2025 MLB Thread

[ELA]

Sample size of 162 games vs a short series.  That's all. 

Here:  the Dodgers are just as likely to win the next 4 games as they were before Game 1.  Or Toronto is just as likely to do whatever the hell as they were before Game 1. 
Dodgers are favored over the team with the better record playing at home AND coming off a big win.  Hmmph. 

Vegas loves tricking idiots.  Dodgers might still win with a team that was worse over 162 games, and without homefield advantage.  Because, coin flip.  But Toronto beating that ass at home ain't a coin flip, it's what 162 games proved.  If LA wins, coin flip.  Hell, they've already won 2 series as the worse team over 162 games, so they can certainly keep that going

[OrangeAfroMan]

Vegas loves tricking idiots.  Dodgers might still win with a team that was worse over 162 games, and without homefield advantage.  Because, coin flip.  But Toronto beating that ass at home ain't a coin flip, it's what 162 games proved.  If LA wins, coin flip.  Hell, they've already won 2 series as the worse team over 162 games, so they can certainly keep that going

If you believe this can be gleaned from one outcome,  you're the idiot being tricked.  C'mon, you don't really believe what you're saying here.  You can't.  Just bored and trolling.

Well whaddaya know......

[ELA]

If you believe this can be gleaned from one outcome,  you're the idiot being tricked.  C'mon, you don't really believe what you're saying here.  You can't.  Just bored and trolling.

Well whaddaya know......
[img width=361.238 height=105]https://i.imgur.com/Jzm492L.jpeg[/img]

No, I believe that over 162 games Toronto was the better team.

Nice job by the 3rd best team in the NL winning the coin flip tonight

[ELA]

I still just want to get this right.

The Dodgers outspent everyone.  But that doesnt matter, because the playoffs are random.  What matters is the 162 game regular season.  Until the Dodgers also dont win that.  Then its what Vegas thinks.  And if the Dodgers win, its because they are amazing.  But if not, its because the pkayoffs are a coinflip.  And its only a coin flip if the team that was better over 162 games wins.  If the team that was like 6th over 162 games wins, its legit, because Vegas knew they were the best.  And we all said that they were the best, because they outspent everyone.  But that might mean nothing because they might lose, in which case the playoffs are. dumb and random. 

Either way, excited to crown the Dodgers as the OAM champ yet again, where either they are the best team over 162, who loses in the coin flip playoff, or not the best over 162, but still the best, and the playoffs just proved it

[OrangeAfroMan]

You're like a Big Ten fan whining about SEC teams not playing 9 games here, with the payroll stuff. 

And you're surprisingly simple, calling Toronto the better team because they had a better record than LA, by one game.  Idk, I tend to give you more credit than the horrible take you have on this.

1 - Postseason, short-series outcomes are nearly a coin flip.  Of course this is true.  The lack of teams with the best record winning the WS is hot garbage.  The Brewers and Phillies say hi.  This is the #1 reason MLB has such a varied number of WS champions over the past however many years.  It's a math problem.  

2 - Payroll has nothing to do with this conversation.  It's a tangential whining tactic.  We can have that conversation, but it is a different conversation.  The Mets say hi.

3 - Valuing baseball teams' quality by W-L record and rating them with a few games difference is more limited thinking.  Toronto won 94 games to LA's 93?  Cool.  The Dodgers' run differential was nearly double Toronto's.  That's far more telling and accurate as a measure of team quality.

Open your eyes and stop turning off your brain over payroll.  You're exposing a blind spot you have. 

[OrangeAfroMan]

Each postseason series is a coinflip whether the Dodgers win or lose.  The 162-game season, while sports best sample size, still isn't "good enough."  But it is what it is.  Can't really complain about 6 months of playing 6 out of every 7 days.

This isn't about making up excuses for the Dodgers, either.  You really are bored, aren't you?

[ELA]

I honestly dont care that much, I just enjoy watching baseball.  Like Ive always said, Im always on the side of entertainment.  Its just funny the way you always twist the narrative. 

The Dodgers are probably the best team.  They are the best team because they spend the most money.  Thats not something to be ashamed of   Every fan should wish their team spent the most money.  If that doesnt mean they win a WS, thats also fine

[OrangeAfroMan]

I don't know if the Dodgers are the best team.  They've been the favored team, even as the 3-seed in the NL.  Their starting pitching is obscene, which is probably why they've been favored in each series and yes, their payroll helped with that.

But the Brewers had the best season.  They now know the postseason is a coin flip.  My points about this are less about one team (LA) and more about the sport as a whole.  Your focus on LA is odd to me.

Take the Tigers.  They had a good season, especially for them.  Hopefully, they can remain strong and have many shots in future postseasons.  They had a sort of collapse, but erased that by beating Cleveland in the first round.  Coin flip.  They had a close series loss vs Seattle, the 2 seed, but that could have easily gone DET's way.  Coin flip. 

Last year was an outlier, having both 1-seeds make the WS.  LA could have easily lost to SD in the LCS (3-2).  Coin flip. 
In 2023, the 5 seed (TEX) played the 6 seed (ARI) in the WS.  All the coin flips.

All of the available data supports this. 

[MarqHusker]

Bonds would never see these pitches.

[MarqHusker]

Finally.   

[MarqHusker]

I don't know if the Dodgers are the best team.  They've been the favored team, even as the 3-seed in the NL.  Their starting pitching is obscene, which is probably why they've been favored in each series and yes, their payroll helped with that.

But the Brewers had the best season.  They now know the postseason is a coin flip.  My points about this are less about one team (LA) and more about the sport as a whole.  Your focus on LA is odd to me.

The Brewers continue to learn,  quit limping into the playoffs missing arms, wounded arms and/or bats.   They sure dont help their coin flips.   

[OrangeAfroMan]

Free baseball tonight!  Ohtani with 2 HRs.  He's a cyborg.

[ELA]

Great game, too bad its nearly 1 am

[ELA]

Rooting for Toronto, but didnt want to see Kershaw give up a bases loaded walk there. 

Who is going to be available tomorrow?