(09-24-2020, 08:25 AM)Mick Wrote:(09-24-2020, 08:06 AM)Phogge Wrote: Belt has fooled everybody. He is laying off the pitches that have skunked him in the past, the breaking ball in and down and the high fastball away. He has played great defense. I’m shocked. The team’s best player is Watson otherwise it’s MVP by committee: Yaz, Belt, Dick, Slater even Dubon.
Most of them are having career best OPS years, as I'd posted separately. In fact, I think all of the top 10 hitters, outside of Longoria, were career best. Wish it were the case for the pitchers.
60 is different than 162. And the way the park has been playing is a gigantic (can’t use the h word because of the juvenile auto change) factor. But it’s been nice to see the hitting. Pitching probably suffers a bit due to the park changing.
(09-24-2020, 03:27 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: You’d think each day of the last week would bring more clarity, but you would be wrong.
First of all, the Phillies stayed alive by finally beating the Nats, but they still get the Rays to finish. The Reds nosed ahead of everyone and really hurt the Brewers by taking that series. The Marlins continue falling and have now put themselves in position where they pretty much have to win their last game against the Braves today, and take their series at the Yankees. Not to be outdone are the Cardinals who dropped a game to the Royals that made their lives more difficult. And then there are the Giants who are now one win against the Rockies today from needing just one win vs. Padres out of four tries to likely make it to post season. Basically, it’s still a free for all for four playoff spots; both wild cards and the #2 in East and Central.
The Giants will benefit from Padres injury misfortune with SP Mike Clevinger. He was scheduled to start Game 1 of Playoffs, but he is now in doubt, so one of the Padres better starters will not pitch against the Giants as a result, so he can be ready for more important duty.
Cardinals 27-26 (5 Brewers)*
Giants 28-27 (Rockies, 4 Padres)
Reds 29-28 (3 Twins)
Marlins 28-28 (Braves, 3 Yankees)
Brewers 27-28 (5 Cardinals)
Phillies 28-29 (3 Rays)
* Will only play 58 games unless needed, and it looks like they could be. Will play double header at Detroit on Monday if standings dictate.
Don’t think the Reds have it easy. They are playing a Twins team desperately trying to avoid playing the Yankees in first round, a team that has historically dominated them in playoffs.
It looks to me the #2 NL East team could very well finish under .500.
Honestly, it looks like the Giants have the easiest path. Win 2/5 and they will be in. That said, finishing 30-30, likely in tie with Reds, gives them the #8 spot and the Dodgers as Reds have better in division record. That said, getting blasted by Braves won’t be any more fun. This said, must beat the Rockies today to have a realistic chance of making post season.
Clevinger was not going to face the Giants. He started Wednesday. His next start was going to be game 1 of playoffs. Hope he gets healthy. Pads have best chance to beat Dodgers.
What will be interesting is how the Pads play the series. They have locked the 4 seed and can’t move up. So I suspect it will be a dance of playing the regulars just enough to keep them fresh. That may help the Giants a bit. (I vacillate on whether the 7 inning DH on Friday is good for the Giants. I suppose it’s better than having played one more in SD at a time when the Pads were smoking hot)