Sort of like the locker room scene in 'The Natural' when the motivator tells the team "Losing is a disease..." -- Al
2017 Baseball Season: Let's Play Two! (2 Viewers)
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Panzer ace
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Having lost 11 of their last 12 games the Dodgers are in danger of losing home field advantage in the NL playoffs to the Nats.
And yes I need to mention the Giants too. During the Dodger's plunge the Giants have only managed to gain 1.5 games on them in the standings. I know it isn't much fun being a Dodgers fan right now, but I would still take their season over the Giants' season.
And yes I need to mention the Giants too. During the Dodger's plunge the Giants have only managed to gain 1.5 games on them in the standings. I know it isn't much fun being a Dodgers fan right now, but I would still take their season over the Giants' season.
sammy719
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Well fellas it's been a fun ride all Spring, Summer and closing in on Fall, but I certainly believe by the time the O's end this 10 game road trip more then likely there will be no wildcard in the future for my O's, I could be wrong but to many really good teams to play and the margin of error right now is razor thin, I'll ride the wagon to the wheels fall off but as Al and I have stated 1.2 million times over the last 4-5 years you just can not win on Homers alone, need some quality pitching to go along with it, anyway fat lady hasn't sung yet, but I think she's up next.
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Baseball is a funny game. Both the Nats starter, Scherzer, and the O's starter, Miley, gave up 3-run bombs in the first inning, putting their teams in a 3-0 hole. Nats have gotten 2 runs back and trail 3-2. O's haven't recovered yet and still trail 3-0 in the 4th. -- Al
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Check that. Philly CF just misplayed Taylor's line drive (went over his head) into an inside the park GS. Nats lead 6-3 in the 3rd. -- Al
Nats squeak past Philly 11-10. Close game because the Nats kept giving up 3-run Hrs, 3 of them to be exact, including another one by one of the Gopher Ball Twins, Kelley, who has now given up 12 in 23 innings and has an ERA of 7.99. Why he is still on the team and being used is a huge puzzle to me. He is useless. Anyway, the Nats have now scored 10 runs or more in 21 games, the most in baseball, one ahead of the Indians, and have reduced their magic number to 3. -- Al
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Since ripping off 7 wins in a row and moving to within 1 game of the WC, the O's have gone 3-5 and dropped to 3 back in the WC race. They are also back to within 1 game of .500. They need to step up their game on this road trip. Not expecting much though as their next 3 games SP's are a rookie named Ynoa, Hellickson (who has been pretty ineffective), and my favorite, uBADo. Not exactly the SP's to instill fear in a red hot Cleveland team, or even Toronto. I would say the O's are on the verge of being pushed out, but no other team has stepped up to take the WC spots, yet. So, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride continues for at least a few more games. -- Al
jazzeum
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Al, I will disagree with you about no team stepping up for the second WC; the Twins are playing consistent baseball and are looking to me like the team to beat, only because the other teams are too inconsistent. The Angels starting pitching is terrible; if you're relying on the likes of Ricky Nolasco, you're in trouble already. They will need to fine some decent SP in the offseason.
Brad, the Twins are playing decent ball, but they certainly haven't locked up anything yet. They are on a 3 game winning streak which makes they're record over the last 19 games 11-8. In other words they were recently playing .500 ball until these last 3 games. Still, I agree that they are at least looking like the current favorites to grab that last spot. It would be neat to see Colon get to the post-season. He has done a decent job for the Twins. -- Al
O's back to .500 after today's loss. Now 0-2 on this crucial road trip and things are starting to look grim. Unfortunate that the O's catch Cleveland at their hottest, having now won 17 in a row. O's must find a way to win game 3 behind uBADo. -- Al
Have a new member to add to The Gopher Ball Twins of the Nats bullpen, and that would be SP Edwin Jackson. He has now given up 15 Hr's in only 61 innings as a starter. I wasn't pleased that the Nats signed him and am even less so as time goes on. He is now an official member of the Gopher Ball Triplets. The Triplets, Jackson, Kelley, and Blanton, have combined to give up 37 Hr's in just 123 total innings. I sure hope that none of them make the post-season roster. They're all basically useless in stopping the opposition from scoring. -- Al
Nats lost 5-4 but their magic number reduces to 2 because Miami lost again. -- Al
Strasburg threw another beaut today, going 8 innings of 2-hit, shutout ball, with 10 k's, to beat Philly 3-2 (bullpen gave up 2 in the 9th). Strasburg has now run his scoreless inning streak to 34, the longest in the majors this year, and a franchise record. Nats magic number reduces to 1 as the fans await the results of the Atlanta/Miami game (5 all in the 7th). If Miami losses, Nats clinch the division crown. -- Al
Braves just walked-off the Marlins. Nats are the division champs. Yea! Now, let's see if they can take it to the next level. Go Nats! ^&grin -- Al
Barring the comebacks of all comebacks, the Dodgers are about to lose their 15th game out of the last 16, leaving them only 4 games ahead of the Nats for HFA in the playoffs, a margin that was fantasy only 2 1/2 weeks ago as the Nats have cut 10.5 games off the Dodgers lead in that time. And LA visits the Nats for 3 games this coming weekend, a series that now could have big meaning. -- Al
jazzeum
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Congratulations to Al for his team getting back to the playoffs. I'd like to say it was hard fought but the race has been over since April or May {eek3}
Getting back to the races, the Twins made me look a liar by losing two in a row and now Angels are one back, with KC and Texas right behind. Angels play the Astros this week and they're not going to be a happy bunch, having lost four in a row and the number 1 seed in the AL.
The NL Central race is getting interesting. Cards and Brewers are only two back of the Cubs. The Cubs play the Mets this week so they will probably earn some Ws there. The Brewers will be at the Pirates and Cardinals host the Reds so maybe we will know more by Friday. Then again, maybe we won't. In any event, there are only 19 or 20 games left (depending upon the team) so these races are starting to come to a head.
Getting back to the races, the Twins made me look a liar by losing two in a row and now Angels are one back, with KC and Texas right behind. Angels play the Astros this week and they're not going to be a happy bunch, having lost four in a row and the number 1 seed in the AL.
The NL Central race is getting interesting. Cards and Brewers are only two back of the Cubs. The Cubs play the Mets this week so they will probably earn some Ws there. The Brewers will be at the Pirates and Cardinals host the Reds so maybe we will know more by Friday. Then again, maybe we won't. In any event, there are only 19 or 20 games left (depending upon the team) so these races are starting to come to a head.
Thanks for the congrats, Brad. Some very interesting stuff going on, and interesting trends, as well. You mention the Astros, who are the only current division leader with a losing record since the All-Star came. Not a good trend for them. I imagine they are worried. Brewers continue to impress me and they play the Nats tough. The AL WC continues to be a total case of 52 Card Pick-up, with the same 7 teams all within 3.5 games of each other. The whole mess can turn around after any 3 game series. And time is getting short. Still lots of fun to come. -- Al
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Al:
Congrats on clinching the East.
The question now is do you want them to rest or keep fighting in the hopes of getting HFA?
-Jason
Congrats on clinching the East.
The question now is do you want them to rest or keep fighting in the hopes of getting HFA?
-Jason
sammy719
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Well the O's leave Cleveland 3 games out of the WC chase, I guess in the back of my mind I still believe there is some magic dust left in the O's season, off to take on the Jays then a trip to N.Y. if??.....maybe???...still hoping 
Seeing the Indians this week chasing history is just hard to believe, 18 in a row!!!!! I'm pulling for them to break the win total, I got to admit to the fellas that remember the AL East with the Tigers, Indians still in the division in was always a "gimme" series to see the Indians up next!! ^&grin you know it was a easy best 3 of 4 or a clean sweep for some easy victories against those Indians, today not so much.
Seeing the Indians this week chasing history is just hard to believe, 18 in a row!!!!! I'm pulling for them to break the win total, I got to admit to the fellas that remember the AL East with the Tigers, Indians still in the division in was always a "gimme" series to see the Indians up next!! ^&grin you know it was a easy best 3 of 4 or a clean sweep for some easy victories against those Indians, today not so much.