

I've been watching some of the Cubs in the playoffs though. Looks like they are going to have a rough time winning more than one game this series with the way things are going. Cubs have already had their best two pitchers pitch and are down 0-2 in the series. They are coming home though and have hit well in their park, so hopefully that can turn the tides for them.

I'm actually a Sox fan but have been supporting the Cubs just because of the whole "City pride" thing.

well... its been an interesting ride for the jays... theyre currently down 12-2 in the 9th so Ill calk that up as a loss.

kc is up 3-1 in the series with I beleive estrada pitching in tomorrows game.

Jays traded away their farm and their future for a 2 year window to win the world series. It doesnt look great for them to take it all this season (although theyre fully capable of winning 3 straight games in the playoffs with the current team). 

Osuna, sanchez and stroman look like great pieces of the future, but the bullpen needs to be sewn up, and I have no idea what to expect from hutchison next season, or if price, estrada (and his personal catcher navarro) will be back.

Then theres the issue of what to do with tulo, goins and travis who are all middle infielders, when all have proven to be mlb caliber players. Call me crazy but Id like to see them trade tulo (who has a full no trade clause) and go younger. I feel like tulo can fetch the best return and can help improve the farm, the rotation and/or the bullpen.

Donaldsons going nowhere, Im not sure if they will pick up dickeys option, but they will certainly pick up encarnacion and bautistas options.

Whether or not price stays is to be determined, but if he walks, the jays will likely use that money to grab another starter (gallardo or zimmerman maybe).


That being said, I genuinely hope the cubs get their world series finally, but its not looking good. I just cant see kc losing. Their team is fast, great defensively, can hit in bunches, hit hrs, and their pitchers can limit big innings. The royals are hungry for world series redemption after getting so close last year. Should be a great next 2 weeks.