Shohei Ohtani (大谷翔平)’s postseason debut, Houston Astros’ shocked, NLDS & ALDS Preview & More

7 comments

1. Playoffs are always unpredictable in baseball because even bad players can have a stretch of big hits. Doesn't mean they're good players or that they've created a legacy though. That's why imo playoffs/WS titles dont mean as much in legacy talks as it does in other sports. There's only so much 1 hitter can do in a lineup of 9 and just one pitcher could come into the game and lose it for them. Playoffs are still exciting because the "stakes" are higher but to me it doesn't define if a player is good or bad. That's why IMO Ohtani isn't just starting his legacy now, it's already started the moment he played baseball and doing everything that he's done.
   Doesn't mean I'm not excited though, will be so fun to get to watch him in this type of environment. Although I gotta say everyone will have to perform. I get that Ohtani is getting paid $700M but he deferred a lot of the money he could've gotten so that Dodgers could get other players like Glasnow and Yamamoto. So those players will need to perform, unfortunately glasnow is injured. I'm sure Ohtani has already earned the Dodgers more money then they paid him anyways.

2. houston has been tough to watch. i believe in them, but something is off.

3. Think Ben mightve jinxed the astros 👀

4. Excellent hire by the Cincinnati Reds with Terry Francona. First Dusty Baker returned, then Bruce Bochy and now Tito. Both Baker and Bochy won championships upon their return. We will see if Francona follows in their footsteps.

   Great day of baseball starting in Cleveland and winding up in LA. Love the fact that three of the four matchups are division ones. Yankees-Royals rekindles what used to be a great playoff rivalry in the days of Reggie Jackson and George Brett.

   Looking forward to seeing the post-season debut of Shohei Ohtani. Dodgers have the offense, but their pitching is very much a question. Padres have been solid. Especially in the second half of the season. Dodgers-Padres (at least for now) seems to have surpassed the legendary rivalry of Dodgers-Giants.

5. You picked them madres over the chokers you little casual 😮😮

6. Ben, mark those words man. "The Astros are no longer inevitable" They are going to prove you wrong next year.

   Now I posted this on the Smoltz video, but it rings true here. Gonna alter it a bit to fit this video.

   I can't find any reason why they decided to bring in Josh Hader during last off-season. Ryan Pressley was fire at the end of last season, and was always considered THE closer for the Astros. Bringing in Hader, pay him 19M, and you put that doubt in Pressley. Also, Hader never seemed like he settled in. Instead of double downing on bullpen strength, it imploded with two great closers conflicted on who was the setup guy and the closer. Hopefully it's not too late to fix this and haven't permanently ruined both players.

   Finally fix your 1B issue. This needs to be fixed. All season long 1B has been an experiment. For me, Pete Alonso is the guy to get. Yes, he's going to cost a LOT to get, but spend that $$$ and get him. Pete Alonso and those Crawford boxes are a match made in heaven.

   Alex Bregman will be the #1 3B in free agency. He had a great year compared to his last 4 or 5, so he'll be wanting more $$$. Astros need to LET HIM GO.. One great year after 4 or 5 lackluster ones isn't good enough to pay him off. There's solid third basemen out there in free agency. Save $$$ and let Bregman go, spend that on the Alonso acquisition, resigning Kikuchi, . Go out and get a Yoan Moncada, or even a Eugenio Suarez, both free agents this off-season. Suarez is a fantastic solid 3b with a pop in the bat. There are options. Don't break the bank and the Astro's back by resigning Bregman to an ridiculous contract.

   If they do this or something very similar, then the Astros will be inevitable again, and should get a 1st round bye unlike this year. They could make a deep run in the playoffs and then this would make Ben eat his words. The Astros are inevitable. When the Astros win the AL West in 2025, and I'll make it more interesting, they have to win the ALDS and get to the ALCS. The I think Ben should take a piece of paper, that he wrote "The Astros are no longer inevitable" and then proceed to tear it up and eat it. Literally eating his words. 🤣

7. Would it be better if the Astros didn't win the division, and be the wildcard team that way they don't have home field advantage? Also I agree AJ Hinch was scapegoated in 2017… Also I don't blame you for rooting for the Astros then the Tigers… You might think I'm crazy, but I have the royals advancing to the ALCS… To bad you recorded this before it was announced that Musgrove needs Tommy John