Nats are going to do it. Dodgers fold under the pressure for sure.
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I hope the Astros don't blow the series vs Tampa Bay.Comment -
Kershaw and Roberts.....quiet the pair With Kershaw pitching and Roberts managing... the other team always has a chance
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Seven-time All-Star catcher Brian McCann is planning to retire this offseason, he announced to reporters following the conclusion of today’s NLDS loss to the Cardinals (Twitter link, with video, via FOX Sports Southwest). “It’s time to go,” said McCann when asked about his decision. “Fifteen years of catching — it’s sad, but it’s time. I knew about a month and a half ago.”
After spending three seasons with the Yankees and two with the Astros, the 35-year-old McCann returned to the Braves on a one-year deal this past offseason. It was homecoming in more ways than one, as the Athens, Ga. native and Duluth High School grad was the Braves’ second-round pick back in 2002. The opportunity to return to his hometown and suit up for one more ride with the next generation of Braves stars was a significant factor in his decision to sign with Atlanta in the winter, McCann added.
“That’s a big reason I wanted to come back,” he said. “I wanted to be a part of this again — put this uniform back on, play in front of my family every night. That was a big reason. … Fifteen years is a long time, catching every day. And I got to do it in my hometown.”
Following that 2002 draft, McCann quickly ascended to top prospect status and made his big league debut with the Braves in 2005. He’d ultimately go on to wear a Braves uniform for 10 of his 15 excellent MLB seasons. A six-time Silver Slugger winner, McCann enjoyed 10 seasons in which he tallied 20 or more home runs throughout his big league career. He’ll hang ’em up with a lifetime .262/.337/.452 batting line, 282 home runs, 1018 RBIs, 742 runs scored and 294 doubles.
McCann never won a Gold Glove but was considered a quality defender for much of his career, finishing at 297 of 1194 in throwing out base thieves (25 percent) and with a total of 26 Defensive Runs Saved. He never did much damage during the postseason but did manage a few key home runs, and he of course took home a World Series ring as the primary catcher for the 2017 World Series Champion Astros.
Former teammates have already begun to heap praise onto McCann — perceived by many onlookers as a gruff enforcer but widely beloved by the players with whom he shared a clubhouse. Lance McCullers Jr. (link) and Chipper Jones (link) are among those to offer heartfelt praise for the 15-year veteran’s contributions to their clubs.
McCann earned more than $128MM in salary over the course of his career and will be remembered as one of the finest and most durable catchers of his generation. His 282 career home runs trail only Mike Piazza, Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, Yogi Berra, Gary Carter, Lance Parrish and Ivan Rodriguez among catchers — all of whom other than Parrish have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Best wishes to “B-Mac” in his post-playing days.Comment -
What a choke job by the Dodgers .
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Is that Roberts last game as a dodger manager?Comment -
Can the Ray's make it 3Comment -
Dodgers choke again unreal man hoping the nats win it all.Comment -
Locker room video shows Cardinals manager Mike Shildt giving expletive-filled speech after win
In a video that surfaced online Wednesday night, St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt can be seen giving a fiery, expletive-filled speech to his team in the locker room following a win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 5 of the National League Division Series.
"The [Braves] started some s---. We finished the s---," Shildt says in the video, which outfielder Randy Arozarena later acknowledged he streamed live on Instagram. "And that's how we roll. No one f---s with us ever. Now, I don't give a f--- who we play. We're gonna f--- them up. We're gonna take it right to them the whole f---ing way. We're gonna kick their f---ing ass."
The video is no longer available on Arozarena's Instagram account, but it gained traction and spread on social media. Arozarena, 24, said in a statement that he was sorry for the release of the video.Comment -
gotta love the Dodgers perennial playoff choke job lol
tremendous morning have a good one fellas
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That was terrible by the Dodgers, was pulling for them
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Can't see them bringing Dave Roberts back.Comment -
They have to fire Roberts.Comment -
Who would have thought that the Cardinals would own home field advantage in the NLCS?Comment -
I got my series matchup. NY vs. Hous.
And yes I like the Cards too.Comment -
Rendon and Soto about to murder the Cardinals.Comment -
Yankees Houston will happen you'd figure... but you never know.Comment -
Astros right-hander and potential AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole just mowed down the Rays for the second time in the teams’ LDS matchup. Thanks in large part to the sheer brilliance he displayed in the second and fifth games of the series, the Astros have moved on in the postseason and are one step from advancing to the World Series. No matter how the year ends for the Astros, though, Cole’s in for a prosperous few months as arguably the preeminent soon-to-be free agent in baseball.
Cole, who just turned 29 a month ago, looks likely to head into the winter with a realistic chance at securing a $200MM-plus contract. As noted earlier this week, just four other hurlers (David Price, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Zack Greinke) have reached that milestone to this point. But how does Cole compare to each member of that group when they signed their deals? Let’s stack up Cole against the younger versions of those starters in several key categories…
- Age when their contracts took effect: Price: 30; Kershaw: 26; Scherzer: 31; Greinke: 32
- Career average fastball velocity – Cole: 96.1 mph; Price: 94.2; Kershaw 93.2; Scherzer: 93.4; Greinke: 92.3
- Career ERA/FIP – Cole: 3.22/3.06; Price: 3.10/3.19; Kershaw: 2.61/2.88; Scherzer: 3.60/3.38; Greinke: 3.34/3.32
- Career strikeout percentage – Cole: 27.6; Price: 23.4; Kershaw: 25.4; Scherzer: 25.7; Greinke: 21.6
- Career walk percentage – Cole: 6.5; Price: 6.4; Kershaw: 8.3; Scherzer: 7.5; Greinke: 6.0
- Career groundball percentage – Cole: 44.7; Price: 44.3; Kershaw: 43.9; Scherzer: 38.7; Greinke: 43.8
- Career hard-contact percentage – Cole: 30.1; Price: 26.7; Kershaw: 24.4; Scherzer: 28.3; Greinke: 27.9
While the above numbers don’t tell the entire story, it’s inarguable that they carry significant importance when evaluating the usefulness of a pitcher. And there’s no doubt they make it clear that Cole’s career has compared quite favorably to all members of the $200MM class when they received their exorbitant paydays.
Adding to Cole’s appeal, he’ll journey to free agency as hands down the No. 1 starter on the market – someone who’s fresh off back-to-back dominant seasons, a third straight 200-inning campaign and perhaps a heroic playoff run. With all of those factors in mind, it would be perfectly reasonable for Cole’s agent, Scott Boras, to try to secure a contract in a record range for his client. Price ($217MM over seven years), Kershaw (7/$215MM), Scherzer (7/$210MM) and Greinke (6/$206.5MM) continue to lead the way for now, but they may have company soon.Comment -
I like the Yankees over the AstrosComment -
Tyler Glasnow: Tipping 'obvious' but not the issue in Rays' Game 5 loss
HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros jumped on Tampa Bay Rays starter Tyler Glasnow from the outset Thursday in a clinching Game 5 win in their American League Division Series. It was almost as if they knew what was coming.
They might have; at the outset at least, Glasnow appeared to be tipping his pitches.
"I went back and looked, and it was pretty obvious," Glasnow said. "As far as the tips go."
George Springer led off the bottom of the first with a sharp single, a hit that not only started what proved to be the decisive Houston rally but was what teammate Alex Bregman called "one of the biggest hits of our season."
Michael Brantley followed with another single, sending Springer to third. Jose Altuve singled to right, driving in Springer with the game's first run and advancing Brantley to third. Bregman plugged the gap in right-center for a two-run double. Two batters later, Yuli Gurriel capped the rally with an RBI single.
"I'm aware that there is speculation about pitch tipping," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "It's something that we have discussed. It's a little tough to do that, make an adjustment in Game 5 of a division series. But at the end of the day, give the guys the credit that went up to the plate and put the ball in play and hit line drives. I think that's what did us in."
Bregman denied the tipping theory, saying that there are bigger issues to worry about when facing a pitcher with Glasnow's elite stuff.Comment -
Go Astros!!!!!Comment -
Nationals looking legitComment -
Daniel Hudson on maternity leave in the playoffs, unreal.Comment
