Now Warming Up…MLB!

Let's start with the Opener.

***The Yankees, Dodgers, Guardians, and Phillies all go to the 2024 postseason with a first-round bye.  All but perhaps Cleveland will look at this postseason as a failure without winning the championship.  But, the post-pandemic version of the MLB playoff schedule is a fun one with a well-deserved bye for the best records throughout 162.   The Guardians may be the most balanced team of these four, and may have the deepest pitching.  What do you think?

Now to the Set Up Man.

*** Kudos to MLB for scheduling all teams to play at the same time (3:00 pm EST) for the last game of the season.  However, the introduction of more wildcard teams creates a situation where more teams may tie at the end of the season.  To that end, the Mets and Braves were forced to play a unique doubleheader on the Monday after the season concluded for all the others.  Both New York and Atlanta each won one in the doubleheader to advance.  MLB can schedule games better for these increasingly common scenarios. But, that first game of that doubleheader was an instant classic.  Closers blowing leads, tons of runs in the 8th and 9th innings.  Wow!

Now the Closer.

***Now those teams without a bye in the first round, Padres, Mets, Brewers, Braves, Orioles, Tigers, Royals and Astros play a best-of-three series.  Intense games are all played in one stadium in this series. This gives wildcard teams an advantage in that they can “jump” teams that are superior on paper.  Ask the Diamondbacks from last year.  What do you think?

“Never allow the circumstances of your life become an excuse.  People will allow you to do it.  But I believe we have a personal obligation to make the most of the abilities we have”~ Jim Abbott