2015 ALDS - Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Texas Rangers - PLAYOFFS!!!!!

[JayP]

Originally Posted by greyshep

I thought everyone was saying there is no such thing as momentum in baseball. Still looks to me like the way lineups and rotations were handled after clinching, etc has had a negative effect on the Jays entry into the first playoff game.

I sure hope they can get their mojo back before its too late.

The problem is there's no proof of that. Ball teams have bad games all the time through-out the season - it's going to happen in the playoffs too. And considering they only lost by 2 runs after losing the best player in the AL early in the game, it could've been a whole lot worse. Teams have rested players going into the playoffs and done well before.

And why is it that they play a 162 game regular season and then the first round of the playoffs is only a best of 5? Not to mention the wildcard only being a 1 game event, yikes!

It really is stupid. The reason is that the ALDS round only has existed for just over 20 years. Before that, there were only two divisions in the AL and NL and only the four division winners made the playoffs. Adding the wild card and splitting the divisions into 3 per league was such a step away from how the MLB had operated for decades, they had to compromise and only make it 5 games so the playoffs wouldn't go into November.

The problem is now they've changed the playoff system again and added another wild card and everyone couldn't care less about baseball tradition. The ALDS should've been changed to 7 games when they added the second wild card. If the MLB is worried about the season going too late, cut the regular season by 7 games.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by greyshep

I thought everyone was saying there is no such thing as momentum in baseball. Still looks to me like the way lineups and rotations were handled after clinching, etc has had a negative effect on the Jays entry into the first playoff game.

I sure hope they can get their mojo back before its too late.

And why is it that they play a 162 game regular season and then the first round of the playoffs is only a best of 5? Not to mention the wildcard only being a 1 game event, yikes!

Or... one or two key hits and they win and you would have been wrong. There are only two outcomes, it doesn't prove you right or wrong.

Also, the home team has lost every game so far, and is losing again. Maybe it isn't momentum

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Price struggled today but I think a large portion of the blame can be directed at the lack of clutch hitting when runners were in scoring position.

Definitely. And at the same time, some VERY timely hits for Texas.

That's baseball.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by JayP

The problem is there's no proof of that. Ball teams have bad games all the time through-out the season - it's going to happen in the playoffs too. And considering they only lost by 2 runs after losing the best player in the AL early in the game, it could've been a whole lot worse. Teams have rested players going into the playoffs and done well before.



It really is stupid. The reason is that the ALDS round only has existed for just over 20 years. Before that, there were only two divisions in the AL and NL and only the four division winners made the playoffs. Adding the wild card and splitting the divisions into 3 per league was such a step away from how the MLB had operated for decades, they had to compromise and only make it 5 games so the playoffs wouldn't go into November.

The problem is now they've changed the playoff system again and added another wild card and everyone couldn't care less about baseball tradition. The ALDS should've been changed to 7 games when they added the second wild card. If the MLB is worried about the season going too late, cut the regular season by 7 games.

This isn't just a bad game. The Jays have been awful since they shut it down in Baltimore. They took their eyes off the prize and shut it down almost a week and half before the season ended. In a sport like baseball you can't expect to just shut it down and expect for everything to start clicking. Baseball is completely a game of momentum despite how much you seem to disagree with that. They will be lucky to win this series and like a said a week ago, someone is going to have some serious questions to answer about their approach to how the regular season ended.

People were quick to point out that the wildcard often has success in the playoffs so the Jays giving up first wasn't a big deal. Well that is true, but why do the Wildcards generally fare well? Its's because they are riding the momentum they built just to get into the playoffs. The Jays had zero momentum to start the ALDS and I think it's going to cost them severely (though I hope I am wrong as a Jays fan).

[whosurnabby]

Much as I hate to admit it, tomorrow is a MUST WIN game. This is TORONTO after all. A tortured fanbase that is so used to this kind of scenario in the postseason (ie: Leafs and Raptors). That 11 days of rest really affected David Price's control. If they don't do anything early tomorrow against Hamels, that energy will be sapped at the Rogers Centre and will be replaced by "Toronto Sports Team" negative vibes.

I hope Donaldson and JoeyBats is OK for tomorrow's game. We need them.

[Roof-Daddy]

The Stro Show will be lights out tomorrow, I can feel it.

I have to admit, I had no idea of Price' abysmal post season numbers until they showed them at the start of the game. When they did show them I had a bad feeling about the game. Between Price' bad post season numbers, and Gallardo's apparent ability to shut the Jays down and my usual pessimism was instantly magnified.

Still though, I bet the Jays get a big win tomorrow.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

The Stro Show will be lights out tomorrow, I can feel it.

I have to admit, I had no idea of Price' abysmal post season numbers until they showed them at the start of the game. When they did show them I had a bad feeling about the game. Between Price' bad post season numbers, and Gallardo's apparent ability to shut the Jays down and my usual pessimism was instantly magnified.

Still though, I bet the Jays get a big win tomorrow.

I had an uneasy feeling about tonight's game when they showed half the team at the Leafs game last night. I thought that was weird with an early game today. Striked me as over confident. I think they thought Texas was going to be a cake walk. Hopefully they wake up tommorow.

[whosurnabby]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I had an uneasy feeling about tonight's game when they showed half the team at the Leafs game last night. I thought that was weird with an early game today. Striked me as over confident. I think they thought Texas was going to be a cake walk. Hopefully they wake up tommorow.

Damn those stinkin' Maple Leafs. That and Drake greeted them on Instagram prior to the game. We know what happens when Drake cheers/roots for a Toronto team (ie: Raptors 2014 and 2015).

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by whosurnabby

Much as I hate to admit it, tomorrow is a MUST WIN game. This is TORONTO after all. A tortured fanbase that is so used to this kind of scenario in the postseason (ie: Leafs and Raptors). That 11 days of rest really affected David Price's control. If they don't do anything early tomorrow against Hamels, that energy will be sapped at the Rogers Centre and will be replaced by "Toronto Sports Team" negative vibes.

I hope Donaldson and JoeyBats is OK for tomorrow's game. We need them.

A must win for sure. Hopefully Donaldson and Bautista are good to go. I more worried about Donaldson not being available tommorow than Bautista.

[TheAlpineOracle]

On a side note, I felt the umpires did a really good job today.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

On a side note, I felt the umpires did a really good job today.

Impossible to tell without a pitch tracker

[calgarybornnraised]

I'm not on Twitter, what is this about Pete Rose talking crap about JD?

[kmart]

Cole Hamel's the lefty going tomorrow and the Blue Jays mash lefties, so have to love the matchup there. They also have Stroman going tomorrow as well, Blue Jays SHOULD take the game tomorrow.

[Hemi-Cuda]

I'm not sold at all on starting Stroman tomorrow. Young guy in his first playoff appearance, really emotional player in front of a home crowd going nuts, and tons of pressure not to give up any ground after losing the first game. Why not let him pitch game 3 in Texas without the added home pressure and give Dickey game 2, when you he'd be playing in a closed dome where he's at his best?

If the Jays lose tomorrow I think Gibbons is going to be feeling a ton of heat for that decision coupled with 11 days of rest for Price

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by calgarybornnraised

I'm not on Twitter, what is this about Pete Rose talking crap about JD?

“I just don’t understand,” Rose said. “I mean, does everybody know what we’re playing for now? I mean, you get a tweak and you got to leave the game. You get a knee on the head and you’ve got a helmet on and you got to leave the game to go take a test that you pass. I mean, cause you’re a little light-headed? I got light-headed how many times in my career. I still went out there and played. I guess it’s just different from when I played to when they’re playing today, Frank. I can’t see you sliding into second there and leaving the game. I really can’t. And this guy is the MVP.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-bi...medium=twitter

[Fire of the Phoenix]

These start times have really put a damper on things for me. Somehow it lines up perfectly with me working 5 days in a row, if they're all early starts I literally won't see a second of this series. My excitement level has cut in half and I've been a fan of this team since I was 10... waited 22 years and I don't get to watch a second of it.

I never realized MLB did this because I have never seen the Jays in the playoffs (other than 93, don't remember 92). Now that I know how it works, I definitely won't be getting so emotionally invested. There's just no point if I'm not going to have access to the payoff.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Impossible to tell without a pitch tracker

You can't tell if it's balls or strikes but you could tell he was using a consistent strike zone.

What is with the no pitch tracker? Is that a Fox thing?

[browna]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-bi...medium=twitter

Pete lost a lot of money on the Jays today, that's all this means.

He played in the field the next half inning, no? Likely not his choice to come out.

As frustrating as it was, Price wasn't sharp (11 days off may do that) enough. Jays were within a bat swing away from tying it long enough. EE almost hitting out after JB's home run would've turned that game over. Some more clutch hitting, dialing things back and not looking for only fastballs (especially against Hamels) and they'll be fine at the plate.

Bigger question tomorrow will be Stroman, hoping he doesn't get too amped or feel too much pressure not to lose and be down 0-2.

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

These start times have really put a damper on things for me. Somehow it lines up perfectly with me working 5 days in a row, if they're all early starts I literally won't see a second of this series. My excitement level has cut in half and I've been a fan of this team since I was 10... waited 22 years and I don't get to watch a second of it.

I never realized MLB did this because I have never seen the Jays in the playoffs (other than 93, don't remember 92). Now that I know how it works, I definitely won't be getting so emotionally invested. There's just no point if I'm not going to have access to the payoff.

A PVR can be useful in these situations, I can PVR a game and watch it in 45 minutes without missing a pitch.

[VladtheImpaler]

I am far from a baseball aficionado these days, but I used to be 15-20 years ago... I think that if the Jays lose this series Gibby should be fired. I still think throwing away the #1 seed and messing with your top guy's schedule is inexcusable. He is clearly a "gut" manager as opposed to a "math" guy. I am not familiar enough to talk about his baseball acumen, but he seems kind of dim in absolute terms.
Just my opinion.