plagiarizing from my own self in the chatter thread:

"best records in both leagues, eliminated in the first round (since wild card):

2002: yankees 103 wins, oakland 103 wins, altanta 102 wins
2008: angels of azusa: 100 wins, cubs of evanston: 97 wins
this year
"

nuff said

I know merely by having a username on this site qualifies me as a baseball geek, but damn, I love 1-0 games.

Goliath goes down!

Unfortunately, the downside is that the Cardinals play on. Damn you Tony La Russa!

Gotta love the Brewers/Cards NLCS this sets up. That will be EPIC.

First time the Phillies lost 1-0 all year.

It's "flyover" country for the rest of the postseason (Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis).

I think it's worth pointing out that there weren't simply three Games 5 this year - they were all low-scoring nailbiters decided by one run. Crazy.

The Cardinals scored their only run in the first inning. Halladay allowed a leadoff triple to Rafael Furcal, which has been Halladay's Achilles' heel this season.

That's a rather unfortunate way of putting it, if Howard's injury is serious.

Brewers - Cardinals the most legitimate bad blood LCS since 2003/2004,Red Sox-Yankees? I wouldn't be shocked if we get a brawl at some point.

Every team has a legitimate bad blood relationship with a Tony LaRussa run team.

I know it's not sporting, but it did make some sense for Philly to tank that last game against my Bravos. Maybe even the whole series.

Then they face Arizona instead of a red-hot Cards team, and have the potential to face a banged-up Braves team in the NLCS.

Might not have made a difference, who knows.

It's amazing that the existence of ONE person on this site who would be a completely typical fan on most sites (loudmouth who tries to talk trash all the time) has made so many people root against the Phillies. Even I started feeling bad for wanting them to win. Until they were up against the Cardinals, that is.

Well, we know the Brewers are better than the Cardinals because they won the division and outscored them by a massive 71-64 in the season series, so this should be smooth sailing.

First time ever that two teams in the Championship series actually have a history against each other in the World Series. I suppose someday we could see a White Sox - Astros ALCS.

What a night of baseball. That 8th inning with Halladay pitching while the bases were loaded was unreal.

Felt terrible for Ryan Howard, though. Pretty much the worst and most pathetic way to conclude the Phillies loss. Big slugger going down in anguish. Then, to balance that out, Chris Carpenter celebrating shirtless and tattooed. What a crazy friggin night.

I know it's not sporting, but it did make some sense for Philly to tank that last game against my Bravos. Maybe even the whole series.

they lost 8/9 going into that final series. they had to play to win.

It's amazing that the existence of ONE person on this site who would be a completely typical fan on most sites (loudmouth who tries to talk trash all the time) has made so many people root against the Phillies.

that's a bit of an insult. i'm not so much a typical fan as i am a huge wrestling mark who's having a bit of a fun antagonizing the crowd.

Steagles makes you root against the Phillies? If you think he's bad with the Phillies, it's probably a good thing you don't participate in the NBA thread. Not that the NBA is currently participating in the NBA thread either.

Too bad for the Phillies. Expectations were, of course, sky high.

The Phillies are the new '90s Braves! This was, unfortunately, a text book example of what can happen in a short series. The Cardinals have played great baseball over the last six weeks, especially with its pitching. And that's really the last thing a team such as the Phillies, who were prone to offensive droughts this year, want to see in a short series.

It's a bit odd to think that it was a Phillies' win that secured the Cardinals the NL wild card.

Not a big Cardinals fan, but I've been a Carpenter fan for a few years and follow his starts. He had to work HARD this year. I was very happy to see him pitch like this and get a win like this tonight.

There's 'playing to win' and there's 'Chase Utley is still in during a meaningless game in the 13th?' Never figured out why the Phillies were going all-out to beat the Braves.

You would think they would have been more concerned with resting a tired team for the playoffs.

Steagles makes you root against the Phillies?

You bet he does. As obnoxious as he is, it kinda thrills me to see him get his dick knocked in the dirt over this. The thought of his heartbreak actually made me smile tonight.

Then I remembered that La Russa won. Oh well, I'll take it. STEAGLES has made me hate the Phils *that* much with his worthless behavior.

The Phillies are the new '90s Braves!

The Braves never lost a Division Series in the '90s.

The NLCS is going to be great baseball, but as a Cubs fan, I'm having flashbacks to 2006 when I needed to "root" for either the Cardinals or the Mets to rep the NL in the World Series.

Being a lifelong Michigan resident, I really should be pulling for Detroit. But I just can't yet. Every team, except perhaps the Pirates or Royals, have loudmouth fans. But living in Michigan, I'm only able to interact in person with those loudmouth fans who align themselves with the Tigers.

I feel like a heel, though, since there aren't any unsavory Tiger players (with the possible exception of Miguel Cabrera) and a title would be a nice pick me up for Detroit. But the Tigers seem to draw well enough each season so long as they're competitive. I don't think a world championship would jolt attendance numbers up THAT much.

You bet he does. As obnoxious as he is, it kinda thrills me to see him get his dick knocked in the dirt over this. The thought of his heartbreak actually made me smile tonight.

hate to tell you this, but i stopped getting heartbroken over sporting events right about the same time i reached the age where i realized that the whole god thing wasn't for me.

Rather odd factoid: The four first-round losers each outscored their opponent overall in the LCS.

Was wondering if the title of "Theoretical Best Team in Baseball 2011" is still able to go to a World Series team. I suppose maybe were the Rangers to be extremely impressive in winning our en route to the title you could argue for them to unseat the Yankees (or Phillies I suppose).

I realize this is the sort of thing that brings catcalls from some sectors, but I'm not claiming this title is anywhere close to as important, just a fun thing to think about. Can the Rangers play well enough from here on out to do it? Hell, can any of the other three do it?

There's 'playing to win' and there's 'Chase Utley is still in during a meaningless game in the 13th?' Never figured out why the Phillies were going all-out to beat the Braves.

You would think they would have been more concerned with resting a tired team for the playoffs.


They were afraid of having people on BTF denounce them as destroying the integrity of the sport like the Yankees did.

You bet he does. As obnoxious as he is, it kinda thrills me to see him get his dick knocked in the dirt over this. The thought of his heartbreak actually made me smile tonight.

Then I remembered that La Russa won. Oh well, I'll take it. STEAGLES has made me hate the Phils *that* much with his worthless behavior.

Aren't you the dual-fanship Phillies/Mariners guy? Sports bigamy and rooting against your own team because of Steagles? Jeez.

For the record, Steagles used to annoy me, but after having had roughly 2000 fake trades involving some combination of Sam Dalembert and Andre Igouadala for LeBron get run up the flagpole, you start to get used to it.

Wow, a legit laugh out loud when realizing the "loud mouthed phillies fan" was none other than the NBA thread's Steagles.

Hey Steegs, maybe the Phils can trade Howard to the Bulls for Derrick Rose and Noah.

As much as we love to hate TLR, the man takes many different kinds of teams with many different levels of talent (ok, mostly above average talent) to the playofffs. He's the greatest manager of our generation.

Halladay should have pitched to the score. :-)

Halladay allowed a leadoff triple to Rafael Furcal, which has been Halladay's Achilles' heel this season.

Halladay gives up a lot of leadoff triples?

Eso is a Nats/Mariners fan.

Every fanbase of course has great guys and obnoxious guys, and just guys. Also, while Steagles talks some smack about his teams, I have never seen him insult people here in particularly obnoxious ways.

And Eso rooted openly and loudly for Boston to lose on a couple of GC Threads (Games 161 and 162), drawing the ire of a couple of Therapudlians.

Eso is a Nats/Mariners fan.

My mistake.

Aren't you the dual-fanship Phillies/Mariners guy?

Eso's a Nats/M's guy.

I suppose maybe were the Rangers to be extremely impressive in winning our en route to the title you could argue for them to unseat the Yankees (or Phillies I suppose).

Passing the Yankees wouldn't be too difficult, if they haven't already. A convincing WS run would probably do the trick against the Phils.

@28

I noted that earlier. I was in the group here who gave TLR some crap after the Rasmus deal. But here we have the Cardinals back in the NLCS.

Any postseason without the Yankees or the Phillies is a good postseason for me. Go whoever else!

Steagles roots for an aging group of overpaid, unathletic veterans whose #### doesn't work in the postseason. I understand why he overcompensated with his trash talking throughout the season.

For the record, Steagles used to annoy me, but after having had roughly 2000 fake trades involving some combination of Sam Dalembert and Andre Igouadala for LeBron get run up the flagpole, you start to get used to it.

if toronto can trade vernon wells for mike napoli while shedding the entirety of wells' contract, there's hope for this deal yet, :)

The Phillies are still the theoretical best team in baseball in 2011. Just too bad about Cliff Lee.

Eso is a Nats/Mariners fan.

Indeed. So I know what baseball futility truly feels like.

And while I was rooting for the Sox to lose, it wasn't because I disliked the Sox per se (although I have no love lost for them), but rather because "the story" was just so irresistable in all ways. And furthermore I think I really went out of my way to be very gracious about it both during (after some folks complained) and after, when it was all over. There really is no comparison.

It's amazing that the existence of ONE person on this site who would be a completely typical fan on most sites (loudmouth who tries to talk trash all the time) has made so many people root against the Phillies

Sez who? I have cordially disliked the Phillies -- and the Iggles and the Sixers and the Flyers -- for decades. Screw all Philly teams.

The Braves never lost a Division Series in the '90s.

They made up for it in the 00's, losing 4 out of 5 (and 2010 to boot).

Now the Mets have never lost an LDS. Too bad they almost never make it to the post-season.

The Phillies are still the theoretical best team in baseball in 2011. Just too bad about Cliff Lee.

Hold on just a second...pretty sure that if you add in postseason results the Yankees are STILL dominating the Pythagorean standings.

The AL West teams probably faced the second toughest schedule outside of the AL East, so that's one thing in the Rangers' favor.

but rather because "the story" was just so irresistable in all ways. And furthermore I think I really went out of my way to be very gracious about it both during (after some folks complained) and after, when it was all over. There really is no comparison.

Perhaps not, and I think you are mostly one of BTF's nice guys. But Steagles is just a guy who talks some trash about his team, and given what the Boston fans were facing at that time a guy saying "Go Orioles!" twenty times when he is not an Orioles fan...well, let's say the sword of metabrution can cut both ways.

I think it's worth pointing out that there weren't simply three Games 5 this year - they were all low-scoring nailbiters decided by one run. Crazy.

Plus the double game 162 madness. It's been a great couple of weeks.

Brewers - Cardinals the most legitimate bad blood LCS since 2003/2004,Red Sox-Yankees?

Agree, there is nothing like a division rival.

I am rambling, I am just excited and horrified that the Brewers have to play the Cardinals now. I love the shaggy characters and I fear the angry professionals. We all know who usually wins.

[29]

Halladay should have pitched to the score. :-)

Halladay allowed a leadoff triple to Rafael Furcal, which has been Halladay's Achilles' heel this season.

Halladay gives up a lot of leadoff triples?

Not exactly, but his 1st inning split was bad for him, yet slightly better than league average.

Split       G  IP  ER ERA   PA R 3B HR  BA  OBP  SLG  OPS tOPS+ sOPS+
1st inning 32 32.0 13 3.66 132 14 1 4 .274 .298 .419 .717 145     91
2nd inning 32 32.0  6 1.69 123  6 0 1 .239 .258 .316 .575  97     67
3rd inning 32 32.0  6 1.69 133  7 0 1 .239 .295 .291 .585 103     63
4th inning 32 32.0 10 2.81 134 11 1 1 .308 .311 .377 .688 136     86
5th inning 32 31.0  7 2.03 120  7 1 1 .209 .222 .252 .474  63     31
6th inning 30 30.0  5 1.50 110  5 0 1 .155 .200 .204 .404  40      9
7th inning 26 25.0  7 2.52 103  5 1 0 .220 .287 .297 .584 102     66
8th inning 13 13.0  2 1.38  46  3 0 1 .133 .152 .222 .374  27      8
9th inning  7  6.2  5 6.75  32  5 0 0 .400 .438 .467 .904 212    173


His splits against batters leading off a game and an inning are also striking.

Split         G   PA AB R H  2B 3B HR   BA  OBP  SLG   OPS BAbip tOPS+ sOPS+
First Batter 32  32  31 0 14  3  1  0 .452 .469 .613 1.082 .483    270 215
Leadoff Inn. 32 236 227 4 72 13  1  4 .317 .343 .436  .779 .384    167 117


Source: B-R

I am rambling, I am just excited and horrified that the Brewers have to play the Cardinals now. I love the shaggy characters and I fear the angry professionals. We all know who usually wins

I think Milwaukee is a slightly better team, but my gut says St.Louis takes it.

I think Milwaukee is a slightly better team, but my gut says St.Louis takes it.

I think the Brewers are pretty clearly the better team based on entire body of work. I have no idea who wins this one. I expect a hell of a show.

In the playoff prediction thread, I picked Philadelphia to beat St. Louis in 5. The series was exactly what I expected...except I thought the Phillies would score 2 or 3 for Roy Halladay in Game 5 and win 3-2 or 2-1 or so. But I thought StL would make it tough on them.

Point being: St. Louis is playing very well right now, and they are getting contributions from a lot of different guys.

At least the Cards just used Carpenter in a long evening, and the Crew has Greinke in Game 1. Pitching rotation favors the Brewers, unless Marcum is actually hurt (as is the rumor).

Personal environment note - NO, IT'S NOT WRITTEN IN THE STARS, STFU.

Can someone explain to me the reasoning for the John Jay bunt in the 8th inning? You have runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs, and Pujols on deck. So they have Jay advance the runners while giving up an out? You have to know that Milwaukee will just walk Pujols to load the bases and increase the chances of a double play with Berkman coming up. Why would you want to have your best hitter intentionally walked? Why take the bat out of his hands in such a close, and important game? Did TLR have that much faith in Berkman (sub 700 OPS for the series) and Holliday (sub 600 OPS for the series)?

And for the record, Steagles is a pretty good guy. He and I were in the same DMB League for about four years and have spent many hours chatting with each other over messenger about baseball and such. Yeah he proposes a lot of crappy trades (he must have tried to trade me Elijah Dukes at least ten times over the last two seasons), but you can never arse-rape anyone in a trade if you don't propose it. Do you think AA up in Toronto stopped himself from offering Vernon Wells to the Angels because it wasn't a fair deal? Yeah, Steagles can be a little abrasive, but we all can be a little judgmental and intolerant too. Just look at the hatred spewed about TLR on this site... and I'd be willing to bet that 99.9% of us have never even met the man.