BROOM & DOOM...... Here is a list of teams that have swept a best of seven LCS and how they fared in the world series. The LCS became a best of seven in 1985. 1988 - Oakland A's Swept the Red Sox but lost to the Dodgers 4 games to 1 1990 - Oakland A's swept the Red Sox but lost to the Reds 4 games to 0 1995 - Atlanta Braves swept the Reds but lost to the Indians 4 games to 2 2006 - Detroit Tigers swept the A's but lost to the Cardinals 4 games to 1 2007 - Colorado Rockies swept the D'backs but lost to the Red Sox 4 games to 0 2012 - Detroit Tigers swrpt the Yankees but lost to the Giants 4 games to 0 2014 - Kansas city Royals swept the Orioles but lost to the Giants 4 games to 3 2015 - New York Mets swept the Cubs.........TBD.
Those '88 & '90 Oakland Teams were predicted World Series Winners who got hit over the head with a sock full of shit, freaked out, and lost. Ditto the '06 Tigers, beaten by a team that barely made it to Post Season. Not a huge Joe Morgan Fan but he may have been right when he said the best team doesn't always win. This year I am rooting against Toronto, don't want to see that trophy go North of the Border.
The 2006,2012 Tigers are a weird case indeed. Combined they swept both ALCS going 8-0 and then went 1-8 in both WS in a seven year period. Ouch.....has to sting Tiger fans.
That's why the playoffs can be a crap shoot. Plus, the regular season tends not to matter. Case in point the Cubs were 7-0 against the Mets this year in the regular season. In the playoffs the Cubs face a different Mets team and got swept. I can give you another sport. In 1994 the New York Rangers dominated the Devils in the regular season. The Eastern Conference Finals rolled around and the Rangers needed seven games and some luck to get to the finals. This is why I would never bet on sports. Predicting things just for fun or having an opinion is all good. Throwing money around on the outcome of these games is just insane to me.
...the biggest problem the Mets face is that they swept and won their series so quickly...and by the time the WS starts it will have been 6 days since they played a game. ...the Mets are a hot team, but this long layoff could possibly break up their momentum.
Seems like the Team who sits idle waiting for their opponent to be determined, always, (tho' I need to check some stats)...... In fact, numerous MLB analysts have said the same: I recall Granderson in 06 being asked "did the 11 day layoff effect the Team", of course His answer was yes..... MLB needs to really think long and hard about their bloated Season, and P.S. reaching into November....IMO, MLB is more concerned with revenues from P.S. than they are the health of the ball player, less the new rule Mannfred will institute, by handing out dresses for Middle Infielders, of course they will be bright neon-red dresses.....
Right now, I think the Mets look like the best well balanced team in the post season. Capable hitters with power from both sides of the plate, Duda, Grandy, Murphy from the left, Cespedes,Wright, d'Arnaud,Cuddyer,Flores from the right side combined with a pitching package of three dominant SP who K people, and a GOOD closer. They seem to be getting better and are peaking from their good second half of the season. Despite having the best ML reg season record, I never felt the Cards would win it all when the playoffs began. While they had great pitching during the reg season, they were 11th in scoring just 7 runs runs better than 12th place (out of 15). Their lineup/offense was the most obvious choice to get shut down vs good playoff pitching while the opposition could also send more dangerous lineups against them AND also have good pitching.
Could be. But unless the layoff hinders the SPs control and command, IMO, it will probably benefit the Mets' SP. They mostly rely on throwing heat and they are going to be throwing absolute gas when the WS begins. The biggest worry is them being off their control/command. But no doubt, the layoff could cool off a couple of hot hitters. Duda looks like he has his timing back, dangerous hitter...and of course the Murphy factor. This is what keeps the WS a special thing.....there could emerge one or two "unlikely" hitters who get hot and have a big series. Good stuff.
...sometimes too much rest can be as bad for a pitching staff as not enough rest. If DeGrom starts the opener on Tuesday it will have been 7 days since he last pitched...and the same for pitchers in games 2, 3, and 4.
Yep, biggest concern for Mets' pitching from having a long layoff is their control/command may be off. But after each pitcher's first outing, their control should be back to form and if the Mets can win two of the first 3 outings from Harvey,deGrom and Syndergaard- it'll be tough for the A.L. team to win this WS.
After Game One of the '96 Series I heard Dave Winfield state "For the Yankees Rest turned to Rust. Luckily for the Yankees they regrouped. But I'm in agreement, keep the train moving with no stops.
I do not know how the remaining games will pan out, but I'm rooting for the KC Royals..... for no other reason than to not watch the theatrics of Jose Bats, Encarnacion & Co on the national platform.
Fine with me - sounds good. I still disappointed in opposing pitchers not drilling Bats and Encar with a good hard one. Can't stand that asinine antic of Encarnacion holding out his arm running the bases after a HR, and of course Joey Bats with his dooshbag theatrics and nastiness when he connects for a HR. What the hell is this world coming to? Drill these basterds and make them know there is a price to pay for them clowning and showing off at YOUR (pitcher's) expense.
I have time buying the "momentum" argument, but the this, the "rhythm" factors makes much more sense. Baseball is a game of repetition, defined patterns. Also made me wonder why teams facing potentially long layoffs don't get some intrasquad games going. I get that folks worry about injuries....but keeping the team in game rhythm seems to be a key factor.
