Locker room attendants must be at least a little annoyed when their employers make the playoffs.
30 thoughts on “October 13, 2023: Tarps”
Glendale lost to the Scottsdale Scorpions 9-6. Once again there was a big inning by the opposition, as Scottsdale scored six runs in the fifth. Aaron Sabato was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run. Kala'i Rosario was 1-for-4 with a two-run homer. Jordan Carr pitched four innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out three. A. J. Labas pitched a scoreless inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.
They might be even more annoyed when the opposing team makes the playoffs?
My thought is if the employer makes the playoffs, there's a good chance they're going to be cleaning up no matter who wins.
That's a good point. They'd better get bonuses too.
This season has solidified my position as a regular season guy when it comes to major league baseball. I enjoyed the heck out of the Twins this year -and the Orioles, and the Yankees almost losing, and a bunch of other things (so much so it inspired me to look up my WGOM password).
I'm happy the Twins won a playoff game and series, if for no other reason than I don't have to read about it anymore. I watched when I could. I read recaps and commentary about the games, and I anticipated the ump scorecard releases the morning after. I wanted them to do well, and was sad when they lost. Overall though, I couldn't shake a "meh" feeling about the whole thing. Maybe that would have changed if the Twins had advanced deeper - it is fun when the town gets caught up in baseball.
But generally, the tournament at the end of the season features most of the things I don't love about baseball and few of the things I do love. Also, the fact that a Twins fan (or Orioles fan, or Rays fan, etc) can feel after 162 games that this season was a failure due to performance in a handful of games played under a different format at the end is ridiculous. It was a fun season - reminded me of 2006. Let's do it again next year.
I believe the extended postseason format leads to more fan unhappiness, even if it drives “engagement.”
It’s also time for MLB to stop subjecting fans to awful national announcers who parachute in on teams, fail to tell important stories that go beyond the headlines. (I heard announcers mention Nick Gordon without explaining who he was or his presence in the dugout.) I’d be happy to pay for an MLB.tv postseason package that allowed me to watch my team’s television broadcast. I missed all the special pregame stuff that the Twins did with first pitches, alumni appearances, and so on because the networks wanted to push their studio “talent” I. viewers’ faces right up until game time.
I think about it this way. If MLB was using the original format, where only the best team in each league played in the World Series, there would be much more disappointment, because most teams would be out of that picture for much longer. Looking back, even when the Twins had great seasons in 2006 and 2019, they wouldn't have had the best record in the league, and would not have made it. The engagement does help, even if it just provides hope that maybe next year they can do it (kinda like I feel now with the Twins). However, then you have teams like the Dodgers who get there every year, and often get shut down.
Really though, MLB does it because of money. Sure, we could have fewer playoff teams, but that means less revenue.
I also agree that the announcers are just not that interesting. I don't really care about AJ Pierzynski or Adam Wainwright. They might be former players with some insight, but there's just no familiarity. I'd rather them bring in an announcer from each team's main booth. Have them go at it back and forth. That might be worth watching!
I agree with all of that. At the Tuesday game, this was the coolest moment. I was there but I don't it made the TV coverage.
Awesome moment at Target Field with Johan Santana revealing his Pablo Lopez jersey before throwing out the first pitch pic.twitter.com/TIijtei3H5
Typically I'm not a big fan of those let's bring out the team from 20xx to celebrate, or number retirement ceremonies, etc. (Never waved a homer hanky either -- now get off my lawn!) But I have to admit that was pretty cool when Johan revealed that he was wearing a Lopez jersey.
I think that captures what makes the difference for me -- if it's clear that the retired players are there to support the current team, then I am all about it. But if they seem to be there just for themselves, then I am not a fan.
What strikes me is just how different the playoffs are from the regular season. Teams like the Dodgers can have stellar regular seasons year after year (how many 100+ win seasons have they had?!) But then they get to the playoffs, and Clayton Kershaw, stud pitcher, suddenly implodes. Offenses go quiet. Defenses get the yips. I can't explain it, but it's very evident. The Braves won so many postseason trips in the 90's, but only sealed the deal once back then. Meanwhile, you have the Royals coming out of nowhere in 2014 and 2015 to make the WS one year and win the next. And the Giants in 10, 12, and 14. Astros the last 7 years. Some teams have it figured out.
The main things I see as difference makers are starting pitching (seriously excited to have Pablo on this team), and managers. Dusty Baker, Terry Francona, Joe Torre (back in the day). There are some managers that just know how to win. It's too early to tell on Rocco just yet, but I feel better with him that I did about Gardy or Molitor. As much as I questioned the bullpen strategy of Game 4, it worked out pretty well. Paddack was stellar and Duran held it late. Just that one AB with Abreu and Thielbar made the difference.
Twins regular season was okay, but not nearly as fun as 06 or 19. I am hoping though that next year we'll be able to stay competitive. I do think the Tigers will be more of a threat next year, and the Guardians are always lurking. Royals and Sox I'm not too worried about, but you never know.
I can't explain it, but it's very evident.
Anything can happen over three games. Now Kershaw's thing goes way beyond that (194 innings!), but the rest of the team is such a coin flip. Orioles weren't swept all year only to be "swept" in the postseason. The Dodgers won 104 games in 2017 and they also had an eleven game losing streak. Our poor brains can't handle how much randomness is in a baseball game.
The rest I mostly agree with. What matters for pitching is condensed into 2-3 starters and 2-3 relievers (e.g. 2019 Nationals).
The main things I see as difference makers are starting pitching (seriously excited to have Pablo on this team), and managers.
I would add depth (bullpen and bench), which we also had this year. But we can improve on that
And I felt like we had both a good bullpen and bench. The fact that Rocco could platoon pretty effectively was evident of that. Wallner/Castro, Solano/Kirilloff, Julien/Farmer. Also, the lack of depth was certainly evident last year when we had so many injuries.
I haven't felt that comfortable with the bullpen since.... well ever.
But absolutely right that we can improve on that. I feel like we have a glut of infielders but not a ton in the outfield.
I just wonder how much we all would be fine with the playoff format if our hometown squad didn't have such a bad run over the past 20 years.
Hey Scot! Long time no see!
Corn! It has been a bit since I've commented.
If you havent done todays Grid dont open the spoiler
Y'all remember the Matt Fox game in 2010? Or is he just a dude that is stuck in the wrinkles of my brainfolds
Surgery time for Twins players.
Buxton:
Byron Buxton had an arthroscopic procedure to excise the plica in his right knee today, which the Twins hope will alleviate the patellar tendinitis risk and symptoms. Plan remains to get him ready for CF next year.
Michael Brantley had the same surgery and took a year to return to the field.
Julien to first base?
Bellinger.
Shohei in a pinch
I think plica syndrome is what my wife had when they gave her a cortisone shot. I almost passed out just watching it, the needle and syringe were like horror movie props.
You know it's serious when they give you a shot to give you a shot. I wouldn't dare look at the cortisone needle they used on my hip once
I had one under my kneecap once. The shot was definitely worse than the pain that was the reason for the shot.
One of if not the most painful thing I've ever experienced was a cortisone shot directly into my Achilles. Twice. Man that sucked.
Three shots into my big toe. There's not a lot of meat there for a needle to go.
Glendale lost to the Scottsdale Scorpions 9-6. Once again there was a big inning by the opposition, as Scottsdale scored six runs in the fifth. Aaron Sabato was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run. Kala'i Rosario was 1-for-4 with a two-run homer. Jordan Carr pitched four innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out three. A. J. Labas pitched a scoreless inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.
They might be even more annoyed when the opposing team makes the playoffs?
My thought is if the employer makes the playoffs, there's a good chance they're going to be cleaning up no matter who wins.
That's a good point. They'd better get bonuses too.
This season has solidified my position as a regular season guy when it comes to major league baseball. I enjoyed the heck out of the Twins this year -and the Orioles, and the Yankees almost losing, and a bunch of other things (so much so it inspired me to look up my WGOM password).
I'm happy the Twins won a playoff game and series, if for no other reason than I don't have to read about it anymore. I watched when I could. I read recaps and commentary about the games, and I anticipated the ump scorecard releases the morning after. I wanted them to do well, and was sad when they lost. Overall though, I couldn't shake a "meh" feeling about the whole thing. Maybe that would have changed if the Twins had advanced deeper - it is fun when the town gets caught up in baseball.
But generally, the tournament at the end of the season features most of the things I don't love about baseball and few of the things I do love. Also, the fact that a Twins fan (or Orioles fan, or Rays fan, etc) can feel after 162 games that this season was a failure due to performance in a handful of games played under a different format at the end is ridiculous. It was a fun season - reminded me of 2006. Let's do it again next year.
I believe the extended postseason format leads to more fan unhappiness, even if it drives “engagement.”
It’s also time for MLB to stop subjecting fans to awful national announcers who parachute in on teams, fail to tell important stories that go beyond the headlines. (I heard announcers mention Nick Gordon without explaining who he was or his presence in the dugout.) I’d be happy to pay for an MLB.tv postseason package that allowed me to watch my team’s television broadcast. I missed all the special pregame stuff that the Twins did with first pitches, alumni appearances, and so on because the networks wanted to push their studio “talent” I. viewers’ faces right up until game time.
I think about it this way. If MLB was using the original format, where only the best team in each league played in the World Series, there would be much more disappointment, because most teams would be out of that picture for much longer. Looking back, even when the Twins had great seasons in 2006 and 2019, they wouldn't have had the best record in the league, and would not have made it. The engagement does help, even if it just provides hope that maybe next year they can do it (kinda like I feel now with the Twins). However, then you have teams like the Dodgers who get there every year, and often get shut down.
Really though, MLB does it because of money. Sure, we could have fewer playoff teams, but that means less revenue.
I also agree that the announcers are just not that interesting. I don't really care about AJ Pierzynski or Adam Wainwright. They might be former players with some insight, but there's just no familiarity. I'd rather them bring in an announcer from each team's main booth. Have them go at it back and forth. That might be worth watching!
I agree with all of that. At the Tuesday game, this was the coolest moment. I was there but I don't it made the TV coverage.
Typically I'm not a big fan of those let's bring out the team from 20xx to celebrate, or number retirement ceremonies, etc. (Never waved a homer hanky either -- now get off my lawn!) But I have to admit that was pretty cool when Johan revealed that he was wearing a Lopez jersey.
I think that captures what makes the difference for me -- if it's clear that the retired players are there to support the current team, then I am all about it. But if they seem to be there just for themselves, then I am not a fan.
What strikes me is just how different the playoffs are from the regular season. Teams like the Dodgers can have stellar regular seasons year after year (how many 100+ win seasons have they had?!) But then they get to the playoffs, and Clayton Kershaw, stud pitcher, suddenly implodes. Offenses go quiet. Defenses get the yips. I can't explain it, but it's very evident. The Braves won so many postseason trips in the 90's, but only sealed the deal once back then. Meanwhile, you have the Royals coming out of nowhere in 2014 and 2015 to make the WS one year and win the next. And the Giants in 10, 12, and 14. Astros the last 7 years. Some teams have it figured out.
The main things I see as difference makers are starting pitching (seriously excited to have Pablo on this team), and managers. Dusty Baker, Terry Francona, Joe Torre (back in the day). There are some managers that just know how to win. It's too early to tell on Rocco just yet, but I feel better with him that I did about Gardy or Molitor. As much as I questioned the bullpen strategy of Game 4, it worked out pretty well. Paddack was stellar and Duran held it late. Just that one AB with Abreu and Thielbar made the difference.
Twins regular season was okay, but not nearly as fun as 06 or 19. I am hoping though that next year we'll be able to stay competitive. I do think the Tigers will be more of a threat next year, and the Guardians are always lurking. Royals and Sox I'm not too worried about, but you never know.
Anything can happen over three games. Now Kershaw's thing goes way beyond that (194 innings!), but the rest of the team is such a coin flip. Orioles weren't swept all year only to be "swept" in the postseason. The Dodgers won 104 games in 2017 and they also had an eleven game losing streak. Our poor brains can't handle how much randomness is in a baseball game.
The rest I mostly agree with. What matters for pitching is condensed into 2-3 starters and 2-3 relievers (e.g. 2019 Nationals).
The main things I see as difference makers are starting pitching (seriously excited to have Pablo on this team), and managers.
I would add depth (bullpen and bench), which we also had this year. But we can improve on that
And I felt like we had both a good bullpen and bench. The fact that Rocco could platoon pretty effectively was evident of that. Wallner/Castro, Solano/Kirilloff, Julien/Farmer. Also, the lack of depth was certainly evident last year when we had so many injuries.
I haven't felt that comfortable with the bullpen since.... well ever.
But absolutely right that we can improve on that. I feel like we have a glut of infielders but not a ton in the outfield.
I just wonder how much we all would be fine with the playoff format if our hometown squad didn't have such a bad run over the past 20 years.
Hey Scot! Long time no see!
Corn! It has been a bit since I've commented.
If you havent done todays Grid dont open the spoiler
Surgery time for Twins players.
Buxton:
Kirilloff:
Michael Brantley had the same surgery and took a year to return to the field.
Julien to first base?
Bellinger.
Shohei in a pinch
I think plica syndrome is what my wife had when they gave her a cortisone shot. I almost passed out just watching it, the needle and syringe were like horror movie props.
You know it's serious when they give you a shot to give you a shot. I wouldn't dare look at the cortisone needle they used on my hip once
I had one under my kneecap once. The shot was definitely worse than the pain that was the reason for the shot.
One of if not the most painful thing I've ever experienced was a cortisone shot directly into my Achilles. Twice. Man that sucked.
Three shots into my big toe. There's not a lot of meat there for a needle to go.
Hey zooms -- three words: pizzoccheri della valtellina
(pronounced pete-SOCK-er-ee, or Pete's sockery)
Heyyy, Buckwheat!
That looks interesting. I have had buckwheat noodles in Asian cuisine. I might have to try replicating that dish.