World Series/ MLB Postseason 2019 Thread

[jcommin]

Should be a good series - indifferent about the teams.

[Scott Douglas]

Wow, what a game last night. Hollywood couldn't have scripted a better show.
Congrats to the Astros. A well deserved win.
This next series should be interesting to watch too. Looking forward to it.

[Baz]

I pretty much stopped being a fan after the '94 strike, which I thought was putting finances over the fans of the game. Something that crossed the line for me.

So I really haven't watched or kept up in all the years since.

Except for the Cubs winning the series in 2016 - I was interested and watched that world series. I guess there's a part of me inside that still loves the game itself.

It's different now though - just as in all pro sports. The money has made things different. For me, it seems too business like - not so much America's "pastime". We don't have heroes...we have the highest paid free agents.

I grew up in Norfolk and remember my team at the time - the Orioles - with 4 pitchers all having 20 win records the same year.

When we moved to Florida and WTBS Superstation was born, I became a big Atlanta Braves fan and tuned in consistently to watch America's team. Games were broadcast almost every night except on Wednesday with the "Game of the Week" taking precedent. But sometimes the Braves played even on that night too, which I thought was fantastic, of course. I enjoyed watching the Braves through both runs of Bobby Cox as manager with the Joe Torre years in between.

Then the strike and for me - it was truly the end of an era. I was out.

So yesterday was the usual college football day but I knew the Astros were battling for a berth in the World Series and for some reason, that interested me. I always loved the old Astros when Biggio played - I liked their unis and their aggressive style of play. As I was ending my evening - I did tune in to FS1 and watch until the Yankees tied it up in the 9th - and then I fell asleep - so missed the dramatic 2 run walk off victory...lol.

I think I will try becoming a fan again. Strangely enough - it will be pulling for the American League contender after being a National League guy for so long.

GO Stros! And bring back the rainbow unis!!!

[Scott Douglas]

Hey Baz, I hear you.
It's only been the last couple of years since I retired that I've taught myself how to enjoy baseball games again. Wife and I would always go to home games when our son played at SDSU for Tony. Those were some of the best times.
I never really had the time to pay attention to the major leagues. Now, being retired and not having much income my entertainment comes from being able to watch the games on TV since my one extravagance is paying for a good cable package. We don't go out to movies etc so this is it.
I've also come to realize that all major sports are being played by a bunch of millionaires these days, or in the case of good rookies, soon to be millionaires.
Having seen how much work goes into playing the game at the D1 college level, I can appreciate just how talented these guys are.
I've found I don't have a favorite team (you'd think it would be the Dodger's, but their cable deal killed my rooting for them) so I just sit back and enjoy seeing a well played game. Having listened to Boonie when he was on ESPN, it is fun for me to see how he manages the team. I think he did a good job given all the injuries that team endured throughout the season.
I also enjoy listening to the different former player announcer's as they really have some interesting insights into the game that we haven't had in the past IMO. Tim McCarver being the exception there.
I'll probably be going through baseball withdrawls once the WS is over. I do admit it's hard for me to get excited about the NFL. I won't even watch the NBA.
Guess I'll have to get my trains out and play with them, or go help my brother more on his new house/shop project now that his divorce is almost final.

[Jolly Amaranto]

I spent 4 of my growing up years in the New England area. Fenway Park, whenever we could but the radio most of the time to follow the Red Sox. I became a NY Yankee hater at a tender young age. In 1967 the family moved to the Houston area so I took up the local team. Followed the Des-Astros through thick and thin. I felt kind of like a Cubs fan, always next year. So yeah, the latest playoff series was great.

[Tobra]

Yeah, I quit watching baseball then too. The Astros are in the American League, really?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Baz

I pretty much stopped being a fan after the '94 strike, which I thought was putting finances over the fans of the game. Something that crossed the line for me.

I agree. I've been a life long Astros fan since the late 60s, even after moving to upstate NY.

1994 Screwed it all up.

But, something is different about THIS team. They genuinely seem to love the game. They play as a team. Most of the players have worked together to spread the wealth and to keep the team together (you hearing me Charlie Morton?).

These guys hustle. See the difference on running to first base. The Yankees jogged. The Astros, especially Altuve, beat the throw several times. You saw it in the fielding by Reddick and Brantly diving catches.

Judges comments about a "failing season" speak to the difference. Just because you didn't make it to the World series does not mean you are a failure.

Post game, they interviewed several Astros. I remember both Correa's and Reddick's interviews. Both times, the interviewer asked about "talk" from Nats players. Both times they didn't take the bait. They praised the Nats and said they looked forward to meeting them on the field. Great class.

[bivenator]

The Astro's have helped remove some of the cynicism that I feel towards pro sports. They make it very easy to pull for the team. I could pick up Altuve and carry him around.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

bring back the rainbow unis!!!

They remind me when they were the "Lastros" except for Nolan Ryan. I am kinda pulling for the Nationals as they were once 'Les Expos".
It was gratifying to see the Yankees knocked out by a walk-off homer - a fitting season ending for them - crushed by the
'little big man' - a helluva ball player. There should be some great pitching match-ups come Tues.

Cheers
JB

[red-beard]

Lets Go Astros! clap clap clap clap clap

[Baz]

Great start - but Nationals saying "Not so fast my friend..."

[Baz]

Nationals take Game 1 - Final score: 5-4

Fans got their money's worth tonight! Good start to the series!

[Pazuzu]

Somehow Soto had his dirty little barely-legal-to-drink fingers in EVERY SINGLE IMPORTANT PLAY. I want a time machine to kill his parents. And baby Hitler. Parent and baby Hitler.

But, stranding 11 men on base (often 2nd and 3rd) is not a way to win a world series game...there was a definite lack of edge to our guys, if everyone had been playing with the clarity that they've shown before, it would have been a 6-2 game. The Nats took advantage of every single armor chink that we had.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

Bottom of the 8th - Springer admiring what he thought was a homer, "stretched" it into a double.
If he'd of hustled out of the box, he'd surely have made 3rd & tied things up scoring on Altuve's potential 'sac fly'.
Of course I have to insert the caveat of my being an armchair analyst with 20/20 hindsight.
Strasberg vs. Verlander - should be good

Cheers
JB

[red-beard]

I have to admit, I liked the Buzz Aldrin "Moonshot" commercial.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by flskala

Hope the Nats sweep them!

[flskala]

Get the brooms ready...
Stros getting embarrassed tonight---

[g_vaxed]

What an a$$ whoopin going on here tonight! Very entertaining indeed!

[red-beard]

Now I know how the Dodgers felt! Wild Card indeed!

[bivenator]

Ugh! Not going as expected.