Congratulations to the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks for giving MLB a postseason ratings nightmare, and for preventing me from calling this episode “The Full Dombrowski” just for berselius.
Topics include:
- Our enjoyment of the postseason so far
- Whether the playoff structure and the bye is good or bad
- Things to take care of for the Cubs this offseason to get an invite to the party next year
We’ll try to do something right after the World Series where I actually do some research to see what the Cubs can feasibly do to make a 2024 postseason run a reality.
You can check out the podcast page or just click on the embedded players below. You can also use the sidebar to get to our Apple Podcast pages and leave a nice review and rating if it pleases you.
Comments
BVSQuote Reply
I kind of don’t want either team to win because I think other fanbases deserve sorrow and misery but someone has to win so I hope it goes seven (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
There’s still Seattle.
And Oakland isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
BVSQuote Reply
Listening to our conversation again, AC’s idea about having the bye teams host the WC games seems like a fun extra perk for a team that did enough to get that bye, with extra opportunities to scout and rest and the extra gate receipts too, (plus the elimination of an off day) but I still think the lower seed owners would complain about less profit (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Good for Breslow. We sat behind him and his family at Sloan Park in one of the few spring training games in 2020, in the before times and briefly chatted (I looked him up after haha). He seems like a good dude.
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
Sounds like he basically takes over for Chaim Bloom, which may or may not be a good thing since the feeling is that Chaim’s role was simply to do ownership’s brilliant plan of trading Mookie Betts to save money or whatever.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I want to see the Rangers win purely because I hate the idea of a World Series champion with a negative run differential.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Relevant
Rice CubeQuote Reply
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Rice CubeQuote Reply
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Kind of a meh rarity score today.
PerkinsQuote Reply
What a lame-o
Rice CubeQuote Reply
It begins….
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/mets-to-interview-craig-counsell-for-managerial-vacancy.html
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I love this matchup. Personality wise, I don’t really like anyone in the series, but I like the idea of an underdog winning no matter what. The D-Backs have been impressive, and they’ve been playing as well as anyone for the past six weeks. The Rangers having their first shot at winning is a good story, even if it does mean W gets to celebrate undeservedly. Either way, it’s a pretty good story . . . yet a kick in the nuts thinking an extra off day here or there and it could have been the Cubs.
andcountingQuote Reply
Official
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/red-sox-to-hire-craig-breslow-as-president-of-baseball-operations.html
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I mean, as far as Twitter/X announcements are considered official anyway
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Dusty gone –> https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/10/25/dusty-baker-retires/71302675007/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Probably a good idea to learn more about the Negro Leagues
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Rice CubeQuote Reply
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The Negro Leagues column killed me.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Guess he can play defense
Rice CubeQuote Reply
If you dig into the Fielding Bible Award details you find that one of the voters is Bobby Scales. Remember him? (Assuming this isn’t some other coincidentally named Bobby Scales.)
BVSQuote Reply
BVS,
The most famous substitute teacher of all time
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
That’s pretty awesome. It’s fun to watch that guy play short.
andcountingQuote Reply
Brewers fun fact – every team they’ve lost to in the playoffs has gone on to make the World Series (dying laughing).
berseliusQuote Reply
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Wherein Cubs legends Jason Marquis, Juan Pierre, and Doug Davis appear.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I too used Juan Pierre
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Rice CubeQuote Reply
This is fun
https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2023/10/27/the-chicago-cubs-will-be-involved-in-trade-talks-for-juan-soto/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
Morel is the type of player who could make a team regret trading him for a rental, but I’m more than happy to see if it happens.
andcountingQuote Reply
The Onion’s issue right after 9/11 was very welcome because we needed a good laugh after all that, but this is pretty funny too
https://www.theonion.com/diamondbacks-owner-admits-nothing-will-top-beating-yank-1850964114
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Go snake I guess. Screw GWB
berseliusQuote Reply
Hmm, I kind of like the idea of further lowering the maximum pitcher count on the roster
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/rob-manfred-discusses-eppler-investigation-potential-rules-changes.html
Rice CubeQuote Reply
By the eyeball norm Seager’s home run went about 7205 feet.
berseliusQuote Reply
One of my favorite stories of this postseason is how, several years ago, the Cardinals traded Adolis Garcia for cash considerations.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I’m sure that cash paid off
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Dammit, I forgot they haven’t put Ichiro in the HOF yet (dying laughing)
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Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I look forward to seeing voting privileges revoked from anyone who fails to submit a ballot with his name on it.
andcountingQuote Reply
These achievement-only ones are rarity gold. I have no idea whatsoever how this collection of names could be so unpopular.
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andcountingQuote Reply
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I thought this was a great score until I saw AC’s (dying laughing). My center column was Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, and Billy Williams.
PerkinsQuote Reply
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Lots of people tried to shoehorn Maddux into the gold glove column apparently (dying laughing)
berseliusQuote Reply
berselius,
I used Maddux for 40+ career WAR x All Star because I figured he’d be less popular there and people would be primed to use a position player.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Arizona doing well so far, so this will end up being an amusing anecdote in the TOOTBLAN Hall of Fame
https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1718442036578132388?t=GWiTH7V6xyfFDEeRzgrjUA&s=19
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Under 3 hours for that beatdown, impressive
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Mixed performance with the grid today
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Rice CubeQuote Reply
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Had the worst time thinking of anyone other than Eddie Guardado for SEA-MIN so had to use Joe Nathan for MIN 30 SV with predictable results.
PerkinsQuote Reply
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Almost felt tougher being the first pure teams grid in awhile.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Am I the only one who thinks it’s hilariously ironic that Len Kasper’s stated reason for leaving the Cubs broadcast booth was to have a chance to call World Series games on the radio and his replacement is doi g exactly that?
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Maybe he thought Jerry would sell the team to someone who actually cared?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Perkins,
I’ll just go with sadly ironic. Wish Len was still around, he’s much better than Boog.
berseliusQuote Reply
Rice Cube,
I’m guessing he actually had beef with Marquee or the Ricketts family because I don’t think anyone expects the White Sox to contend for a World Series anytime soon.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I don’t dislike Boog, but agree. I really liked Len, and he and Deshaies were probably the best Cubs booth of my lifetime. (Harry Caray was certainly entertaining, though.)
PerkinsQuote Reply
Perkins,
Boog’s problem is that he needs to know when to interrupt the story and update us on the play being made, but I think that’s more a function of Marquee producers not knowing what the hell they’re doing.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I guess Belli developed the Rizzo-like B hack
https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2023/10/30/addressing-cody-bellinger-concerns-and-a-must-read-on-how-scouts-see-his-future/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
New shit that’s basically for my reference for when we consider who’s available to sign/trade for –> http://www.obstructedview.net/an-offseason-reset-before-the-world-series-ends/
Rice CubeQuote Reply