ALDS Game 3: OAK 6, DET 3

W: Jarrod Parker (1-0, 5.40 ERA)

L: Anibal Sanchez (0-1, 10.38 ERA)

NLDS Game 4: STL 2, PIT 1

W: Michael Wacha (1-0, 1.23 ERA)

L: Charlie Morton (0-1, 3.18 ERA)

ALDS Game 3: TB 5, BOS 4

W: Fernando Rodney (1-0, 9.00 ERA)

L: Koji Uehara (0-1, 5.40 ERA)

NLDS Game 4: LA 4, ATL 3

W: Brian Wilson (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

L: David Carpenter (0-1, 13.50 ERA)

The Braves still lost, but not because of Freddy Garcia who actually pitched pretty well.

The Tampa Bay win was very improbable. The Red Sox infielders gave them that one with their misplays in the later innings.

Today's games and starting pitchers:

AL DIVISION SERIES:

OAKLAND ATHLETICS VS. DETROIT TIGERS

Oakland (Dan Straily, 10-8, 3.96 ERA) at Detroit (Doug Fister, 14-9, 3.67 ERA), 5:07 p.m. ET, TBS

BOSTON RED SOX VS. TAMPA BAY RAYS

Boston (Jake Peavy, 12-5, 4.17 ERA) at Tampa Bay (Jeremy Hellickson, 12-10, 5.17 ERA), 8:37 p.m. ET, TBS

[Edited 10/8/13 18:45pm]

ALDS Game 4: DET 8, OAK 6,

W: Max Scherzer (2-0, 3.00 ERA)

L: Sean Doolittle (0-1, 5.40 ERA)

ALDS Game 4: BOS 3, TB 1

W: Craig Breslow (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

L: Jake McGee (0-1, 6.75 ERA)

UncleJam said:

I love it when guys like that (you know, those considered to be washed up has beens) step up and show how they've still got it.If I wasnt a diehard Dodger fan I would have been rooting for him. Still...kudos are deserved.GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was hoping Freddy did well too. There's no fun in seeing a respected veteran get embarrassed on the field. Good for him.

Today's game and starting pitchers:

NL DIVISION SERIES:

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS VS. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Pittsburgh (Gerrit Cole, 10-7, 3.22 ERA) at St. Louis (Adam Wainwright, 19-9, 2.94 ERA), 8:07 p.m. ET, TBS

NLDS Game 5: STL 6, PIT 1

W: Adam Wainwright (2-0, 1.13 ERA)

L: Gerrit Cole (1-1, 2.45 ERA)

The Pirates had a good run and should be congratulated for not only ending the 20-year streak of losing seasons, but making the playoffs and pushing the Cardinals to five games in the division series.

Today's game and starting pitchers:

AL DIVISION SERIES:

OAKLAND ATHLETICS VS. DETROIT TIGERS

Detroit (Justin Verlander, 13-12, 3.46 ERA) at Oakland (Sonny Gray, 5-3, 2.67 ERA), 8:07 p.m. ET, TBS

ALDS Game 5: DET 3, OAK 0

W: Justin Verlander (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

L: Sonny Gray (0-1, 2.08 ERA)

Oakland can't catch a break when they play Detroit in the playoffs. It's the third time the Tigers knocked them out I believe.

Do you know when was the last time Oakland won an elimination game?

Exactly 40 years ago, against the Mets in the 1973 World Series.

Billy Beane & his Moneyball philosophy are way overrated, since he took over the A's haven't won a single LCS game. Other teams such as Tampa are much, much better at getting more value for their money.

Pokeno4Money said:

Do you know when was the last time Oakland won an elimination game?

Exactly 40 years ago, against the Mets in the 1973 World Series.

Billy Beane & his Moneyball philosophy are way overrated, since he took over the A's haven't won a single LCS game. Other teams such as Tampa are much, much better at getting more value for their money.

I thought the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 using Moneyball after Beane declined their GM offer.

Today's game and starting pitchers:

NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Los Angeles (Zack Greinke, 15-4, 2.63 ERA) at St. Louis (Joe Kelly, 10-5, 2.69 ERA), 8:37 p.m. ET, TBS

sexton said:

Pokeno4Money said:

Do you know when was the last time Oakland won an elimination game?

Exactly 40 years ago, against the Mets in the 1973 World Series.

Billy Beane & his Moneyball philosophy are way overrated, since he took over the A's haven't won a single LCS game. Other teams such as Tampa are much, much better at getting more value for their money.

I thought the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 using Moneyball after Beane declined their GM offer.

I'd like to think the '04 Championship was won with the Moneyball concept of acquiring undervalued talent at bargain prices, but that Red Sox team had the 2nd-highest payroll in MLB. While Bill James/Billy Beane disciple Theo Epstein did utilize a small segment of the Moneyball approach by acquiring a couple high-OBP guys, the core of that team was acquired before Epstein/Lucchino/Henry even came to Boston. Guys like Pedro, Manny, Nomar, Wakefield, Varitek, Lowe, Damon, Nixon, Mirabelli were already there. And Theo made a couple very pricey acquisitions in Schilling and Foulke. In fact one of Bill James' Moneyball concepts was that closers are vastly overrated and unnecessary, he believed a committee of decent relievers could substitute for a high priced 9th-inning guy. Theo gave that approach a try in 2003, and it failed miserably ... which is why he went out and gave a huge free agent contract to Foulke, whom many believe was just as valuable as Ortiz during that '04 postseason.

I wouldn't be surprised if any team wins in a clean sweep.

Baseball is so RANDOM

No such thing as best team wins in mlb,just the hot clutch team.

NLCS Game 1: STL 3, LA 2

W: Lance Lynn (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

L: Chris Withrow (0-1, 6.75 ERA)

Carlos Beltran practically beat the Dodgers by himself.

[Edited 10/12/13 10:38am]

Cardinals are the epitome of clutch.

Year after year the odds are against them in the postseason, but they always manage to pull it off.

Pokeno4Money said:

sexton said:

I thought the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 using Moneyball after Beane declined their GM offer.

I'd like to think the '04 Championship was won with the Moneyball concept of acquiring undervalued talent at bargain prices, but that Red Sox team had the 2nd-highest payroll in MLB. While Bill James/Billy Beane disciple Theo Epstein did utilize a small segment of the Moneyball approach by acquiring a couple high-OBP guys, the core of that team was acquired before Epstein/Lucchino/Henry even came to Boston. Guys like Pedro, Manny, Nomar, Wakefield, Varitek, Lowe, Damon, Nixon, Mirabelli were already there. And Theo made a couple very pricey acquisitions in Schilling and Foulke. In fact one of Bill James' Moneyball concepts was that closers are vastly overrated and unnecessary, he believed a committee of decent relievers could substitute for a high priced 9th-inning guy. Theo gave that approach a try in 2003, and it failed miserably ... which is why he went out and gave a huge free agent contract to Foulke, whom many believe was just as valuable as Ortiz during that '04 postseason.

That all sounds good to me, but you can't count Nomar as part of that 2004 World Series team. He was traded mid-season for some more moneyball guys and missed out.

Today's games and starting pitchers:

NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Los Angeles (Clayton Kershaw, 16-9, 1.83 ERA) at St. Louis (Michael Wacha, 4-1, 2.78 ERA), 4:07 p.m. ET, TBS

AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

BOSTON RED SOX VS. DETROIT TIGERS

Detroit (Anibal Sanchez, 14-8, 2.57 ERA) @ Boston (Jon Lester, 15-8, 3.75 ERA), 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX

NLCS Game 2: STL 1, LA 0

W: Michael Wacha (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

L: Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 0.00 ERA)

Take Hanley Ramirez out of the lineup and the Dodgers look very beatable.

ALCS Game 1: DET 1, BOS 0

W: Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

L: Jon Lester (0-1, 1.42 ERA)

Awesome game!

sexton said:

That all sounds good to me, but you can't count Nomar as part of that 2004 World Series team. He was traded mid-season for some more moneyball guys and missed out.

Right, he was traded for players that contributed to a much-needed improvement on defense. If Nomar wasn't inherited by Theo, those defensive players could not have been acquired.

Well tonight's game wasn't that shocking, as Detroit's #3 starting pitcher did lead the league in ERA. Lester's performance was encouraging, and the offense won't stay quiet for long. At least the Sox didn't get no-hit or lose because of a bad umpiring call.

sexton said:

Oakland can't catch a break when they play Detroit in the playoffs. It's the third time the Tigers knocked them out I believe.

Billy Beane's A's have always choked.