Almanac Baseball: MLB Final Eight

In September we had finals in the two big footy codes. Eight teams battled it out in each competition to determine the two champions – Geelong and Penrith. On the other side of the world, it’s time to do it all over again. The MLB Postseason is here.

 

Of the 30 teams, eighteen had early vacations after the regular season. The Red Sox finished bottom of the AL East division. Being a Roos supporter, I am used to the feeling of watching the pointy end of seasons as a casual observer, rather than an invested fan.

 

For the first time in history, this postseason featured four wildcard series to determine the four teams to advance to the Divisional Series. The Cardinals, Mets, Blue Jays, and Guardians hosted the series with only the last of these teams advancing. The interlopers got the chocolates in the other three series with only the Mets at least pushing it to a decider.

 

Probably the biggest story of these series is the Mariners. The Seattle franchise hadn’t made the postseason for over two decades – the longest October drought in the majors. Their hunger proved the difference in Game 2 against the Blue Jays. Down 8 – 1 going into the sixth, they rallied to clinch their spot with 4 in the sixth, 4 in the eighth and an Adam Frazier double in the ninth to win 10 – 9. That seven run turnaround has only been equalled once and bettered once in the entire history of the MLB postseason.

 

The Phillies and Guardians were impressive in their sweeps too. They both shut out their opponents in their respective finales. The Mets showed why they had been one of the benchmark teams all year in their stellar Game 2 win. Jacob de Grom is a superstar starter, striking out eight in his 6.0 IP. Unfortunately, a different team turned up for Game 3 and they got blanked by the Padres.

 

Now it’s onto the four Divisional series:

 

 

ALDS Yankees v Guardians

ALDS Astros v Mariners

NLDS Dodgers v Padres

NLDS Braves v Phillies

 

 

I particularly like the matchups in the NLDS. The Dodgers have the best record and have dominated the Padres this year, but there is something about the way this San Diego outfit has lifted in recent times. The Phillies have really rallied in September and will be a handful for the Braves.

 

In the ALDS, it’s hard to see anything other than a square-off between the Yankees and the Astros for the pennant and the chance to shine in the Fall Classic.

 

So there we have our eight teams getting ready for battle. The Chinese are very superstitious about that number. Confucius says ‘play ball’.

 

 

 

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