2025 Major League Baseball Thread

[myanks12]

Originally Posted by Wingman1977

They are a HR or nothing team. You take the HR away from them, they become a lame duck offense. The Red Sox are a HR tea, but they can manufacture runs which is something they Yankees don't do. This is largely part to the stupid analytics which is l have always said that analytics is ruining baseball.

This is why I didn't like the Stanton deal. I don't care that the Yanks didn't give up much to get him. He'll hit his homers but he'll also leave the strike zone quite a bit and strike out. Yanks have enough hitters like that. I give Cashman credit for how quickly he's turned around this team after older players were cut in 2016...but this lineup is poorly constructed for the postseason. It's exactly why they lost the ALCS last year....couldn't hit homers in Houston. And obviously they lack dominant starting pitching.

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by myanks12

This is why I didn't like the Stanton deal. I don't care that the Yanks didn't give up much to get him. He'll hit his homers but he'll also leave the strike zone quite a bit and strike out. Yanks have enough hitters like that. I give Cashman credit for how quickly he's turned around this team after older players were cut in 2016...but this lineup is poorly constructed for the postseason. It's exactly why they lost the ALCS last year....couldn't hit homers in Houston. And obviously they lack dominant starting pitching.

This offseason all they need to focus on is the starting pitching and fine tune the offense (have guys who can manufacture runs but this teams are devoted followers of the stupid analytics which is why they won't be a WS team anytime soon).

UPDATE: With that, our season is practically over.

[myanks12]

Originally Posted by Wingman1977

This offseason all they need to focus on is the starting pitching and fine tune the offense (have guys who can manufacture runs but this teams are devoted followers of the stupid analytics which is why they won't be a WS team anytime soon).

UPDATE: With that, our season is practically over.

Once again, Boone allows Sabathia to stay out there and give up 3 runs before pulling him. This is an elimination game. You have to go to the bullpen immediately with Sabathia because he loses it quick and you can't let the Sox jump out to a 3-0 lead. Now the offense is playing catchup.

As for the analytics, I agree. I keep hearing that it's ok for the Yanks to build their team around power and high strikeouts because that's the way baseball is now. Well..the league average for home runs and strikeouts might be up, but are the Yanks competing with the league average or are they competing with teams who win the world series? All of those teams do more than just hit home runs.

[Wingman1977]

And, we’re done.

[Hatter]

That was a pathetic performance by Kimbrel. Lucky to survive that inning to move on to the next round.

He better step his game up if they want to win it all.

[myanks12]

I don't see the Red Sox having a chance against the Astros. Not with their bullpen and starting rotation. Yankees simply let them off the hook because of their inept offense. Lost last year because they couldn't hit home runs in Houston and lost this year because they couldn't hit home runs at home. Next year will play out the same way if they insist on being a home run or nothing offense.

[Bigdog]

Originally Posted by myanks12

I don't see the Red Sox having a chance against the Astros. Not with their bullpen and starting rotation. Yankees simply let them off the hook because of their inept offense. Lost last year because they couldn't hit home runs in Houston and lost this year because they couldn't hit home runs at home. Next year will play out the same way if they insist on being a home run or nothing offense.

Basically this is the world series imo because the Brewers and Dodgers are not on the same level as the Sox or Astros imo!

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by Hatter

That was a pathetic performance by Kimbrel. Lucky to survive that inning to move on to the next round.

He better step his game up if they want to win it all.

You ain't kidding. He had no control over his breaking balls.

Some say a good pitching team beats a good hitting team. I feel like this DS was a question of how a good speed team fares against a good power team.

(Tried posting this last night only to have the site go down just before I could )

Originally Posted by myanks12

I don't see the Red Sox having a chance against the Astros. Not with their bullpen and starting rotation.

Well, the season series was 3-4 this year, Astros winning 1 more. Too close to assume that much in my estimation.

[trevrox]

Nearly had a heart attack in the 9th inning. Can't do that against the Astros.

For now, I'm just happy we are in the ALCS for the first time in 5 years.

[myanks12]

Originally Posted by Musashi

Well, the season series was 3-4 this year, Astros winning 1 more. Too close to assume that much in my estimation.

Regular season doesn't really matter compared to the postseason. I just think the Astros have it going on right now with their pitching and offense. They've also tightened up their bullpen and are overall a much better team right now vs last year. Now if you give me 98 mph Chris Sale and a David Price who can actually pitch in the postseason, I'd give the Red Sox a shot. But I don't like the way Sale threw the ball in the Yankees series. We all need to remember that the Yankees are not a good offensive team. People assume they are but what they really are is a good home run hitting team. Outside of that, they don't do anything well offensively. That's why the Red Sox were able to beat them. I don't think the Red Sox pitching will be as successful against the Astros lineup.

[Ky-Fi]

Red Sox fan here. Was of course happy that the Sox survived the 9th to take the DS. Always nervous going up against the Yankees, and I hate the best-of-five--your bats go cold for a couple games, and before you know it, you're out of it. That's happened to the Red Sox the last couple of post seasons, and now it was the Yankees. Yeah, that was probably the difference--Red Sox had a more balanced offense than the Yankees, and the Sox are a very strong defensive team, too. They're a very fun team to watch, particularly compared to a lot of Boston teams of old who didn't put a ton of value on speed or defense.

Originally Posted by myanks12

Regular season doesn't really matter compared to the postseason. I just think the Astros have it going on right now with their pitching and offense. They've also tightened up their bullpen and are overall a much better team right now vs last year. Now if you give me 98 mph Chris Sale and a David Price who can actually pitch in the postseason, I'd give the Red Sox a shot. But I don't like the way Sale threw the ball in the Yankees series. We all need to remember that the Yankees are not a good offensive team. People assume they are but what they really are is a good home run hitting team. Outside of that, they don't do anything well offensively. That's why the Red Sox were able to beat them. I don't think the Red Sox pitching will be as successful against the Astros lineup.

Unfortunately, I can't really disagree with any of that.

[myanks12]

Originally Posted by Ky-Fi

Red Sox fan here. Was of course happy that the Sox survived the 9th to take the DS. Always nervous going up against the Yankees, and I hate the best-of-five--your bats go cold for a couple games, and before you know it, you're out of it. That's happened to the Red Sox the last couple of post seasons, and now it was the Yankees. Yeah, that was probably the difference--Red Sox had a more balanced offense than the Yankees, and the Sox are a very strong defensive team, too. They're a very fun team to watch, particularly compared to a lot of Boston teams of old who didn't put a ton of value on speed or defense.

Yeah, you guys were the better team, no doubt about that. I kept hearing people knock the bottom of the Red Sox lineup vs the Yanks. The Yanks have more power at the bottom, but the Red Sox hitters down there have a better approach to their AB's and that's what wins you games in the postseason.

Interesting stat I found since everyone was making a huge deal about the Yanks breaking the home run record during the regular season....in the last 30 years, only one team that led the major leagues in home runs won the world series. Doesn't that tell you everything you need to know about how you can't win championships with power only? It's not as if the 09 team exploded offensively either. They had dominant starting pitching which gave the offense a chance to hit home runs and win in the postseason.

[TxDave]

As an Astros fan, I think our offense is not as good as last year but our starting pitching is better and our bullpen is way better. Still, I am nervous about playing the Red Sox because they are very good but I like our chances. It should be a very tough series either way and I think whoever wins will go on to win the World Series. Reminds me of the NBA Western Conference Finals where many felt that was the true NBA Finals.

[ex-beldvd man]

As a Dodger fan, I consider the Astros to be clearly above the other 3 remaining teams (LAD being #2 but not by much over the Brewers or RedSox)...

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by myanks12

Yeah, you guys were the better team, no doubt about that. I kept hearing people knock the bottom of the Red Sox lineup vs the Yanks. The Yanks have more power at the bottom, but the Red Sox hitters down there have a better approach to their AB's and that's what wins you games in the postseason.

Interesting stat I found since everyone was making a huge deal about the Yanks breaking the home run record during the regular season....in the last 30 years, only one team that led the major leagues in home runs won the world series. Doesn't that tell you everything you need to know about how you can't win championships with power only? It's not as if the 09 team exploded offensively either. They had dominant starting pitching which gave the offense a chance to hit home runs and win in the postseason.

That's what I saw in that Division Series: A good speed team taking on a good power team. And yea, home runs are a thrill, but a team that only scores when hitting home runs is going to have it tough. That was a problem the Red Sox faced in the 2000s.

[Ky-Fi]

Originally Posted by myanks12

Yeah, you guys were the better team, no doubt about that. I kept hearing people knock the bottom of the Red Sox lineup vs the Yanks. The Yanks have more power at the bottom, but the Red Sox hitters down there have a better approach to their AB's and that's what wins you games in the postseason.

Interesting stat I found since everyone was making a huge deal about the Yanks breaking the home run record during the regular season....in the last 30 years, only one team that led the major leagues in home runs won the world series. Doesn't that tell you everything you need to know about how you can't win championships with power only? It's not as if the 09 team exploded offensively either. They had dominant starting pitching which gave the offense a chance to hit home runs and win in the postseason.

Right, it seems like for any team to have post season success, you have to get some good at-bats and big clutch hits from the bottom of your order. The big guns can't do it all every game.

And yeah, it is a balancing act getting the right offense. Last year, the Red Sox had pretty good offense, but NO power, and they got knocked out in the first round. JD Martinez was really the pickup they needed.

Originally Posted by TxDave

As an Astros fan, I think our offense is not as good as last year but our starting pitching is better and our bullpen is way better. Still, I am nervous about playing the Red Sox because they are very good but I like our chances. It should be a very tough series either way and I think whoever wins will go on to win the World Series. Reminds me of the NBA Western Conference Finals where many felt that was the true NBA Finals.

Like myanks12 said, if Sale and Price were both pitching at the high level that they were for stretches of the regular season, I'd give the Red Sox a pretty good chance, but as is...

Still, you never know what the actual games will bring. Game 4 with the Yankees, and the Red Sox were just praying that their starters and relievers could hold the game until they could bring in Kimbrel. And then it was Kimbrel that was the disaster.

[myanks12]

Originally Posted by TxDave

As an Astros fan, I think our offense is not as good as last year but our starting pitching is better and our bullpen is way better. Still, I am nervous about playing the Red Sox because they are very good but I like our chances. It should be a very tough series either way and I think whoever wins will go on to win the World Series. Reminds me of the NBA Western Conference Finals where many felt that was the true NBA Finals.

Here's the one potential negative that I'll say about the Astros this series...they don't have home field. If you go back to last year, and believe me, I'm not trying to disrespect your team when I say this, obviously you guys knocked my team out in the ALCS and went on to win the world series, but the Astros were a little rattled at Yankee Stadium in front of that raucous crowd. They'll have to deal with a similar crowd at Fenway so that will be a challenge for them. The Red Sox showed me a lot by silencing the crowd at Yankee Stadium, particularly in game 4 since it was very close and they could have easily imploded and lost the game in the 9th. I still think the Astros will win though.

[TxDave]

Originally Posted by myanks12

Here's the one potential negative that I'll say about the Astros this series...they don't have home field. If you go back to last year, and believe me, I'm not trying to disrespect your team when I say this, obviously you guys knocked my team out in the ALCS and went on to win the world series, but the Astros were a little rattled at Yankee Stadium in front of that raucous crowd. They'll have to deal with a similar crowd at Fenway so that will be a challenge for them. The Red Sox showed me a lot by silencing the crowd at Yankee Stadium, particularly in game 4 since it was very close and they could have easily imploded and lost the game in the 9th. I still think the Astros will win though.

Yes, the Sox have homefield but the Astros were an amazing 57-24 on the road this year, including winning 2 of 3 in September at Fenway with the only loss coming on a controversial replay call at home plate calling Jose Altuve out.
Also, I think you have to credit the Yankees pitching for silencing the Astros bats in NY in the ALCS. Do the Red Sox have the pitching to do the same to the Astros this year? This Astros bunch is an energetic bunch and if they slump, they SLUMP. If they get some early runs, they will feed off of it.
I would not be surprised with any outcome as I can see either team winning, I see it going at least 6 or the full 7.

[Musashi]

I don't like this umpire much. How was that pitch right over the plate called for a ball?

[Ky-Fi]

The one where Cora was ejected--that was a really bad call on the pitch to Benintendi. Full count, and it was well off the plate. If that had been called a ball it would have loaded the bases, but instead it ended the inning.

And if the Red Sox had lost by one run, I would feel cheated. Hard to blame a 7-2 drubbing on the umps, though. Red Sox bullpen exposed by a good hitting team.