Baseball

[Mapman]

That was a great first game for the Phillies; everyone in the starting lineup got a hit.

I also saw part of the Rays/Rangers game. The Rays' defense was embarrassing for a playoff team.

[vers la flamme]

That was a great first game for the Phillies; everyone in the starting lineup got a hit.

I also saw part of the Rays/Rangers game. The Rays' defense was embarrassing for a playoff team.

The Rays have always been a letdown in the playoffs, one of the reasons why I never became a fan despite growing up in southwest Florida. Phillies played a good game last night, I agree.  So did Arizona. Definitely some impressive defensive plays.

[ando]

Phils were definitely pumped. They're great at CB Park...

It's another story out of town.

[vers la flamme]

Great couple of nights to be a Phillies fan. That was a speedy wild card series

[ando]

Great couple of nights to be a Phillies fan. That was a speedy wild card series

[vers la flamme]

Phils were definitely pumped. They're great at CB Park...

It's another story out of town.

.

Your boys kicked some ass in Truist Park tonight. Maybe that famous home field advantage will get them game 2 tomorrow night. Not a promising start to the postseason for the Braves.

Edit: Dbacks off to a good start tonight too.

[Mapman]

Your boys kicked some ass in Truist Park tonight. Maybe that famous home field advantage will get them game 2 tomorrow night. Not a promising start to the postseason for the Braves.

Yep, a great game 1 for the Phillies. I thought that this would be the hardest game for them to win (in Atlanta, and against Strider). But Harper's aggressive base-running and home run combined with impressive pitching were able to win the game. (And you don't see catcher's interference often!)

[ando]

.

Your boys kicked some ass in Truist Park tonight. Maybe that famous home field advantage will get them game 2 tomorrow night. Not a promising start to the postseason for the Braves.

Edit: Dbacks off to a good start tonight too.

Yep. Still early, tho. Good crew chat below. Pedro is right about attitude during the playoffs. So much of the game is psych.

[vers la flamme]

Yep, a great game 1 for the Phillies. I thought that this would be the hardest game for them to win (in Atlanta, and against Strider). But Harper's aggressive base-running and home run combined with impressive pitching were able to win the game. (And you don't see catcher's interference often!)

Hmm, for some reason I thought game two would be at home for y'all but it looks like the Phillies will have another chance to repeat that road win tomorrow. I thought it was questionable what the Phillies pitching coach was doing changing guys out so frequently, especially taking Suarez out so early after a few great innings, but it certainly worked out.

Dodgers/Dbacks was a massacre last night. I feel bad for Clayton Kershaw. I don't know what's going on with the Dodgers in the postseason lately.

[ando]

Hmm, for some reason I thought game two would be at home for y'all but it looks like the Phillies will have another chance to repeat that road win tomorrow.

Yeah... did a double take. Playoff schedule. If Atlanta is Atlanta there will certainly not be a repeat tonight.

I thought it was questionable what the Phillies pitching coach was doing changing guys out so frequently, especially taking Suarez out so early after a few great innings, but it certainly worked out.

But it's been about the strength of bullpens all season, imo. We're obviously watching the demise of the superstar pitcher who can carry a game. I'm talking at least 7 innings. And complete games?

[ando]

Dodgers/Dbacks was a massacre last night. I feel bad for Clayton Kershaw. I don't know what's going on with the Dodgers in the postseason lately.

Dave Roberts: He's gonna pitch game four.

[vers la flamme]

Dave Roberts: He's gonna pitch game four.

Good... poor guy needs to redeem himself. I would hate for a moment like that to mar an unquestionably illustrious career.

Yeah... did a double take. Playoff schedule. If Atlanta is Atlanta there will certainly not be a repeat tonight.
But it's been about the strength of bullpens all season, imo. We're obviously watching the demise of the superstar pitcher who can carry a game. I'm talking at least 7 innings. And complete games?

Strider pitched a great 7 last night. (With the caveat, of course, that it wasn't enough to win the game  )

[ando]

I confess that I tuned out of the Rangers-Orioles game once Texas got up 9-2 but never count the Birds completely out...

[vers la flamme]

I confess that I tuned out of the Rangers-Orioles game once Texas got up 9-2 but never count the Birds completely out...

It was a great game! Hicks' three run homer in the bottom of the 9th was definitely a sight to be seen. Too little too late, unfortunately, but an impressive late game rally nonetheless.

Speaking of game-carrying pitchers, Pablo López just pitched a beautiful 7 innings (so far) against the Astros.

[ando]

It was a great game! Hicks' three run homer in the bottom of the 9th was definitely a sight to be seen. Too little too late, unfortunately, but an impressive late game rally nonetheless.

Speaking of game-carrying pitchers, Pablo López just pitched a beautiful 7 innings (so far) against the Astros.

Yeah, Valdez was certainly struggling early. Good to see the Twins pull it out.

[Mapman]

Speaking of game-carrying pitchers, Pablo López just pitched a beautiful 7 innings (so far) against the Astros.

And tonight's Phillies/Braves game (Wheeler and Fried) has the potential for more game-carrying pitchers!

[ando]

Ha. If Wheeler goes 6 I'll be surprised.

Wondering about the AL/NL alternating playoff nights schedule. Can't say the type of baseball play is any different between the two leagues. Must be some contractural agreement with networks.

[Mapman]

Ha. If Wheeler goes 6 I'll be surprised.

Wondering about the AL/NL alternating playoff nights schedule. Can't say the type of baseball play is any different between the two leagues. Must be some contractural agreement with networks.

I'll be surprised if Wheeler doesn't pitch at least 6 innings. (But Thomson already surprised me with how early he pulled Suarez.)

I think the alternating nights of AL and NL are mostly so there are no days without any baseball, since they like days off for travel. This did put a lot of off days in the NL schedule, though. (My memory from previous years is that they started the series on different days, so that the position of days off within the series were the same.)

[ando]

This did put a lot of off days in the NL schedule, though.

Ya. Phillies have been sitting around since Saturday. No traveling. Just waiting for Atlanta to regroup! 

[Mapman]

Wheeler has thrown more pitches than usual, but he has 6 strikeouts through 2 innings.