2021 World Series Rematch: Houston Astros (77-43) at Atlanta Braves (73-47)

[81usaf92]

Lee did this last night, allowed 3 of the first 4 he face to reach base. Now he’s screwed over again.

Now we are going to Stephens. Ugh!

Why is it always Lee and Stephens back to back out of the bullpen?

because Uncle Fester has as much clue of how to manage a game as Fire Marshall Bob has on fire safety.

 

[BamaInBham]

Atlanta probably needs to win 30 of 39 to win the division because the Mets have a much more favorable schedule. 22 games at home vs 15 for the Braves and 11 games vs winning teams vs 16. The Mets play 20 games vs divisional last place teams: Wash 6, Col 4, Pitt 7, Oak 3. Wash, Pitt and Oak are sub .400. The Braves do play 14 against last place teams which will help. At least the 3 remaining games vs the Mets are at home.

The WC will be much tougher row to hoe this year: An extra round and probably going through both LA and East champ before the WS rather than only LA.

Of course crazy things happen in baseball and the Mets have injuries and they are the Mets. But IMO, their offense is underrated and their pitching can be frightening with deGrom and Scherzer and the other starters have been good.

OTOH, the Braves are very close to being a great team with a great lineup, a good bench, and very good starting pitching but the bullpen is only OK and then there is the mgr. And the lineup has played without the "real" Acuna, as well as Albies. IMO, they have the best lineup in baseball. Top to bottom, lefty and righty, multiple base stealers, though not always good at situational hitting, but impressed with BS subbing d'Arnaud to put the ball in play for the game winner on Sat.

He seems to be a good clubhouse guy like Bobby, which is important and underrated, but unlike Bobby not a lot beyond that. Buck is much better on the bench but IIRC, some of his teams have had a history of fading down the stretch - I could be wrong. If true, there may have been legitimate reasons such as injury or "their lack of talent was exposed", etc. He's made the playoffs 5 times and won one post season series in 21 previous years; though as usual it's mostly the players - but the mgr does matter.

 

[81usaf92]

Atlanta probably needs to win 30 of 39 to win the division because the Mets have a much more favorable schedule. 22 games at home vs 15 for the Braves and 11 games vs winning teams vs 16. The Mets play 20 games vs divisional last place teams: Wash 6, Col 4, Pitt 7, Oak 3. Wash, Pitt and Oak are sub .400. The Braves do play 14 against last place teams which will help. At least the 3 remaining games vs the Mets are at home.

The WC will be much tougher row to hoe this year: An extra round and probably going through both LA and East champ before the WS rather than only LA.

Of course crazy things happen in baseball and the Mets have injuries and they are the Mets. But IMO, their offense is underrated and their pitching can be frightening with deGrom and Scherzer and the other starters have been good.

OTOH, the Braves are very close to being a great team with a great lineup, a good bench, and very good starting pitching but the bullpen is only OK and then there is the mgr. And the lineup has played without the "real" Acuna, as well as Albies. IMO, they have the best lineup in baseball. Top to bottom, lefty and righty, multiple base stealers, though not always good at situational hitting, but impressed with BS subbing d'Arnaud to put the ball in play for the game winner on Sat.

He seems to be a good clubhouse guy like Bobby, which is important and underrated, but unlike Bobby not a lot beyond that. Buck is much better on the bench but IIRC, some of his teams have had a history of fading down the stretch - I could be wrong. If true, there may have been legitimate reasons such as injury or "their lack of talent was exposed", etc. He's made the playoffs 5 times and won one post season series in 21 previous years; though as usual it's mostly the players - but the mgr does matter.

Roster to roster and lineup to lineup the Braves are overwhelmingly a better team than the Mets except at LF, SS, CP, and the two aces. But the aces are probably closer than what people think. The main difference is managers. Buck has the Mets winning alot more games than they really should while Snitker gets in the way of games that the Braves have no business losing. You bring up the D’arnaud play… yeah it was great but it was a great play that should have never happened but did because of Snitker. In the bottom of the 8th the Astros walked two with no outs… basic math tells you that bunting two over and forcing them to face your 3 and 4 hitters with 2 in scoring position is a far Better decision. But Snitker has Dansby swinging for the fences and Riley grounds into a DP to end the inning. That’s classic Snitker… BTW the Braves have yet to have a sacrifice bunt this entire season.

If I was to predict a LCS it would be the Braves and Mets and it’s purely because San Diego doesn’t know who they are after the Tatis ruling came out and the Dodgers are going to struggle in a best of 5 without Buehler.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

He seems to be a good clubhouse guy like Bobby, which is important and underrated, but unlike Bobby not a lot beyond that. Buck is much better on the bench but IIRC, some of his teams have had a history of fading down the stretch - I could be wrong. If true, there may have been legitimate reasons such as injury or "their lack of talent was exposed", etc. He's made the playoffs 5 times and won one post season series in 21 previous years; though as usual it's mostly the players - but the mgr does matter.

You're sort of but not exactly correct here.

What his teams do is:
a) start out pretty good, usually better than before he arrived
b) bob up and win a division title 2nd or 3rd year there
c) lose in the postseason, usually pretty badly
d) regress to the previous year and never do anything again

The most probable scenario BASED on Showalter's past is that the Mets win the division this year and crumble in the first round of the playoffs.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

In the bottom of the 8th the Astros walked two with no outs… basic math tells you that bunting two over and forcing them to face your 3 and 4 hitters with 2 in scoring position is a far Better decision. But Snitker has Dansby swinging for the fences and Riley grounds into a DP to end the inning. That’s classic Snitker… BTW the Braves have yet to have a sacrifice bunt this entire season.

This stat is absolutely insane - in August.

 

[BamaInBham]

Roster to roster and lineup to lineup the Braves are overwhelmingly a better team than the Mets except at LF, SS, CP, and the two aces. But the aces are probably closer than what people think. The main difference is managers. Buck has the Mets winning alot more games than they really should while Snitker gets in the way of games that the Braves have no business losing. You bring up the D’arnaud play… yeah it was great but it was a great play that should have never happened but did because of Snitker. In the bottom of the 8th the Astros walked two with no outs… basic math tells you that bunting two over and forcing them to face your 3 and 4 hitters with 2 in scoring position is a far Better decision. But Snitker has Dansby swinging for the fences and Riley grounds into a DP to end the inning. That’s classic Snitker… BTW the Braves have yet to have a sacrifice bunt this entire season.

If I was to predict a LCS it would be the Braves and Mets and it’s purely because San Diego doesn’t know who they are after the Tatis ruling came out and the Dodgers are going to struggle in a best of 5 without Buehler.

The Mets are also equal or better at 1B and 2B, at least at the plate. As I said, I still think the Braves have the better lineup and depth, but the Mets are better offensively than many think.

I agree regarding the top of the starting staffs, in fact, the Braves top 3: MF, KW and SS are almost equal to the Mets top 3, which is all that will be used in the playoffs except for game 4s. I'm assuming it will be MF, KW, SS in that order with CM starting any game game 4s or other games needed to ensure enough rest for the top 3.

 

[81usaf92]

The Mets are also equal or better at 1B and 2B, at least at the plate. As I said, I still think the Braves have the better lineup and depth, but the Mets are better offensively than many think.

I agree regarding the top of the starting staffs, in fact, the Braves top 3: MF, KW and SS are almost equal to the Mets top 3, which is all that will be used in the playoffs except for game 4s. I'm assuming it will be MF, KW, SS in that order with CM starting any game game 4s or other games needed to ensure enough rest for the top 3.

1st base I would still take Olsen over the Bear. Alonso is basically a home run derby champ and nothing else. Basically Adam Dunn 2.0.

2nd base really depends on Ozzie but Vaughan is equal or better. I would call it a push at worst.

Depth wise the Mets are a joke. Seriously look at who they have behind their lineup and in their pen besides their starters. Aside from Scherzer and DeGrom up front they go to average and mediocre. Their relief outside of Diaz is very meh. If it comes down to an October pen game then only the Stros or Dodgers really have a comparable pen to the Braves. Our problem with our pen is Snitker and Snitker alone. Canaha is probably their best bench player. We have 2 of Vaughan, Ozzie, Rosario, and Grossman to choose from when we get Ozzie back.

The Mets are just far inferior as a team than the Braves and they have just been better about winning the games that they should and breaking even or better on the ones that they shouldn’t. They are just better managed. No they aren’t empty calories like their crosstown rivals but they aren’t really in the Dodgers, Braves, and Stros level of talent or depth like everyone tries to make them out to be.

 

[UAH]

A great story in an otherwise mediocre MLB season for one of the genuinely nicest guys in the sport.

A Hot Streak Has ‘Grandpa’ Pujols Chasing 700 Homers

Albert Pujols was hitting .189 on July 4. Since then, he has hit .408 with nine home runs. Could he join a club only occupied by Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth?

Then something changed. Whether he felt healthier, his opportunities got better or some sort of desperation kicked in will be left for the biographers to sort out, but since that 0-fer on July 4, Pujols has found his old Cardinals form. In a 28-game stretch through Sunday, he hit .408 with a .459 on-base percentage and .829 slugging percentage. His batting average since July 5 leads all players (min. 80 plate appearances), but more important, he has hit nine home runs, pushing him to 692 for his career.

NY Times Article

 

[BhamToTexas]

After the debacle in New York, we have really gone on a great stretch against some tough teams. NY and Houston could have buried us this past week. The next month should be fun!