September 2015 game thread

Red(s)HawksFan · Sep 30, 2015

E5 Yaz said:
The fascinating thing about the Astros is that they've allowed the fewest runs in the AL and have the second best differential ... which really adds to the perception that, because of the pen's problems, they're losing a lot of close games.

Houston has won 6 of its last 10, so if they can finish well in Seattle and Arizona, they might have a chance of getting back in as a WC if one team dominates the Rangers-Angels series

Houston's problem, and it's been ongoing all year, not just of late, is that they are practically a different team at home versus on the road. They sport the league's worst record on the road (30-47). They might be 6-4 in their last 10 games, but that includes 8 games at home (with all of the home losses coming to the streaking Angels).

I'm not sure their road problems can be laid at the feet of the bullpen exclusively, but it's those road problems that are a big part of their "collapse" out of the division lead. They went 2-8 on a road trip through the division (@OAK, @LAA, @TEX) a couple weeks ago, going from 2 up in the division to 2.5 back. They really haven't recovered from that despite the intervening home stand (5-4).

terrynever · Sep 30, 2015

Cervelli with a grand slam off Wacha in the fourth for a 5-1 Pittsburgh lead. Bucs stranded 16 in Tuesday night's killer loss.

Al Zarilla · Sep 30, 2015

Matt Carpenter, Cards best power hitter this year, launches one into the Allegheny River. Man, that river is brown with all kinds of stuff floating in it. 435 foot homer by Carpenter.

E5 Yaz · Sep 30, 2015

What the hell is going on with that guy's head?

terrynever · Sep 30, 2015

Al Zarilla said:
Matt Carpenter, Cards best power hitter this year, launches one into the Allegheny River. Man, that river is brown with all kinds of stuff floating in it. 435 foot homer by Carpenter.

You could walk across the sludge in that river in the 1960s. Lot better since they shut the steel mills down.

Al Zarilla · Sep 30, 2015

terrynever said:
You could walk across the sludge in that river in the 1960s. Lot better since they shut the steel mills down.

In McCovey Cove, beyond right field at AT&T park, guys in Kayaks dive for "splash hits". Guess they don't do that at PNC, huh?

valentinscycle · Sep 30, 2015

Cespedes just hit on his hand, taken out for x-rays, Greater Queens holds its breath.

canderson · Sep 30, 2015

Cespedes' hand looked like it was shattered. Good luck in the playoffs without him.

Edit: reports say bruising, no breaks. Holy cow they got lucky if true.

The Napkin · Sep 30, 2015

Al Zarilla said:
In McCovey Cove, beyond right field at AT&T park, guys in Kayaks dive for "splash hits". Guess they don't do that at PNC, huh?

It's rained about 25 feet the last couple days, there's lots of downed tress and flood water making it look worse than it really is.

Wingack · Oct 1, 2015

I wonder if MLB is going to make any special arrangements because of Hurricane Joaquin potentially making landfall on Sunday, such as scheduling double headers for Saturday. That would really screw up pitching plans teams had made.

Red(s)HawksFan · Oct 1, 2015

Wingack said:
I wonder if MLB is going to make any special arrangements because of Hurricane Joaquin potentially making landfall on Sunday, such as scheduling double headers for Saturday. That would really screw up pitching plans teams had made.

Looking at the games scheduled in the potentially affected area, how many really have to be played at all? Here are the games that could potentially be impacted, even marginally (depending on storm track and timing):

Nationals @ Mets
Yankees @ Orioles
Marlins @ Phillies
Cardinals @ Braves

Blue Jays @ Rays
Reds @ Pirates
Red Sox @ Indians

The last three are probably only glancing blows and rain at most, if they are affected at all. Of the other four games, the only one that might still have any post-season implications is Nats/Mets, and only for the sake of deciding home field between the Mets and Dodgers. They're only a game apart now with three games to play before Sunday, so its necessity could be negated.

The Marlins and Phillies are out of it, so they can be cancelled if necessary. The Cards have everything sewn up, so their game with the Braves doesn't need to be played either. And as long as the Yankees win once before Sunday, their fate is sealed and Sunday's game is irrelevant.

So at most, MLB may have to decide whether to play two at Citi Field on Saturday or take their chances.

ifmanis5 · Oct 1, 2015

Here's the Cradinals cheating last night and getting away with it. And of course nobody cares... LINK: http://deadspin.com/jon-jay-accidentally-fakes-a-ground-rule-double-pre-1733937498

TSC · Oct 1, 2015

That's not cheating.

Red(s)HawksFan · Oct 1, 2015

It's not clear in the video at the link...did the umps call it a ground rule double and stop the runners, or did the runners stop on their own (or at their base coach's instruction)?

If the umps were fooled, it's on them and there's not much that can be done.

If the Pirates runners/coaches were fooled, shame on them for not running until they were told to stop. Umps can put them back at 2nd and 3rd on a ground rule double, but they can't gift them 3rd or home because they got suckered into stopping when they didn't have to.

E5 Yaz · Oct 2, 2015

Rangers have clinched a playoff spot, and are close to clinching the ALWest.

That leaves three teams -- Astros, Angels and Twins -- for the final spot.

Astros (84-75) have Keuchel Friday night at Arizona (De La Rosa); Note: Astros play final 3 games of season under NL rules
Angels (83-76) throw Weaver against the Rangers (Perez) in Arlington.
Twins (83-76) start Santana at home against KC (Young)

KC's motivation would be to secure best record in the AL; tied with Toronto

Al Zarilla · Oct 2, 2015

The Napkin said:
It's rained about 25 feet the last couple days, there's lots of downed tress and flood water making it look worse than it really is.

Well, rain is good, says the drought area dweller.

E5 Yaz · Oct 2, 2015

AL tiebreaker scenarios

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13792891/explaining-al-west-wild-card-tiebreaker-scenarios

Deathofthebambino · Oct 2, 2015

Arrieta dealing again. Through 5, he's given up 2 hits, no walks, 6 k's, no runs. Chicago leads 4-0. He's now up to 106.1 innings since the AS Break. He's given up 9 earned runs in that time, and has given up only 55 hits, 23 walks, and has struck out 112.

Those are fucking outrageous numbers.

tims4wins · Oct 2, 2015

Pedro 99-00. Outstanding

Deathofthebambino · Oct 2, 2015

The scary part is that Arrieta has gotten even stronger as the second half has moved along. In his last 66 innings (including tonight), he's given up TWO earned runs, 30 hits, 7 walks, 72 k's.

tims4wins · Oct 2, 2015

Pretty much guarantees he gives up 4-5 runs in 4-5 innings in his first playoff start

axx · Oct 2, 2015

tims4wins said:
Pretty much guarantees he gives up 4-5 runs in 4-5 innings in his first playoff start

This is the Cubs though; he's more likely to lose the WCG 1-0 on a fluke error

jon abbey · Oct 3, 2015

E5 Yaz said:
Rangers have clinched a playoff spot, and are close to clinching the ALWest.

That leaves three teams -- Astros, Angels and Twins -- for the final spot.

Astros (84-75) have Keuchel Friday night at Arizona (De La Rosa); Note: Astros play final 3 games of season under NL rules
Angels (83-76) throw Weaver against the Rangers (Perez) in Arlington.
Twins (83-76) start Santana at home against KC (Young)

KC's motivation would be to secure best record in the AL; tied with Toronto

LAA wins, MIN loses, HOU is up 17-2 in the 7th (!!!). So one more HOU win eliminates MIN, two more HOU wins get them in. Two HOU wins coupled with two TEX losses would leave them tied for the division and having to play a 163rd game to see who wins the division and who plays NY in the wild card game.

Also worth noting that Keuchel threw 98 pitches tonight and has never gone on three days rest, so a bit less likely he would get the Tuesday start against NY.

Also KC and TOR still tied for the #1 seed at 93-67 (TOR wins the tiebreaker) and LAD are up 6-2 in the 9th, which would put them 1/2 game ahead of NYM (who got rained out) for the #2 seed and home field in their NLDS matchup.

jon abbey · Oct 3, 2015

I wonder if piling on like that is going to hurt them in these next two games, which they desperately need (well, if LAA can keep winning anyway).

Brand Name · Oct 3, 2015

Houston broke its record for most runs in a single game tonight, previously 19 twice, most recently 5/11/99 against the Pirates.

The Reds are currently on a 13 game losing streak that started September 20th. Their last 14 game losing streak, for a single season, was in 1937, lasting September 21st to October 3rd (they lost the first two of 1938, so it became technically a 16 gamer). Uncanny, nearly the same start date, and possible end date. Amazing stuff.

E5 Yaz · Oct 3, 2015

The best thing going in the Astros favor is that the Rangers actually need to beat the Angels ... so Texas can clinch the division. Wins by Houston and Texas on Saturday give each of them what they want.

If the Astros do somehow get what they want Saturday, they could conceivably hold back McCullers from his scheduled Sunday starts, and have him go Tuesday. If Keuchel is ruled out, the only other alternative would be Kazmir, who's been getting hit hard

Red(s)HawksFan · Oct 3, 2015

jon abbey said:
I wonder if piling on like that is going to hurt them in these next two games, which they desperately need (well, if LAA can keep winning anyway).

How could it hurt them? Are runs a finite commodity? The biggest thing it does is force the Dbacks to run through their pen. Less of a big deal with expanded rosters, but still weakens them for the remaining two games.

If the Astros lose today and/or tomorrow, it won't be because they "piled on" last night.

Mugsy's Jock · Oct 3, 2015

Red(s)HawksFan said:
How could it hurt them? Are runs a finite commodity? The biggest thing it does is force the Dbacks to run through their pen. Less of a big deal with expanded rosters, but still weakens them for the remaining two games.
If the Astros lose today and/or tomorrow, it won't be because they "piled on" last night.

Becuz Belicheat and karma!

jon abbey · Oct 3, 2015

Dunno, maybe it pisses off/wakes up an otherwise sleepwalking Arizona team. It's adorable when people are condescending for no reason though, so thanks for that.

jon abbey · Oct 3, 2015

soxhop411 said:
Oh Reds

@BNightengale: The #Reds' 13-game losing streak is longest since 1945; but #Reds still plan on bringing back manager Bryan Price.

They've started rookie pitchers for something like 60 consecutive games, no need to punish the manager for what is clearly an organizational decision to rebuild. That losing streak has pushed them into the #1 pick, Price may get a bonus.

jon abbey · Oct 3, 2015

Bryce Harper with his 42nd HR puts a dent in the Mets' hopes for home field, WAS up 3-1 now in the 8th.

geoduck no quahog · Oct 3, 2015

Watching the Ranger/Angels game.

I can't believe how much I hate the Ranger's schtick (not the players). Unbearable artificial noise between every pitch...and fucking idiot cheerleaders running with Texas flags over the pitcher's eye when the Rangers score.

Imagine cheerleaders on the Monster waving Massachusetts' flags, or the Twins with Minnesota flags. Marlins - Florida, etc. I fucking hate Texas.

Unless they play the Yankees.

jon abbey · Oct 3, 2015

Mets lose their 4th straight, likely blowing home field for the Dodgers series. LA have Greinke and Kershaw going tonight and tomorrow, 2 wins get them the #2 seed.

E5 Yaz · Oct 3, 2015

Twins have the bases loaded and one out in the B9, trailing 5-1 to KC. A loss eliminates the Twins (I think).

rembrat · Oct 3, 2015

The Rangers are going off the Angels right now. 2HRs in the inning. They now lead 10-6.

E5 Yaz · Oct 3, 2015

Twins fall ... if LAAAAAAAAAofA lose, Astros need one win in final two games (or an Angels loss tomorrow) to clinch a spot

jon abbey · Oct 3, 2015

E5 Yaz said:
Twins have the bases loaded and one out in the B9, trailing 5-1 to KC. A loss eliminates the Twins (I think).

Wade Davis comes in and ends that, 2 Ks and MIN is eliminated.

rembrat · Oct 3, 2015

Devastating news for the Yankees.

E5 Yaz · Oct 3, 2015

KC has 94 wins to Toronto's 93 ... in case that's the eventual matchup

jon abbey · Oct 3, 2015

E5 Yaz said:
KC has 94 wins to Toronto's 93 ... in case that's the eventual matchup

KC has played one more though, TOR still in the driver's seat if they win their last two.

rembrat · Oct 3, 2015

Sam Dyson. Who is this guy?

canderson · Oct 3, 2015

IF Houston wins out and NY loses 1/2, doesn't Houston host the WC card game?

axx · Oct 3, 2015

canderson said:
IF Houston wins out and NY loses 1/2, doesn't Houston host the WC card game?

The Yankees have to lose both of their remaining games.

Dehere · Oct 3, 2015

No, HOU must win out and Yankees lose out for HOU to host that game.

September 2015 game thread

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