~2022 MLB Thread~

[longhorn320]

A thing I notice in such "discussions" is how a pretty simple point will get exaggerated to some extreme to counter it, when it isn't the point at all.

It's obvious that a team great in every other respect but an average bullpen can win.  And I think more important than season ERA is ERA in the last month or so.  Teams do add pitching, often BP pitching, at the trade deadline, and that can make a bullpen.

A team can have a very average record before June 1 and win the WS by "getting hot", in part by adding different players later.  And those teams can do well in the playoffs.

At least the Mets are out. 

not this year


every team remaining in the playoffs has a good bull pen as is normally the case

[Cincydawg]

Nope, not this year.  LA and Houston are the obvious favorites, and for good reason.

[OrangeAfroMan]

you act like I said you only do well in the playoffs with the best bullpen and thats not my point at all

you dont have to have the best but you do need a good one

every team in the playoffs probably has a better bullpen then the 20 teams that didnt make it

obviously a good bull pen isnt the only asset needed

you also need a good starting rotation and offensive hitting punch as well

my main point is a good bullpen is often overlooked when measuring the ability of a team to win in the playoffs

Who has ever suggested good teams have shitty bullpens?  You're backtracking hard here.

[OrangeAfroMan]

A thing I notice in such "discussions" is how a pretty simple point will get exaggerated to some extreme to counter it, when it isn't the point at all.

My favorite part is when the goalposts get moved and then the person backtracks when the other person does some actual research to disprove the point.

[longhorn320]

Who has ever suggested good teams have shitty bullpens?  You're backtracking hard here.

I never said you said anything about shitty bullpens go back and read what I said

[OrangeAfroMan]

Hey guys, teams tend to win when they score more runs than their opponent.

[longhorn320]

Hey guys, teams tend to win when they score more runs than their opponent.

Is this why everyone calls you Mr Baseball

Such an abundance of knowledge

[Cincydawg]

As I noted, when some starts distorting with intent what others posted, it's a sign, not the first one either.

In my opinion, a team can have a great 162 game season and be less well prepared for the playoffs than another that wins fewer games.  It doesn't happen every time of course.  Often, the LAs and Houstons prevail.  And sometimes a team that wins only 88 may prevail, in part due to "luck" or random factors.  

The game has changed a lot, I think, over the past decade, aside from the DH in the NL.  The shift is very common now, analytics is a big thing, bullpens have become much larger factors, a starter who goes 6 and yields 2-3 runs may be your ace.  The sacrifice bunt is almost forgotten as a thing.  It's pretty amazing really.

[longhorn320]

As I noted, when some starts distorting with intent what others posted, it's a sign, not the first one either.

In my opinion, a team can have a great 162 game season and be less well prepared for the playoffs than another that wins fewer games.  It doesn't happen every time of course.  Often, the LAs and Houstons prevail.  And sometimes a team that wins only 88 may prevail, in part due to "luck" or random factors. 

The game has changed a lot, I think, over the past decade, aside from the DH in the NL.  The shift is very common now, analytics is a big thing, bullpens have become much larger factors, a starter who goes 6 and yields 2-3 runs may be your ace.  The sacrifice bunt is almost forgotten as a thing.  It's pretty amazing really.

maybe for Atlanta but not Houston

Houston bunts quite often when the shift offers an advantage to it

[Cincydawg]

They sacrifice bunt a lot?  Huh.  This claims they are pretty far down the list.

if you look at the ten teams with the fewest sacrifice bunts, six of them are in the top-10 in scoring (Dodgers, Braves, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Phillies, and Astros). Only one team in the top-10 in sacrifice bunts (Mets) are in the top-10 in scoring.

MLB Stats - MLB Team Sacrifice Hits per Game | TeamRankings.com

[longhorn320]

They sacrifice bunt a lot?  Huh.  This claims they are pretty far down the list.

if you look at the ten teams with the fewest sacrifice bunts, six of them are in the top-10 in scoring (Dodgers, Braves, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Phillies, and Astros). Only one team in the top-10 in sacrifice bunts (Mets) are in the top-10 in scoring.

MLB Stats - MLB Team Sacrifice Hits per Game | TeamRankings.com

well they do bunt in general a lot maybe not just for sacrifices

[FearlessF]

Rod Carew used to bunt for base hits more often than most

[Cincydawg]

I've seen Olson try to bunt against the shift sometimes when they need a runner.  I have yet to see that work for him.

I wonder if one should look at a team's record against other very good teams to see who has an advantage in the playoffs.  Pounding bad teams isn't very probative, I think.

[OrangeAfroMan]

2021 NL
ATL-MIL-STL-SF-LA
Records vs each other
14-11  ATL
18-21  MIL
19-20  STL
18-20  SF
21-18  LA
.
Not much to glean here.  You'd have to include years and years in both leagues to find any possible trend.  But these teams did go 16-3 or 15-4 vs the underlings here and there.  So while yes, those teams aren't included in the playoffs, that tends to yield near-.500 records for the playoff teams vs each other.  
.
*ATL's is fewer games, because they had no Eastern brethren make the playoffs.