The 2021 World Series: Braves vs. Astros

[RhodeIslandAspie]

It's hard for me to get excited if the Red Sox, the Yankees, or the LA Dodgers are not involved. If the Red Sox are not involed, but one of the latter two are there, my interest is rooting against them. If it comes down to the MFY v the LA Dodgers, I'll root for LA as the lesser of evils.

I've been pulling for the Braves, since they haven't won it for a while. I hate that Tomahawk chop, but the organization has dropped their support for it, But old habits die hard, especially south of the Mason-Dixon.

We enlightened New Englanders often look down on cities like Atlanta or Houston. But the reality is that both are rather hip places to live, and have nothing in common with the small town and rural sectors of their states. Go Braves.

 

[Harry Hooper]

Fun game to watch.

It sure was.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Let’s hope 3-1 isn’t the baseball version of 28-3.

Because the Astros represent Boston?

 

[DeadlySplitter]

No Papi don't chop

 

[Kliq]

Does anyone else get some use out of telling non-Boston friends and acquaintances that they consider the Braves a Boston team and will count their title as a Boston championship? It's proven remarkably effective at getting a reaction.

 

[bosockboy]

Because the Astros represent Boston?

Just meaning hope the Braves don’t blow it.

 

[jon abbey]

Does anyone else get some use out of telling non-Boston friends and acquaintances that they consider the Braves a Boston team and will count their title as a Boston championship? It's proven remarkably effective at getting a reaction.

Isn’t the obvious response something like ‘So NYC gets credit for Dodgers and Giants titles?’.

 

[rajendra82]

How did Atlanta get to 88 wins without a 4th starter they can trust?

Spahn, Sain and ?, and then pray for rain.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Spahn and Sain and ?, and then pray for rain.

Statistically, that was mostly just a catchy phrase. Pitcher Bill Voiselle had a 3.1 BWAR during the regular season of 1948, and Vern Bickford a 2.6. Warren Spahn, one of the greatest pitchers of all time, had an off year that year at 3.3. Sain was insane at 8.5. By comparison, the Red Sox second best after Nate this year was Pivetta at 2.6. Back to Voiselle and Bickford, they both also had respectable W/L totals and ERA in 1948, the key stats before WAR was invented.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Braves were probably objectively the worst team in the playoffs, right? This is kind of crazy. It's something the Cardinals would do.

They may have had the worst regular season record of the playoff teams, but from the trade deadline on, they were a very different team. They were 51-54 on July 30, 37-19 (.661) after. Only the Dodgers (44-13, .772) and Giants (43-16, .729) were better post-deadline. By that timeframe, the worst teams in the playoffs were the Red Sox (29-28) and the Astros (31-27).

 

[BaseballJones]

Braves were probably objectively the worst team in the playoffs, right? This is kind of crazy. It's something the Cardinals would do.

They won 88 games in the worst division in baseball. A division that includes two teams that won 67 and 65 games, respectively.

This run they’re on is amazing and is fodder for the “just get into the playoffs and anything can happen” argument.

 

[BaseballJones]

They may have had the worst regular season record of the playoff teams, but from the trade deadline on, they were a very different team. They were 51-54 on July 30, 37-19 (.661) after. Only the Dodgers (44-13, .772) and Giants (43-16, .729) were better post-deadline. By that timeframe, the worst teams in the playoffs were the Red Sox (29-28) and the Astros (31-27).

That's true, but even with that, they won only 88 games in a crap division. They'd have been an afterthought in the AL East and even with that great post-deadline run, would have finished well out of the playoffs.

 

[Philip Jeff Frye]

They won 88 games in the worst division in baseball. A division that includes two teams that won 67 and 65 games, respectively.

This run they’re on is amazing and is fodder for the “just get into the playoffs and anything can happen” argument.

Kind of makes you wonder why bother with 162 games over six months in the first place...

 

[Remagellan]

Kind of makes you wonder why bother with 162 games over six months in the first place...

Unless you really want to go back to the pre-1969 era when only the teams with the best record in each league met in the World Series, the answer is because baseball is fun and more of it is better than less.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

In the 1990s, the Braves were objectively one of the top two or three teams in baseball (at worst) at least six or seven times and won only one World Series. **If** they manage to close this out - and I'm still taking nothing for granted - the karmic retribution for that alone would be justifiable, even before you consider the rest of Atlanta/Georgia sports history over the last quarter-century. (Halloween does seem like the perfect day for this to happen...)

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

That's true, but even with that, they won only 88 games in a crap division. They'd have been an afterthought in the AL East and even with that great post-deadline run, would have finished well out of the playoffs.

Right, they'd be the Blue Jays. The same Blue Jays that everyone was supposedly dreading facing if they made the wildcard. My only point was that the Braves were one of the hottest teams over the last two months thanks to a deadline makeover of their outfield so their overall record isn't really reflective of their present talent. They weren't objectively the worst team at the start of the playoffs.

 

[BaseballJones]

Kind of makes you wonder why bother with 162 games over six months in the first place...

Well baseball is about way more than just crowning a champion.

 

[BaseballJones]

Right, they'd be the Blue Jays. The same Blue Jays that everyone was supposedly dreading facing if they made the wildcard. My only point was that the Braves were one of the hottest teams over the last two months thanks to a deadline makeover of their outfield so their overall record isn't really reflective of their present talent. They weren't objectively the worst team at the start of the playoffs.

That’s true. They are playing much better than their overall record. They’re also lucky to be in a crappy division.

 

[rajendra82]

Decided to head to the battery today with my son. No tickets, but hopefully will get to see a clincher celebration in person.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Isn’t the obvious response something like ‘So NYC gets credit for Dodgers and Giants titles?’.

And Baltimore gets credit for the Yankees titles?

 

[Mystic Merlin]

And Baltimore gets credit for the Yankees titles?

Ohh, nicely done.

 

[jon abbey]

Ha, I honestly didn’t know that, but now I do.

But to be clear, none of it is ‘nicely done’, it’s all quite stupid starting with @Kliq.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Ha, I honestly didn’t know that, but now I do.

But to be clear, none of it is ‘nicely done’, it’s all quite stupid starting with @Kliq.

lol, boo hoo

 

[absintheofmalaise]

Decided to head to the battery today with my son. No tickets, but hopefully will get to see a clincher celebration in person.

Say hi to Papi for us.

 

[rajendra82]

Say hi to Papi for us.

May be he will throw some of his money my way. It’s not that far from where I am standing.

 

[Kliq]

Ha, I honestly didn’t know that, but now I do.

But to be clear, none of it is ‘nicely done’, it’s all quite stupid starting with @Kliq.

I hope they play Dirty Water when the Braves clinch!

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Tucker Davidson, who last pitched in the majors on June 15, is starting for Atlanta.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

Dylan Lee has now pitched in five MLB games (regular season and playoffs combined) and logged a total of 5.0 IP (2.0 IP in the regular season and 3.0 IP in the playoffs). Tucker Davidson has to this point pitched in five MLB games (all regular season) and logged a total of 21.2 IP. These guys are starting back-to-back games in a World Series...and they could be the last two wins of the season for a championship-winning team.

I know the game has changed a lot since I was a kid, but that is straight up INSANE.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

I see Fox doesn't seem to think there's anything to talk about 15 minutes before Game 5 other than the NFL.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Bregman dropped to 7th in lineup.

 

[Ale Xander]

They should have cut the OT show and not the pregame

 

[InsideTheParker]

Somebody please let me know when the game begins. Husband's watching Belichick on the same receiver and I dare not change the station unless it's for a good reason. TIA.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

Looks like in one minute or so @InsideTheParker

 

[absintheofmalaise]

Liking the high socks the pitcher is wearing.

 

[Ale Xander]

Some brass balls on Snitker and the coaching staff with these SP choices.

 

[Ale Xander]

Impressive

 

[InsideTheParker]

Looks like in one minute or so @InsideTheParker

Thanks, they cut off Belichick just in time.
Well, well, well. Nice start, kid!

 

[absintheofmalaise]

Already ahead of where they were last night with pitching.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

How are the unwashed masses at the Battery @rajendra82 ?

 

[Ted Cox 4 president]

Austin Riley is pretty impressive.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Yordan is a giant liability in a big LF

 

[absintheofmalaise]

First to third on a single? Didn't know that was possible.

 

[InsideTheParker]

How are the unwashed masses at the Battery @rajendra82 ?

I can tell you from here that they are still doing the damned chop en masse.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

It's going to be interesting to see what the Braves do with their glut of outfielders when Acuna comes back.

 

[canderson]

HOT DAMN!

 

[Ale Xander]

Oh shit!!!!!!

 

[Remagellan]

Boy, I wish we did that to him in our Game 5.

 

[ifmanis5]

Only the Red Sox are allowed early grand slams, this is confusing to me.

 

[InsideTheParker]

Salami, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!