10 Takes from the MLB Playoffs Thus Far

(MassLive)

• As a lifelong Red Sox fan, I entered the 2016 post-season thinking our struggle would be with the 3 and 4 spots in the rotation, not 1 and 2, especially considering Price and Porcello went a combined 16-4 in August and September with a 3.15 ERA. For the record, Price and Porcello recorded ERA’s of 13.50 and 10.38 in their respective ALDS starts.
• Continuing on the Red Sox, raise your hand if you had the big 3 of Xander, Mookie, and Jackie going 6-32 (.187) with 0 HR and 0 RBI’s in the postseason?​
• For my money, Andrew Miller is the post season MVP thus far and there isn’t a close second. In 6 playoff games, Miller has pitched 11.2 innings of relief, walked 2, struck out 21, and has an ERA of 0.00
• With Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista both set to become free agents this offseason, the window for the Toronto Blue Jays might have just closed. While the Jays had the 11th highest team payroll in 2016, the price tag for Encarnacion is going to be particularly steep.
• If you were keeping track at home, 2015 NL MVP Bryce Harper finished the 2016 postseason with a .235 batting average, 0 HR, 1 RBI, and 6 walks in 24 plate appearances.
• Speaking of postseason disappointment, Carlos Beltran & Jonathan Lucroy, the two trade deadline additions for the Texas Rangers, went a combined 3-23 (.130) in a 3 game sweep to the Blue Jays with 0 HR and 1 RBI.
• Do you know who would have looked good in a Dodger uniform against the Cubs? Zach Greinke, who LA somehow let slip away in free agency to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The playoff record of Dodgers starters not named Clayton Kerhsaw? 3-5.

(Bleacher Report)

• Even year or not, the San Francisco Giants going down 0-2 to the Cubs while hitting .190 with 0 HR and 2 RBI’s in games 1 & 2 in Wrigley was essentially the nail in the coffin. For the record, teams that fall down 0-2 in the division series historically have a 12.5% chance of advancing.
• Approximate number of viewers for Game 6 Dodgers/Cubs where Chicago clinched their first World Series berth in 71 years? Just over 12 million. Estimated number of viewers for a Week 6 Sunday Night Football matchup between Indianapolis and Houston? 13.6 million
• Beware of home field advantage? Thus far, the Indians have a postseason record of 4-0 in Cleveland while the Cubs are 4-1 at Wrigley. Good news for Believeland, since 1985 the team with home field advantage has won 24 of the past 30 World Series.

Evan Matzner
@4threcordsports ​