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Travis Sawchik
12:23
I think that's right. It looks like good Verlander is back
Jeff
12:24
Judge and Altuve are tied today in fWAR with 7.3, yet it is all but assumed that Altuve has the MVP wrapped up. Am I missing something?
Travis Sawchik
12:26
It's another fascinating race due the contrast of the players and the skills ... there aren't two more different position players in terms of size
I think some are probably remembering Judge's post-ASG slump, but he's rebounded pretty well
Slamboni
12:27
I know that where Darvish ends up isn't the deciding factor in Ohtani and his decision, but if it came down to NYY vs TEX as top suitors, and Darvish returned to TEX, wouldn't that be enough of a tiebreaker for Ohtani?
Travis Sawchik
12:27
If all other considerations are equal or cancel themselves out, familiarity in a foreign land would have to be a factor
Dane
12:27
I don't understand what we're fixing by trying to decrease the second WC team's chances of advancing. If that was the goal shouldn't we just completely eliminate the WC game? Makes the chances 0%.

I think the division winner with the worst record should have to play the second WC team in the WC game if the first WC team has the second or third best record in the league.
Travis Sawchik
12:28
If you're the WC1 and one game or multiple games better, it seems absurd to me that you have to play in a made-for-TV 163rd game to enter the playoffs
The idea is to promote meritocracy and reward a WC1 team that performed better over the course of a 162-game season
12:29
The Wild Card round is a little different from the rest of the postseason as it is really a play-in game to enter the postseason field
Aladdin Sane
12:29
What is the difference between bWAR and Fangraphs' RA9-WAR?  For example, Sale has 6.2 bWAR but 7.5 RA9-WAR.
Travis Sawchik
12:29
FanGraphs pitching WAR is basically tied to FIP, and Baseball Reference is tied more to actual run prevention that occurred
12:30
And that underscores a really interesting part of the debate
BAEllinger
12:30
What are some desperate strategies we might see teams pull in the playoffs?
Travis Sawchik
12:30
I suspect we'll see more focus on bullpens, and maybe one day we'll see a reliever start a Wild Card game and try to flip the platoon advantage
Pat
12:31
New extended netting: Is this something that is going to go all the way down the 1B/3B line to the foul pole? Or something that will probably just extend to the bag on each side?
Travis Sawchik
12:32
I haven't looked into to it, but I think probably just to the end of the infield. With Statcast data they can look at the trouble spots for foul balls (velocity, location, etc)
stever20
12:32
how historical is the run that Kluber is on right now?  15-2 1.62 ERA 23/221 bb/k ratio in 161.1 innings over 22 starts.
Travis Sawchik
12:32
Pretty historical
12:33
I can't remember a better run in the last 30 years, though I think Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez have probably been in that ballpark
Sandy Ravage
12:33
Let's say MLB really did juice the ball, do they "un-juice" it next year and claim they fixed it? Or keep it and sit back and watch all the dingers?
Travis Sawchik
12:34
If they "un-juice" it they care more questions, as Ben Lindbergh and Rob Arthur are not going to let that go unnoticed. Also, HRs are generally good for the sport. So I don't think there will be changes to the ball unless things get too out of hand (I guess you could argue they already are)
Adam
12:34
Ideal playoff system: Scrap divisions, balance schedule,  top 4 teams advance.
Travis Sawchik
12:34
It will never happen. MLB likes creating playoff races, and players like divisions and unbalanced schedule in that it reduces overall travel
Gregory
12:35
What's the difference between historical and historic?
Travis Sawchik
12:35
[Thinking face emoji]
12:36
Historical is something old and of interest ... tied to age, I suppose. Historic is an achievement placed into context
Simmons
12:36
I can't believe the Angels got Simmons for Newcombe.
Travis Sawchik
12:36
I think the Braves would like to have that one back
Chris
12:36
What's the Indians outfield look like vs righties and lefties in the postseason?
Travis Sawchik
12:37
Great question
Indians leadership is apparently meeting Wednesday to figure this out
My best guess:
LF: Chisenhall/Guyer (platoon). CF: Kipnis/Jackson (platoon) RF: Bruce
12:38
Chisenahll needs to be healthy, though
Adam
12:38
Less ideal playoffs: expand to 32 teams, Every team makes it, NCAA tournament style seeding.
Travis Sawchik
12:38
And all single-game elimination
It would be absurd but we would all watch .
And that's the problem with playoffs: they are more about entertainment than merit
E
12:39
I feel like the Indians have something up their sleeve if they are moving Clevinger to the pen, be interesting to see how/when they use him. Maybe they won't anyone, including Kluber, go twice through the batting order
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