2024 Baseball Season

[Eizan 126]

Both got pretty stacked lineups and both have a pretty good 1-2 punch for starters. 

 

I think the Rangers/Phillies would be a entertaining WS. 

[dr. b 492]

It feels like the Phils could be any and every team right now. Like they find a different gear in October.

[Eizan 126]

Uh oh, Rangers in trouble. 

[dr. b 492]

I was pretty confident the Rangers would advance after going up 2-0, but at the same time I knew Houston had it in them to come back. They are a very tough and experienced team. I felt like Game 4 was must-win for Texas. Once they let Houston even it up to 2-2, it was over in my mind. Going back to Houston for Games 6 and maybe 7 really swings things in the Astros' favour. It will take a miracle now for Texas to turn it around. This is a bit reminiscent of their World Series against St. Louis where they just couldn't quite finish the job.

 

I'm happy to see the DBacks even up their series with the Phillies, though I am still quite confident in Philly. An upset would be cool too though. I just can't help but think about that damn trade the Jays did sending Moreno and Lourdes for Varsho...   

[Eizan 126]

So Seattle and the Blue Jays both have contributed to the DBacks postseason success?

 

Sewald has been good closing for them. 

 

If the Rangers win game 6, do they go to Scherzer again for game 7?

[dr. b 492]

Yeah, I don't get why the M's love trading their closers so much

 

I guess the Rangers don't have much choice but to use Scherzer if it comes down to Game 7... But I don't think they'll feel super good about it. He'll probably have a pretty short leash. His fastball was alright in his first start back, but the slider wasn't working. Maybe he can make some mechanical changes before the next start to be more effective. But if the slider isn't working then that makes it too easy for the Astros' hitters.

[Eizan 126]

Houston's weird struggles at home came to hurt them this series. They might have been better off as the Wild Card team instead of Texas. 

[dr. b 492]

Man, I did not see Texas coming back after blowing all three home games. Weird series. Props to the Rangers for being resilient. 
 

I expect Philly to win tonight… But if Arizona does then that will be interesting. 

[Eizan 126]

If Arizona wins at least someone new will win or someone who hasn't won it in 20+years. Hell, when did the Phillies last win? 2009? 

[dr. b 492]

Texas/Arizona in the World Series would be a pretty low combined win total for two WS teams. Very strong Wild Card vibes. Maybe not great markets for big TV numbers either. I guess tonight’s game will be rigged for Philly

[Eizan 126]

That was kind of a boring World Series, outside of game 1. 

[dr. b 492]

I thought it was a pretty decent series. Not the most memorable, but enjoyable. I miss baseball

[Eizan 126]

Ohtani signed with the Dodgers. 10 years for 700 million...did you think the Jays were even close in getting him? 

 

I uhh also have no idea what the Mariners are doing...aside from trimming pay roll. 

[dr. b 492]

Nope, I didn’t think for a second that the Jays would land Ohtani. 10 years / $700 million is nuts. Imagine how much the Jays would have had to over-pay on top of that to win the deal. You can’t build a team like that. Unless you’re the Dodgers

 

Seattle definitely appears to be clearing the decks to try to sign a big free agent. Maybe Snell or Bellinger? Yamamoto? Or are they losing money in their TV deal like how San Diego got messed around by Bally / Diamond Sports? That would also cause a team to cut payroll. 

[Eizan 126]

So it has to be World Series or bust for the Dodger right? 

 

Dave Roberts can't have a job if they fall any earlier next year? 

 

I think they've spent more in this offseason than the Mariners have in the last 5 years. 

[dr. b 492]

They spent over $1 billion just this month

 

Anything less than multiple World Series wins should be seen as disappointing for L.A.

[Eizan 126]

How you feeling about the Jays? 

 

I like the Mariners Rotation, but uhh not to thrilled about the line up. 

[dr. b 492]

I am setting expectations low for the Jays. They didn’t do much in the off-season to improve the team. Really though, the biggest improvement would be for Vlad to play up to his potential. They should have been a better team last year and would have been if Vlad was hitting like in 2021. 
 

I can see the Jays finishing 3rd or 4th in the AL East and missing the Wild Card. It feels like their narrow window of opportunity from a couple years ago might have closed already  

 

The O’s are likely going to be a problem this year. I could see them struggling a bit after their big surprise last summer, and I’m hoping they stumble a bit… but really they should be a strong team again, and for years to come. 
 

The Rays always find a way to compete. 
 

I’m not counting the Yankees out just yet. 
 

And while I expect Boston to be a bad team this year, sometimes they can surprise you too. 
 

There will also be more heated competition for the WC spots from ALC and ALW teams like last summer. 
 

Overall my outlook isn’t great for Toronto this year. I hope to be proven wrong!

[dr. b 492]

So @Eizan what do you think about the whole Ohtani / interpreter controversy??? I’m very curious to hear Ohtani’s statements today. The stories don’t all add up  

[Eizan 126]

I'd like give him a benefit of a doubt, but kind of hard to believe he didn't know that much money being wired from his account. 

[dr. b 492]

Jays win on opening day in Tampa

[Eizan 126]

How does Angel Hernandez still have a job? He's has to be one of the worse umpires I've ever seen. 

 

Anyways, Jays and Mariners playing each other already and seems neither of them have anything going right now.

[dr. b 492]

Seriously, slow starts for both Toronto and Seattle. Fortunately it’s a long season, so they have time to get on track. But for Toronto it just feels like more of 2023. Not fun! Expectations are getting lower…

[Eizan 126]

Neat Mariners are in first place. I have to feel Houston will get going at some point. 

 

 

[dr. b 492]

The Astros are real bad to start the season. They really dug themselves a hole to get out of.

[Eizan 126]

Blue Jays are struggling a bit. Not as bad as the Rays ( getting swept by the White Sox). If the Jays fall out of contention who would be available for trade? 

Mariners are winning series which is good. The pitching has been great, now only if they could be consistent on hitting. 

[dr. b 492]

The Jays are simply not good enough. I think their window to complete for a World Series with this core group of players has closed. I won’t be surprised if some players are on the move at the deadline. Problem is the theoretically most valuable guys (Vlad and Bo) are both struggling this year. Trade value feels low ATM. Maybe they could cash in on some of their good starting pitchers as well. Blow it up. 

[Eizan 126]

Both of our teams are pretty unfortunate to face the Twins while they are hot. 

[dr. b 492]

Doesn’t matter for the Jays right now if the other team is hot or not. They lose anyways  They just lost a series to the Nats  Washington was 5-5 in their previous 10 games, but four of those five wins were against the Marlins who are a truly bad team. Basically, Washington is not a great team. They took two of three against Toronto without much trouble though!  

[Eizan 126]

AL West where everyone has a negative run differential. This is going to be like last year, where no one wants to win the division. 

 

Again the Mariners don't have the hitting core to match their pitching rotation. Although the first two months were the M's hardest part of their schedule, so I'll take being above .500 and in first place. 

[dr. b 492]

The Astros may actually work their way back to .500!  The Rangers hit a rough patch. Nice to see Seattle in first place. 
 

The Royals have got to be one of the biggest surprises so far this season. 

[Eizan 126]

You uh, still watching Baseball?

 

Seattle had a 10 game lead in the division, but it's probably time to watch them cough that back up. Since it's already starting. 

 

How about that NL Wild Card? 

 

Edit: Shit that didn't take long, already down to only a 5.5 game lead. 

[dr. b 492]

Yep, still watching baseball. Watching the Jays is like some kind of torture this year. The team is so bad. They’re on a seven-game losing streak right now

 

Happy to see the M’s atop the AL West though!

[Eizan 126]

I hope the M's trade for a hitter AND Julio has the August he had last year. The offense is abysmal, hard to actually believe they've been in first being dead last in batting average. 

 

Although I expect the Astro's to take first after the All-Star game since they play each other. 

[Eizan 126]

Hey man...it hurts to see Seattle waste this pitching core. 

[dr. b 492]

Sucks to see how the M’s have slid in the Wild Card standings. Firing the Manager doesn’t seem to have helped. I don’t think their struggles were Servais’s fault anyhow… if they keep stumbling then somebody in the front office will have to take more accountability. They built the roster that keeps losing. 

[Eizan 126]

The AL Wild Card is interesting, I'm still pulling for the M's to take one or the West, but if they continue to falter I'd like to see the Tigers take the 2nd Wild Card. 

[dr. b 492]

Well, it looks like it’s not happening for the M’s this year Eizan. Bummer. I had hope for them… but I guess both our teams are disappointments this year!
 

The Royals, Tigers, and Twins all owe a big debt to the White Sox. That’s a lot of wins for each of those teams against Chicago. The complexion of the Wild Card race would be different if the White Sox were a respectable team

[dr. b 492]

Who have you got winning the Wild Card series!?!

 

I like Detroit and Baltimore in the AL, and Milwaukee and San Diego in the NL.