As I was saying.

Great starting pitching in game 3 for both teams. Phillies have named Christopher Sanchez to start game 4.

Be nice if the Astros can hang on and take this game to even it up.


We need at least one Series to go the distance.

Astros and Rangers will at least go 6. So far, no wins for the home team.

In the Phillies and Diamondbacks series, so far no wins for the visitors. I'm hoping the Phillies can change that in game 4.

Two very good series. Good baseball, for those who can get past their team not making it.

Turning into 2 good series I agree.

Especially enjoying the Texas/Houston Series

Rangers are 2 innings away from salvaging a win at home and going up 3-2.

I know they do it to eliminate travel, but I'm not a fan of the 2-3-2 format in 7 game series. I don't think the team with home field advantage should ever be in a situation where they've played more games on the road than at home.

I agree. Seems especially silly with the Rangers and Astros considering their proximity

The schedule is set before they know which teams are playing in each round so it doesn't matter how close or far apart teams are.

Benches just emptied in Arlington after Rangers batter who homered to give them the lead is hit in his next at bat.

The only reason they do it this way is to cut down on the travel.

I know that's the reason since it would add 2 travel days to a 7 game series, but it doesn't make it right. Of course, there's plenty of other complaints about the current playoff format in this thread and another one on this board so just thought I'd add one more.

Wow. Astros just took the lead in the top of the 9th on a 3 run homer by Altuve.

Call me a dinosaur, but I kind of think Garcia deserved it after his post-homer display.

He definitely took a long time walking halfway down the first base line before slamming the bat and starting to run, but given the situation, it's hard to really fault him. I also can't believe the Astros really wanted to hit him in the 8th given the game situation.

Rangers got their first 2 runners on base in the 9th for the top of their order but couldn't score. Great game to send the Astros home up 2-2. Still no wins for the home team in the series.

What a job by Pressly, 1st & 2nd no outs in the 8th AND 9th and gets out of it both times with no runs.

Nationals Astros 2019.

puts it in the F#$%ing pool!!!!!!!!!!


wow

What a game.

Yes, but for me, 16 pitchers in one game is just too many. I don't love this new model.

Phillies actually used a real starter but pulled him very early.

If your premise is correct, will Altuve become the most vertically challenged Hall of Famer?

Maybe second after Wee Willie Keeler, but has to be the smallest (or right there) in modern history.


...and no "if", first ballot no brainer. To do what he has done at his size in this day and age, just incredible...and pretty sure only he and Bregman have been there for all 7 of their runs.


Pedro Martinez, and he's never wrong, said greatest 2nd baseman of All Time......not sure if that is true, but still only 33, and no signs of slowing down. So very well could be when all is said and done.

Gone are the days where you can just pitch your Ace every other game like Hershiser and Bumgarner (who could get a 4th Ring if AZ takes it all).

Altuve is listed as 5' 6" which is the same as Phil Rizzuto. Willie Keeler is listed as 5' 4".

I'm not sure what the Phillies do after last night's bullpen implosion. They need Wheeler to give them a lot of good innings in game 5 because most of their relievers have now pitched in 2 straight games and almost never have gone 3 in a row. There's no way they can use Kimbrel, and of the others, I'm not sure who I really would want to see in a game anyway. That's what happens when you pull your starter in the third inning even though he's pitching ok. The offense needs to bail out the pitching for the rest of the series which won't be easy since the Diamondbacks top 2 starters are going in games 5 and 6.

What he hell happened to Bumgarner he just completely derailed at age 27 after looking for all the world like a HOF pitcher.

Same thing happened to Lincecum.

OH NELLIE!!!!!!

The Phillies have awakened

I can sleep better tonight. Wheeler gave them 7 that he needed to do since the bullpen was spent and shaky. We'll see what happens Monday with Nola back on the mound.

Big time start. Old fashioned baseball. It goes better without the parade of journeymen.

He only threw 99 pitches and just gave up a solo home run in the 7th. Phillies scored 2 in the first which probably helped Wheeler out being able to pitch with a lead from the start.

Wheeler has been a phenomenal pitcher this post seasons 34 strikeouts in 26 innings and only 2 walks.

Who will the Rangers throw at if they are down big late?

I still find it hard to believe that Houston was intentionally throwing at someone in the 8th inning of game 5 of the ALCS with the series tied and losing by 2 runs. There's plenty of opportunity for retaliation next season. No reason to give the Rangers another base runner late in a game that you're trying to come back in to avoid going down 3 games to 2.

Agreed, that's what spring training is for, settling old scores

What the hell is up with the road team winning every game?

Has it happened any other times other than the 2019 World Series?

This is a bit dated, but....

"The baseball playoffs are the most challenging to make among the four major pro sports, simply because the fewest number of teams get in—only 10 in total. Hence, there were 70 postseason series and two wild-card games from 2003 through 2012.

Amazingly, the team with home-field advantage won only 37 of those matchups, which translates to 51 percent overall. Basically, home field holds no advantage in baseball."

......but yah to happen in 6, maybe all 7 games pretty odd/flukey.


edit to add:
Football postseason (not counting neutral site SB) is 59% Home Team wins
Hockey postseason 59%
Basketball posteason 67%

I'm hoping it's the only game 7 and the Phillies can finish the Diamondbacks off in 6 so both series end tomorrow.

So, Garcia hits a bomb and like so many other players watch it as they approach first base.
Then he gets plunked in the ribs his next at bat.
Then he hits a grand slam to put game six out of reach.
Got to love the sweet revenge. I only hope Garcia hits 4 home runs in game 7.

Now I ask, is what Garcia did strolling down to first base any different than what Hector Neris did to Julio Rodriguez during the season. It just seems the pitchers now a days can dish it out but can't take it. My dream for game 7 is for Garcia to it a bomb off Neris in the 8th or 9th innings for the game winner........a walk off would have been nice but they are in Houston.

Man, I really hope we don't end up with a Houston Phillies rematch.

The Phillies can't possibly choke this Series away can they?

I'm all for Game 7's so don't mind if they lose today, but who the hell are they pitching tomorrow if they don't come back in this game?

Let's go Diamondbacks! If there is a game 7 it might be bullpens on both sides...