World Series Game 2 Chat

Craig Edwards: Welcome all. Let’s get the queue rolling.

Craig Edwards: If you missed game 1, here’s Brendan Gawlowski with a great recap. https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/nationals-beat-astros-5-4-and-baseball…

Craig Edwards: Here’s Tony Wolfe, who will be here shortly, on how the Astros can’t just work the count to beat the Nationals. https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/running-up-pitch-counts-wont-be-enough…

Craig Edwards: Here’s Devan Fink on Sean Doolitlle, who wasn’t even the closer a few weeks ago. https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/sean-doolittles-important-turnaround-e…

Craig Edwards: I wrote about Juan Soto’s incredible homer. https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/juan-soto-does-the-impossible/

Craig Edwards:

David Laurila: Hello all.

Craig Edwards:

Craig Edwards: Hi David.

Craig Edwards: Nats lineup:

 

Washington Nationals

@Nationals

 

Go 1-0 today.

#Strasmas // #STAYINTHEFIGHT

23 Oct 2019

Tony Wolfe: Hey everybody!

Craig Edwards: Astros lineup:

 

Tom Fox

@foxt78

 

#Astros‘ lineup for tonight’s #WorldSeries Game 2. George Springer has homered in a record-five straight World Series games dating back to the 2017 Fall Classic. bit.ly/2W8G2Wn

23 Oct 2019

Dystopian Future: “Who are you rooting for? Total Votes: 21 Astros: 0% (0 votes)

David Laurila: In talk radio parlance, I’d be typing “First time caller, long time listener.” In terms of the here and now, it is “First time chatter, long time baseball observer.”

Craig Edwards: Wonder why that is.

Craig Edwards: And Verlander did not get off to a good start with the walk.

Craig Edwards: They couldn’t keep Trea Turner on first last night in the first, but a botched bunt ruined the inning. We’ll see if anything changes tonight.

Craig Edwards: “Good piece of hitting” alert

Tony Wolfe: Can’t think of a more “good piece of hitting” guy than Adam Eaton.

Craig Edwards: I’d go with Juan Soto last night myself.

David Laurila: Nothing to do with rooting interests, but as the first inning unfolds  I’m drinking a Shiner Oktoberfest. And as I type this, a lot of Astros fans are probably reaching for the hard stuff.

Craig Edwards: 3 batters, no outs, and a 2-0 Nats lead. Good piece of hitting by Rendon who hit it really hard off the wall.

Hire Joe Morgan?: Verlander at 93 on his fastball.  Spotting it, or is the gun slow?

Craig Edwards: The first pitch to Rendon got up close to 96 and so did that pitch to Soto, but the first few batters, he wasn’t throwing too hard.

Craig Edwards: That’s something to watch going forward as when he pitched on short rest, he had his normal velocity, but not the command.

Dystopian Future: Look what happens when you don’t bunt!

stever20: that hit was due to Eaton’s willingness to bunt….

Dak To The Future: But is he a professional hitter?!?!

Craig Edwards: Very professional. Soon to be one of the highest paid professionals in the game, Rendon is.

Craig Edwards: Verlander gets two outs with Rendon not moving off second.

someone: Brantley has done an awful job playing that wall thus far. He looks like a visiting player.

Craig Edwards: Maybe the ball is carrying differently than he’s used to. That one was also a crazy bounce. Not much he could do.

David Laurila: Regarding Eaton’s willingness to bunt, he had nine bunt hits this year. The Nationals had the most in MLB. They also had the third most sacrifice hits.

Byron Buxton : Over/under 110.5 pitches for Verlander tonight?

Craig Edwards: I’ll go under.

Tony Wolfe: I’ll say over. I bet he settles in and they ride him a bit.

tz: Who gets the most total $ this offseason – Cole or Rendon?

Tony Wolfe: It’ll be Cole.

Craig Edwards: Hard to say, but I’ll lean toward Rendon.

David Laurila: I’ll break the tie and go Cole.

Hire Joe Morgan?: Is Rendon likely to top Arenado’s deal?

Craig Edwards: 8/260? I’ll say just under the total but a higher AAV.

Tony Wolfe: He probably should, but yeah, I bet he’s closer to $250 million.

Craig Edwards: Anyway, slow start for Verlander costs him in the first, but he buckles down to get the last three. The strikeout of Soto was huge.

This is Lude-i-cris: I’ll let you guys in on the inside joke. Professional hitter was bandied about much on this chat last night.

Craig Edwards: but what about a good piece of hitting?

Justin Verlander: Over/under 110.5 days on the DL for Byron Buxton next year?

Craig Edwards: That was way less harsh than Buxton’s question, Justin.

Byron Buxton : Oof

Tony Wolfe: I think I lean toward Cole getting more money just because there’s so damn many good third basemen. Rendon’s obviously one of the very best, but the number of teams that I’d imagine will seriously go after him is gonna be lower than how many ought to go after Cole (which should just be everybody).

Craig Edwards: Strasburg starts a bit better with the three-pitch k.

Craig Edwards: Been interesting to read about how Washington has integrated their scouting reports into their plans for attacking hitters. Obviously worked against the Cardinals, but the Astros have one of the better lineups in history.

Mad Joe-Don: Serious question: are there any hitters who don’t love hitting at their home park?

Craig Edwards: Hitters do better at home generally, but I wonder if the hitters in MIami wish the park weren’t so big.

Tony Wolfe: JT Realmuto pre-2019

Byron Buxton : Caught stealing third!

Craig Edwards: OOF.

Pontoons: Castellanos didn’t.

Craig Edwards: Some in Detroit as well.

tz: Realmuto in Miami.  Don’t forget Adrian Beltre’s Seattle years either.

psweeting: Did they just say that 3rd base is the easiest base to steal? That can’t possibly be true can it? The throw is much shorter.

Craig Edwards: If it were easier, then I think it would happen a lot more often.

Dystopian Future: Brandon Belt in Oracle Park is the obvious response.

Tony Wolfe: Manny Machado had an 86 wRC+ at home this season and a 128 wRC+ on the road.

PeanutGallery: Any pitcher’s park, no?

Craig Edwards: probably, though some guys still prefer home.

David Laurila: Joe Morgan is (ahem) on the short list of best second basemen over. He played his first nine seasons with the Astros. Jose Altuve has played his first nine seasons with the Astros. Their numbers through age 29 aren’t all that far apart.

Tony Wolfe: Alex Bregman: Not terrible

David Laurila: Make that FanGraphs fan Alex Bregman.

Craig Edwards: It is 2-2 and not 3-2 right now.

tz: Hope they cleared Soto’s HR ball from the train tracks….

Craig Edwards: David Ross has requested it be encased in glass.

psweeting: I have to say last nights game was fun and this one is also shaping up to be fun but I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get our promised pitchers duel. I was really hoping both would be taking perfect games into the 8th or something

Craig Edwards: maybe it will start now. Hidden perfect game.

Dystopian Future: Speaking of which, what do you think of David Ross becoming (seemingly) manager of the Cubs?

David Laurila: Meanwhile, the bottle of Shiner Oktoberfest I opened right before first pitch is now empty. It’s the end of the first inning. At this rate I’ll be typing in a foreign language by game’s end (and I don’t know any foreign languages).

Craig Edwards: It’s very difficult to know how someone is going to manage if they’ve never done it. You would need to have a crazy amount of confidence in a person to handle a ton of responsibilities they’ve never handled to think they would be a good fit. They obviously know David Ross very well, but there’s always a chance you are hiring the next Matheny (and it can’t possibly go that poorly).

Section329: They did – the ball is on the way to HOF

Mad Joe-Don: Cubs fan here. I really wish Ross had spent a season or so as a bench coach or something.

Craig Edwards: Or in the minors. But Ryne Sandberg did that and didn’t have a ton of success in the majors. It’s hard to know who will make a good manager and a lot of factors are out of the manager’s control. Look at the view of Dave Martinez a year ago or in May, or even mid-September and now.

Hire Joe Morgan?: Dave Roberts went straight to managing, didn’t he?

Craig Edwards: He did, and though he is a good manager overall, there is a part of the game he seems to struggle with.

Fire Ken Tremendous: When they talk about “stress pitches” because you have runners on base is that in anyway implying that it’s more tiring on the pitcher to pitch from the stretch than a windup?

Craig Edwards: I think they are talking about needing to maybe reach for something extra to get batters out.

Dystopian Future: Aaron Boone is the better comp, right from the booth.

Craig Edwards: and he’s another guy who struggled in the 2018 postseason.

Hire Joe Morgan?: He coached for San Diego.

Craig Edwards: re: Dave Roberts

Lunar verLander: Maybe the Cubs were just looking for a yes-man to follow Theo’s decisions unquestioningly?

Craig Edwards: I think being on the same page as the front office is incredibly important for a manager, and hopefully, for the Cubs, that’s what they’ve got, but there are still going to be decisions that are Ross’ alone.

Professor Obvious: This rule does not hold, as the first major league managers all had no previous experience managing major league teams.

Craig Edwards: there are minor leagues

David Laurila: Re that Suzuki hit, during the NLCS he became the first catcher to start 0-for-17 in a postseason since the Senators’ Muddy Ruel did so in the 1924 World Series.

Adam2: What went so poorly for Matheny? Didn’t they make the playoffs a bunch during his tenure?

Tony Wolfe: Matheny had no idea how to run a bullpen, right?

Craig Edwards: He was bad at managing personalities, handling young players, filling out the lineup, and using the bullpen. Good rosters sometimes overcame those difficulties.

David Laurila: I’d hire Pedro Grifol if I were running the Royals.

sucramrenrut: Seems likely modern managers won’t have time to learn/age on the job as previous generations may have.

Craig Edwards: Sometimes they get better at their second destination, like AJ Hinch.

tommytoms: is the basic conclusion we have no idea about managers?

Craig Edwards: managers are very hard to evaluate

Ball on the Tracks: As a manager: who would you be more scared to pull from a start, Verlander or Scherzer?

David Laurila: A few years down the road I expect that Mitch Maier will be a serious managerial candidate. Now KC’s first base coach.

Craig Edwards: those guys are professional pitchers. I’m sure they would have respect for their manager.

Rich: you think Verlander was spinning it harder than average in the 1st?

Craig Edwards: possible. Maybe overthrowing a bit before he built his arm up.

David Laurila: Bob Gibson wouldn’t have given up the ball in a World Series game without a fight. Literally a fight.

Craig Edwards: Verlander is now 2 outs away from 250 innings in a season.

Tony Wolfe: At 36!

David Laurila: Smoltz with a good point on pitchers needing to use a more diverse repertoire early in the game than they once did.

Craig Edwards: Cabrera hasn’t played much, but that dive could be a big out.

Tony Wolfe: He threw 270-some in 2011.

Lightning Rodney: Do we know why pitchers gain a couple MPH when going to astros?

Craig Edwards: They tell them to throw harder.

Craig Edwards: Also, maybe some substances. Who knows.

Craig Edwards: Kurt Suzuki is not the best framer. Might have cost him a couple strikes so far. Of course, the caught stealing in tonight’s game looms very large.

Hire Joe Morgan?: I read Suzuki’s bad at blocking, too, but he sure looked solid at it last night.

Craig Edwards: He definitely save Scherzer some last night.

Arthur Kinney : Any chance the ‘Stros can change air pressure when the roof is closed to speed up their pitches and slow down the opposition’s?

Craig Edwards: I can’t imagine it is that easy, but I’m no atmosphere scientist.

Professor Obvious: Why do pitchers have “personal” catchers?  Are they really necessary?

Tony Wolfe: The more someone catches you, the more familiar they are with your stuff and how to use it. I’d imagine it’s preferable for pitchers to go all in on one guy rather than split time between a couple different catchers.

Craig Edwards: Necessary? Not sure, but if there’s an advantage to be had with pitchers working better with catcher because they know their arsenal better and what pitches they like to throw, then it can definitely be worth it. If some pitcher works the corners a ton, then a good framer will help. If a pitcher throws a bunch of balls in the dirt, then a good blocker will help.

Trent: Two years from now, Verlander, Kershaw, Kluber, Scherzer, and Greinke will all hit free agency.  Which would you be most comfortable signing to a new deal?

David Laurila: Earlier this season I was chatting with Verlander and Peter Gammons before a game at Fenway, and Verlander said he has to pitch differently than in the past because hitters, and the ball, are different. Has to try to miss more bats, and needs to go harder earlier rather than settle in.

Tony Wolfe: Purely from a prediction standpoint of who’s still going to have the most to offer, I might lean Scherzer.

Craig Edwards: That’s a tough one. two years out, you go with the youngest, which would be Kershaw, but he’s not pitching at near the level of the other guys. If Kluber were healthy at all…I’m still going to go with Kershaw. Those other guys are going to be 37 and 38 years old.

Tony Wolfe: I have no numbers to back that up, he just strikes me as someone who could keep it going into his 40s.

Cole’s Law: How does the Stasburg narrative change now….do people still insist he hasn’t lived up to the the insane hype?

Craig Edwards: Are people still insisting that? Crazy.

Hire Joe Morgan?: How likely do we think it is that Strasburg will put together a Hall of Fame career?  I think he has to do that to “live up to the hype”.

Tony Wolfe: I can’t imagine anyone looking at Strasburg and seeing a disappointing career.

Craig Edwards: That shouldn’t be on anybody. Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña, anybody. It’s way too much to expect.

Cole’s Law: And remember he didn’t pitch that first post season b/c his agent didn’t want him to get hurt.   Fans for some reason take that very personally

Craig Edwards: That was organizational failure.

Hire Joe Morgan?: It’s easy to hear ‘best pitching prospect ever’ and think he has to become one of hte best pitchers ever.  It’s hard to think about the fact that prospects don’t pan out, and having a long career is by itself a miracle.  I don’t think anyone should see Strasburg as a disappointment, but that doesn’t mean people will think he’s a success, either.

Matt A: Shout out to Cole’s Law. My roommate from college. Hey dude!

Craig Edwards: He’s got 37 WAR, which is like the midpoint for a top prospect in baseball probably, which basically means he’s lived up to the hype of being the best prospect in baseball.

People Watching: I don’t see Marlins-Man behind home plate

David Laurila: No Marlins Man is a win, no?

bosoxforlife: Steve Carlton age 37, 295 innings, 286 K’s and a Cy Young, age 38, 283 innings and 275 K’s and he wasn’t soft-tossing it up there either. The game has changed but I find it difficult to understand why today’s pitchers can’t even approximate this type of performance.

Craig Edwards: Oh hey, the game. Verlander survives a Soto shot down the line for a double and we head to the bottom of the third still tied.

Cole’s Law: Can you say hi to Matt for me…I just convinced him to sign onto the chat!!  HI MATTTTTT

Craig Edwards: Hi Matt.

Dennis: speaking of organizational failure… the mets

Craig Edwards: Heyo

Amoanipupas: PSA/reminder : if youre looking to go to any WS game in person. Please be very careful about buying tickets from a person or platform you haven’t used before or otherwise trust. Houston police arrested people for selling fake, non valid tickets.

David Laurila: Important info that goes for any city.

Cole’s Law: Not to harp(er) on this narrative thing but him and Harper are held to a standard is not normal all b/c they were super hyped and super young.

Dennis: David, why do u prefer Pedro Grifol?

Craig Edwards: I’ll give that a C-. But sometimes team success and player success get conflated, which is still happening with Washington.

David Laurila: Hard to answer Grifol question succinctly, but a few years ago I had more than one person tell me he’s a future big-league manager. From my handful of interactions with him, I can see why.

Panda Bare: Do I need to sign in somehow ?

Craig Edwards: No.

Jeff: If we had a WAR for managers, what do you think the range would be?

….: Do you think the Astro’s regret the Reddick contract?

David Laurila: Compared to quantifying catcher value, quantifying manager value would be… harder. Much harder.

Craig Edwards: He had a good season when they won the World Series though didn’t play well in the playoffs. I doubt they have huge regrets. It hasn’t stopped them from filling any other holes.

Tony Wolfe: I mean, Reddick isn’t exactly breaking the bank. He’s put up 5.5 WAR for about $39 million. He’s not Chris Davis.

TrentC: At age 32 do you think the Astros will be able to trade Reddick and his 13 million dollar salary this off-season?

Craig Edwards: I’m sure if they want to give him away and kick in a few million, I’m sure they could.

Tony Wolfe: The Reds would probably be interested in him.

Pontoons: Do pitchers intentionally throw breaking pitches at the top of the zone?

Craig Edwards: Sometimes. Sometimes it is just a pitch that was intended as a change of pace strike. Sometimes it gets away. Sometimes it rains.

James: Tucker has to be the opening day right fielder right?

Craig Edwards: But then how is he going to make prospect lists in 2021 a la Austin Meadows.

Hire Joe Morgan?: E Everybody!

Craig Edwards: Not great, though more on Turner for the bobble and then the bad throw.

….: Why in the world did the blue jays give Grichuk that contract?

Craig Edwards: He looked at them, smiled, did a hairflip and hit a few dingers.

David Laurila: Back when he was in the minors and I was writing a bunch of Red Sox minor league stuff, I asked Josh Reddick about his plate discipline issues. More than once. He was used to the question, as it was pretty much “the Reddick question.” Could he be more than a fringe big-leaguer if he didn’t rein in his aggressiveness? The answer turned out to be yes.

Cole’s Law: What wicked hop did that take…what is Smoltz talking about….

Craig Edwards: Maybe he just spent a lot of time in Boston at the turn of the century.

Yolo: Why are we talking about reddicks contract value during a world series game?

David Laurila: Because Roddick is playing in the World Series?

Tony Wolfe: The games are long, man

Person McHumanpants: Was that random bullcrap from Dennis about the Mets being an organizational failure really worth a Heyo? They came awfully close to making the playoffs. They have their flaws as a team and an org, but I think they’re significantly less inept than the narrative suggests.

Dennis: which umpire has the highest velocity on throw backs to the pitcher?

David Laurila: Maybe Rob Drake on a bad day?

Craig Edwards: Most World Series appearances in New York this decade.

Tony Wolfe: Throw West

Yolo: All talk should be about the potential of Fernando Rodney getting a save.

Craig Edwards: arrows

Yolo: Strasburg near 60. Rodney soon.

Craig Edwards: too soon

David Laurila: Fernando Rodney has actually had a pretty decent career. Games played, be it as a pitcher or as a position player, is arguably an underrated stat.

Craig Edwards: Good piece of fielding by Turner and they get out of the inning.

Byron Buxton : Is it possible that Smoltz knows more about football than baseball?

David Laurila: Smooth roots for Michigan State football, so he certainly knows the frustration side of football.

Dystopian Future: It’s never too soon for Fernandomania

Craig Edwards: I think you missed it by nearly 40 years.

Cole’s Law: How did Turner handle that ball with all those wicked hops out there.

Craig Edwards: speaking of wicked hops, time for a beer.

David Laurila: Chats without beer is like baseball without…. beer?

Tom: What kind of beer?

Craig Edwards: Half Acre Kina.

Craig Edwards: Verlander only at 55 pitches here with one out in the fourth. Could still get deep in this game.

Tony Wolfe: This talk about Verlander’s college days made me go revisit the 2004 MLB Draft on BB-ref.

Tony Wolfe: Folks,,,, I am never ready for how bad this draft is.

Craig Edwards: oh the gifs that are coming.

someone: Now that merits a gif

Roger: Should the Astros prioritize extending Springer, Correa, or Bregman?

Craig Edwards: they’ve already got Bregman. I would think Correa, but I think both Springer and Correa hit free agency.

Cole’s Law: If you had to be up at 4:30…when would you go to bed?

Craig Edwards: Depends on what I was doing at 4:30 and how much fun I was having  at the time.

David Laurila: It’s said that you never know what you’ll see in a baseball game. I’ve never seen a player field a ball and hit his own leg with a throw. (And I saw a lot of Manny Ramirez when he played in Boston.).

Tony Wolfe: I’m not sure I would go to bed

Yolo: Should we get more chat polls?

Craig Edwards:

Section329: Speaking of Rod Drake I would venture this is his worst day

David Laurila: Point.

Mad Joe-Don: Of course Smoltz doesn’t like Halloween.

Sean: I accidentally had a 6 pack watching last night’s game, so this one is beer-less.

Craig Edwards: ah yes, all the candy and revelry.

Pontoons: Am I the only one in this chat who’s never had a beer?

Tony Wolfe: I once worked at a ballpark from 9a.m. to 11 p.m., then drove from Kenosha, WI to Chicago at 3:30 a.m. to make a 6 a.m. flight to Pittsburgh.

David Laurila: Pontoons’ question begs an answer.

Tony Wolfe: Internships!

kevinthecomic: OK, stepped away for a bit and just got caught up on reading everything, so here goes:  re: home parks — When Comerica Park first opened up, then slugger Juan Encarnacion called it Comerica National Park for its large proportions — regarding personal catchers, remember a coupla years ago when the Dodgers traded AJ Ellis so that he couldn’t be Kershaw’s personal catcher anymore and basically be a giant sucking hole as a batter — re: Strasburg: I recall that his MLB debut was on a Wednesday afternoon or something and the stadium was absolutely packed! I don’t ever recall an MLB debut getting that much attention before, so yeah, he was hyped — re: manager evaluation — I recall that up until a few years ago BP used to attempt a measurement — had things like Blown Quality Starts, Pinch Hitter usage (which is typically a bad idea, apparently) and use of non-pitcher sacrifice bunting — OK, I think I am all caught up, THANKS!

David Laurila: Comerica did move in their fences after a few years, I believe. Regardless, Tiger Stadium it’s not.

CTBNL: How about the national broadcast spinning throwing a ball into your own leg as a display of athleticism?

Craig Edwards: In the way that he is an athlete playing a sport professionally, it is technically correct.

David Laurila: Speaking of the Nationals broadcast, I’m a Dave Jageler fan. Former Pawtucket Red Sox broadcaster, of which there are several in MLB.

Funky Kong: Verlander’s “fielding” effort is especially funny if you’re switching to the NBA game during commercials.  The, let’s call it “gracefulness” of the relative players, is a pretty stark comparison

Craig Edwards: At least Verlander’s never made an error before in a World Series game, right?

psweeting: Just cracked a Bronx Brewery No Resolutions

David Laurila: Not familiar with No Resolutions. Where is Eno when I need him?

Trevor: I remember some skepticism about Gurriel’s contract when he signed it; has he lived up to it?

Craig Edwards: Not good and not bad. Just fine.

Trevor: Who is the most iconic Houston Astros player?  Or said a bit differently, has someone like Altuve replaced someone like Biggio or Bagwell?

Craig Edwards:

Nolan: Do you get more comments/questions about the announcers or the commercials?

Craig Edwards: announcers. not close.

Hire Joe Morgan?: Let’s say Correa does stay healthy, puts up an MVP-level season of eight or nine WAR.  Given his history of injuries, where does that leave his contract?

David Laurila: I voted “Other” on Craig’s Iconic Astro poll, because the correct answer is The Toy Cannon.

Craig Edwards: So he’s heading into his age-27 season in 2022 coming off an MVP season? That’s got to be $300 million or more.

Nick: Didn’t Verlander make a crucial error in the 2006 World Series?   I recall the Tigers in general having serious fielding issues in that one.

Craig Edwards: sure did. Brendan talked about a bit in his ranking of this century’s WS. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/ranking-the-world-series-of-the-21st-centu…

Guest: Surely Strasburg will go over 100, unless he implodes – what’s the over/under, 120?

Craig Edwards: I’ll say under.

Fire Ken Tremendous: Ryan is iconic as an Astro? I think of him as an Angel

Tony Wolfe: Under 120

Craig Edwards: I’m sure some think of him as a Ranger. He played for a really long time, punched a guy, too.

Ryu: Which three consecutive first round picks would you rather have: Lincecum, Bumgarner, Posey; or Strasburg, Harper, Rendon?

Craig Edwards:

Tony Wolfe: Nolan Ryan threw his first 100-inning season the year my dad was born and pitched his final season the year before I was born.

Greg: How about the most iconic National?  Would it have been Harper before this last year? Does his departure leave Zimmerman with the title?  Would Rendon, Stras, or perhaps eve Scherzer be next in line? And will Juan Soto eventually surpass them all?

Tony Wolfe: My dad was 26 when I was born.

Craig Edwards: I think it has always been Zimmerman.

Tony Wolfe: I’m not a Nationals fan, but I would assume Zimmerman still holds that title

Craig Edwards: Does Turner run?

David Laurila: Re a Verlander error in the 2006 World Series, I don’t specifically remember one, but I worked the games in Detroit and it was stupidly cold. Had it been much colder I’m sure they could have played, to be quite honest.

Yolo: Does Harper have more WAR as a national than Zimmerman

Craig Edwards: Nope: https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y…

Tim: Has anyone left as much money on the table by not taking a longer term deal as Lincecum passed up?

Craig Edwards: How much did he pass up? He’s made more than $100 million in his career.

Sharp: Turner doesn’t run. Don’t Rob Soto or Rendon of the RBI

David Laurila: Buck’s “It might be, it is,” was under-statedly reminiscent of a Harry Caray home run call.

CJ: Might as well have bunted

Craig Edwards: that’s the risk you take. Some times you get burned.

Dennis: what would rendon on the yankees look like without that beard

Craig Edwards: They were showing pictures of him at Rice last night.

tommytoms: what if a yankees player just refused to shave?

Tony Wolfe: these are the questions that keep me up at night

Craig Edwards: The Yankees would then be forced to decide if playing a player were more important than a silly rule.

Dennis: craig, whats rice ?

David Laurila: Meanwhile, I just checked tonight’s NBA scores and the Pistons, playing without Blake Griffin, beat the Pacers. Now back to your regularly scheduled program.

Craig Edwards: It’s where Rendon went to school, a grain good for eating, and a great wide receiver. /reverse jeopardy

Nico Robin: has a free agent ever refused to sign with the yankees over their facial hair policy

Craig Edwards: Not that I recall.

Hire Joe Morgan?: I’m going to ask again….what’s going on with Soto’s turned-in toe?  How does that help him swing?

Craig Edwards: Smoltz just talked about. He was being informative. But basically, it is just something he does to get ready to swing. Maybe it keeps him from taking a big step or something.

tommytoms: why is the heat map red for most hit areas and green for least hit? shouldn’t it be the opposite? or blue for least hit?

Craig Edwards: it’s where pitchers should or should not throw the ball.

Section329: Edgar Martinez did the pigeon toe thing

Funky Kong: That Verlander’s last inning or one more?  Not any more than that, right?

Craig Edwards: He’s staying in.

David Laurila: Speaking of the Yankees and shaving, Andrew Miller had a pretty decent beard going during the postseason. Nothing compared to spring training a few year back when he was with the Red Sox, mind you. That was of Grizzly Adams quality, both in terms of facial hair and a longish mane.

tommytoms: oh i meant for the percentage of where balls are hit for soto.

Hire Joe Morgan?: I have never had a beer.  I am 36.

Craig Edwards: I don’t know. Red is hotter than green in most minds. Don’t flame me for that one.

HappyfunBall: Ryan Zimmerman is literally “Mr National” and holds most of the club’s offensive records. He’s old now, but he’s iconic.

Tony Wolfe: I could see Verlander getting to stick around for this turn through the lineup

Chris: Who takes Corbin’s innings for the Nats tonight of Stras goes only 5?

Craig Edwards: That is something I would like to know.

Craig Edwards: probably means Strasburg is going more than 5.

TrentC: So the largest free agent contact that this Astros front office has given out in 7 years is Josh Reddicks 52 million.  Do you think that it’s part of their philosophy to not give out big free agent contracts?

Tony Wolfe: I doubt it, since they’ve acquired a few in trades

Craig Edwards: When you’ve got Altuve, Bregman, Correa, and Springer and can trade for Cole, Verlander, and Greinke, it doesn’t leave as much need for big free agents. These next few years will very much test that.

Adam2: I think Biggio is the iconic Astro to Houston fans and Bagwell is outside Houston

Nate: Unrelated to WS: I’m noticing Jason Martinez has been busy updating offseason rosters. RosterResource has been an incredible add to Fangraphs.

Craig Edwards: Yes. It is great. Salary stuff, too. https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/astros

Pontoons: Does Verlander’s 66M extension count as a free agent contract?

David Laurila: Speaking of Jason Martinez, if the Nationals win the World Series he will have accurately predicted every round of the postseason, beginning with the Wild Card games.

Craig Edwards: No, it is an extension, just like Altuve and Bregman.

Guest: Nice “pitcher’s duel” that has shaped up after the rough first inning..

Pontoons: Did Martinez make his predictions preseason?

Craig Edwards: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/heres-who-is-going-to-win-the-…

David Laurila: FanGraphs postseason predictions were published right before WC games

tommytoms: are shorter players picked off more often? it’s a longer way back to the base?

Craig Edwards: Only if they don’t know they are short.

Guest: Correa has 22 K in 48 AB this post season.  Yuck!

Craig Edwards: that’s a lot of strikeouts.

Mad Joe-Don: When they show that hitters are, say, 2/25 against change ups, is that just counting at-bats that end with that particular pitch?

Tony Wolfe: And Gurriel has… 2 in 48 AB

Craig Edwards: presumably, yes, and not counting walks.

Adam2: Wicked play by Turner

Craig Edwards: better than a wicket play

Chris: Is there any truth to the idea that you have to get to a good pitcher early because they are better after the first inning? It seems like pitchers’ first inning splits might actually be worse than their usual stats, but that also seems attributable to the opposing team’s best hitters always being up in the first.

Craig Edwards: probably the latter, but it is probably good to get to a good pitcher early because they are good and don’t allow many runs regardless of inning.

Craig Edwards: Brantley hit that one to the wrong part of the park. Still tied after 5.

David Laurila: While they’re too busy to be reading this chat, a shoutout to the writers in the Minute Made press box. Covering the postseason is an honor, but it’s also a lot of work. The stories they’ll bring us from the ballpark and clubhouses will have taken effort and some burning of the midnight oil. Kudos guys and gals.

tanaka : these chats are dumb

David Laurila: A fact of which we are proud. Maybe.

Yolo: What is the modern record for winning the world series while turning the least amount of double plays? Nationals last was 10+ days ago.

Craig Edwards: The Tigers turned one double play in their World Series run in 1984.

Nico Robin: ever since the de-juiced ball story dropped I’m noticing every flyout and thinking it’s happening all the time

Craig Edwards: That’s the problem with inconsistency. You question everything whether real or not.

Lightning Rodney: The Nationals should have a minor league team called the Regionals

Craig Edwards: on promotion, you move up to the super-regionals.

SignedEpsteinsMother : I once partied all night, drove to Wrigley, waited in line for bleacher tickets for a doubleheader and passed out in the second game; don’t ask me who they played….

Craig Edwards:

divcoman: Single A The Locals

Craig Edwards: that is a really good team name idea.

Tony Wolfe: Tough evening for Cabrera, huh

tommytoms: who would be the inter-nationals then?

Craig Edwards: probably the rival of the AC-nationals.

Eel Ffilc: Hey did you know Zimmerman was the Nationals first ever draft pick?

Craig Edwards: but who was the second?

Craig Edwards: It was either Justin Maxwell or Frank Stallone.

Craig Edwards: the Nationals lost their second and third round picks that year so they could sign Vinny Castilla and Cristian Guzman.

Craig Edwards: and for those who missed it.

 

Cut4

@Cut4

 

Poor JV couldn’t get out of his own way.

24 Oct 2019

Chad: Do we know why Trout wasn’t able to attend tonight?

Craig Edwards: The Angels haven’t put a decent team around him.

Craig Edwards: more like Gurrifoul

Christian: Craig angling for a job as a late night host?

Craig Edwards: Angling? What am I? A fisherman?

David Laurila: People complain about Buck and Smoltz too much. I’d prefer something along the lines of Benetti and Cone, but all in all they aren’t that bad.

hey: I like when umpires throw the ball back to the pitcher. I don’t know why

Geoff: I’d prefer Laurel and Hardy, but I’ll take Buck and Smoltz

CTBNL: this umpire crew has been great, but is the HP ump a little too in to his ability to throw hard to the pitcher?

Jordan: It’d be better if Smoltz liked baseball though

David Laurila: Pretty sure Smoltz likes baseball, it’s just that we don’t all like baseball in exactly the same ways.

Craig Edwards: I do wonder if Smoltz got better if anybody would notice or if they would just rely on prior impression.

Craig Edwards: Fairiell

kevinthecomic: Yuli turning on that inside pitch again!

Craig Edwards:

Craig Edwards: I did some research. Trout appears to have some network connectivity issues.

Nick: Do the intentional walk articles just write themselves at Fangraphs now?

Jordan: Smoltz is better then Buck Martinez, this is who we get in Canada

Craig Edwards: Oh no. We still have to write them. Article writing themselves is big myth in the industry. Believe me, I’ve tried.

Rich C: This is probably the big moment of this game.

David Laurila: I actually like Buck Martinez as a broadcaster.

Craig Edwards: Leverage Index is so high.

Tony Wolfe: Fernando warming in the pen.

David Laurila: The emotion on Strasburg’s face, and the roaring crowd, is evidence that baseball is cool and the World Series matters.

Adam2: It was interesting in one of the FG pieces to read the IBBs are a sounder strategy for underdog teams because of increased variance

David Laurila: Speaking of crowds, I was at Nationals Park for the NLCS and the place was electric. It’s going o be a madhouse for Games 3-5.

Craig Edwards: might have been this one. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/lets-consider-a-few-more-questionable-inte…

CBeisbol: What’s the leverag index right now?  2-2.  Feels high

Craig Edwards: 2.76 for correa AB. Highest of the game so far.

Byron Buxton : How often does a change up break a bat?

Craig Edwards: Ask Italian Walter White.

David Laurila: At the risk of stating the obvious, this is a good baseball game.

SignedEpsteinsMother : I’ll never forget the time I saw Zappa at the Uptown. We mis-timed our hit of acid and it kicked in during a blizzard, it was awesome!

David Laurila: The first concert I saw was Zappa. Seriously.

Craig Edwards: Yes it is. Great pitching by Strasburg there. Still 2-2 after six.

David Laurila: I am admittedly the oldest water at FanGraphs.

Adam2: IBBs in context of variance was most recently mentioned in this one: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/should-the-nationals-duck-gerrit-cole/

David Laurila: Writer, not water. But maybe water, as well.

Craig Edwards: Ben is good. You should read and follow him on twitter.

Tony Wolfe: Woah.

Bale: Verlander isn’t done until he gives up a HR; otherwise it’s not a Verlander start.  At least in 2019.

Craig Edwards: That comment was made 45 minutes ago.

Adam2: I voted Verlander above! What’s my prize?

David Laurila: Regarding my early Kurt Suzuki-Muddy Ruel comparison, old Muddy didn’t homer in the aforementioned World Series. And yes, any excuse to bring up Muddy Ruel will be exercised.

Craig Edwards: you shouldn’t be in the polling game for prizes.

Pontoons: If Robles reaches is he Verlander’s last batter?

Craig Edwards: yes, i think.

Tony Wolfe: I doubt he faces Trea for a fourth time

Yolo: Tired Strasburg or Fernando Rodney for the 7th?

Tony Wolfe: Rodney.

Craig Edwards: They can’t really go Strasburg, I don’t think.

CJ: I’m happy for Kevin Long

Craig Edwards: Just needed to get out of New York.

Craig Edwards: Also, this is hilarious.

 

Cut4

@Cut4

 

Yu Darvish had been waiting on this moment for 544 days.

24 Oct 2019

David Laurila: I think Davey Martinez has pushed Strasburg far enough. Yes he’s a horse, but it’s pen time.

Tony Wolfe: Next-level pettiness from Yu

Nico Robin: darvish’s twitter game is top notch

Craig Edwards: Pressly who almost didn’t make the roster, makes his series debut.

David Laurila: Speaking of Davey Martinez, would the Nationals be here had he been fired in late May, as many were speculating at the time?

someone: If Suzuki is Ruel, which nationals ace is Walter Johnson?

David Laurila: Scherzer, because he’ll likely get the win in relief in Game 7  if it comes to that, as Johnson did in 1924.

Pontoons: Scherzer is Johnson. They both throw sidearm.

Craig Edwards: In Game 4 of the World Series in 1992, Pat Borders put the Blue Jays up over the Braves against Tom Glavine with a homer. Went on to win World Series MVP. Smoltz was there.

CBeisbol: Will the Nationals win with only three runs?

Craig Edwards: I wouldn’t bet on that.

Tony Wolfe: Which is why I don’t mind that bunt all that much

Tony Wolfe: Welp

David Laurila: For those of you who care about personalities, I’d never talked to Ryan Pressly prior to this summer. After we talked about his killer curveball for my pitch series, we chatted about this that  and the other in the dugout for probably 10 minutes. Totally chill, without a hint of pretension.

Craig Edwards: that bunt actually increased Win expectancy by .2%

stever20: thought Pressly would be more for Soto???

Craig Edwards: first IBB of the season for the Astros.

Tony Wolfe: Unbelievable

Craig Edwards: oh that’s a bummer for the Astros.

CBeisbol: Is Soto the first player not old enough to drink to draw a team’s first intentional walk of the season in the World Series?

David Laurila: Wow. Not the time for a defensive misplay. The Cardinals were great with the glove all season, then they weren’t in the NLCS. Now the Nats are helped by an Astros “error.”

Craig Edwards: Yes.

Lightning Rodney: How many runs do nats need before they bring in fernando rodney?

Dystopian Future: FERNANDOMANIA

tommytoms: even when the drinking age was 18?

Craig Edwards: prove me wrong.

CBeisbol: Do the Nationals win with 4 runs?

Craig Edwards: I wouldn’t try it, but decent chance, yes.

Tony Wolfe: so, about that “an extended rest period before the world series actually hurts teams” narrative,

Lightning Rodney: good thing they have 6

Al Gone Quinn: Ibb not so hot now

Craig Edwards: costing them one run over 175 games isn’t so bad.

stever20: Do the Nationals win with 6 runs?  Asking for a friend

Craig Edwards: 94% of the time?

David Laurila: The Mariners took Jeff Clement one pick before the Nationals tabbed Ryan Zimmerman in the 2005 draft.

Craig Edwards:

Byron Buxton : Are we seeing the beginning of a sweep or an excellent, competitive series?

Craig Edwards: let’s hope the latter.

IBB: Do the Nationals win with 8 runs?  Asking from the future thx.

Tony Wolfe: Poor Bregman

David Laurila: Those wheels you see rolling off in a random direction? They belong to the Houston Astros.

Jordan: It never occurred to me that ball players would be pretentious, no worse then any other jock, are they?

David Laurila: I only do baseball, but they run the gamut.

Dude: Any data on extended warmup time for relivers? Rodney’s been waiting to come in for a while…

Craig Edwards: He’s been warming for the World Series since 2006.

Lightning Rodney: i think it depends on “close game”. if down a run or tied, save him. if up a run, use him

Byron Buxton : Wait are they playing tomorrow?

Craig Edwards: friday. oops

CJ: What’s the probability that Buck will bring up 96 series? I say 99.9%

Craig Edwards: has to.

David Laurila: The Red Sox won the first two games of the 1986 World Series at Shea Stadium.

Craig Edwards: but then they won three of the next 32 World Series’ so it worked out.

Craig Edwards: wait four!

Fangraph’s Lurker: Safe to go to sleep or national’s bullpen gonna implode?

Tony Wolfe: It would be a particularly fitting time for that to finally happen

Craig Edwards: I mean, Nationals bullpen. I’d love to give that vote of confidence, but youneverknow.

David Laurila: One thing I’ve learned in my decades of watching baseball is that you don’t count chickens, be they one-game chickens or a seven-game-series chickens.

CJ: Not a good start

Rubes: Rodney???  Oh, no!

CBeisbol: *Gulp*

Lunar verLander: Rodney playing 5D chess; trying to walk Springer to get a RISP, knowing the Astros hit terribly then. Genius.

Craig Edwards: Too many Ds

Nico Robin: what’s the oldest pitcher to get a strikeout in the world series

Craig Edwards: Jack Quinn was 47 in 1930.

Craig Edwards: Recently, Jamie Moyer was 45 in 2008. Rodney is only 42.

Tony Wolfe: “only 42”

Arthur Kinney : You’ll have plenty of time to sleep when the American baseball season ends in a week or less

CBeisbol: I eat when I’m nervous and the big bag of Halloween candy is pretty much gone

David Laurila: Meanwhile, congrats to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks for winning NPB’s Japan Series yesterday.

Craig Edwards: but is it Halloween candy now or not until it is given away?

hey: Is Rodney a danger on the field?

Craig Edwards: B+

Craig Edwards: Back to School with you.

Nick: Rodney looking good now.

Craig Edwards: He always looks good.

Craig Edwards: Good defense from the Nationals and they get out of the inning.

Wire Fan: Is this Rodney’s last batter if he doesn’t get an out?

David Laurila: My answer o Wire fan is Map Ref. 41ºN 93ºW”

EonADS: Fukuoka beating Japan’s equivalent of the Yankees (Yomiuri) makes me happy.

Lunar verLander: After that inning, what are the odds Hinch intentionally walks a batter ever again?

Craig Edwards: ever? 5%

CJ: Strasburg is quietly building quite a postseason resume. Quietly only because the team didn’t win until now.

Craig Edwards: Weird how that works.

Craig Edwards: 1.48 FIP and 1.10 ERA entering tonight in 41 innings. That would be worth more than two WAR in the regular season.

David Laurila: That roar you’re hearing is coming from the metro DC area.

Tony Wolfe: cool bunt, adam

Craig Edwards: don’t bunt. hit dingers

Yolo: Does fangraphs have splits by hitters AB number in a game?

Craig Edwards: For pitchers? Yes. https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/splits-leaderboards?splitArr=30&spli…

Craig Edwards: For hitters, you can go by inning: https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/splits-leaderboards?splitArr=49,50,5…

Wire Fan: The next two or three games are in the NL – isn’t there a pretty good chance at another IBB by Hinch?

Craig Edwards: good point.

David Laurila: Circling back to what I said about counting chickens, assuming that the Astros are dead and buried maybe isn’t a good idea. This is a very good baseball team.

EonADS: This game as bordered on comical for the Astros. Verlander, Bregman, and now Maldonado with circus plays, and not in a good way.

Craig Edwards: more like a tripeze act

Arthur Kinney : If it’s a stat, FanGraphs has it.

David Laurila: This.

tommytoms: the astros still have non-zero chance of winning?

Craig Edwards:

Craig Edwards: Yes, but it is less than 1%

Dystopian Future: And Joe Buck is already talking about the 1996 world series.

Jordan: Wouldn’t have guessed the Nationals beat both Cole & Verlander, like I could envision the Nationals being up 2-0, just not like this

Tony Wolfe: I was sure they’d go to Washington tied 1-1.

Craig Edwards: There was about a 17% chance based on our playoff odds. There’s going to be focus on the pitching of the Astros, but the lineup has been so good this year, but hasn’t gotten it done yet in the playoffs, which is odd. Strasburg and Scherzer battled.

David Laurila: While a lot of Nationals fans are enjoying this, a good many young Nationals fans have been in bed for well over an hour given that it’s a school night.

stever20: so Greinke to save the Houston season….  wow.

TP: So who starts game three for the Nats?

Craig Edwards: Still Sanchez, I think, but a 2-0 lead opens up the possibility of Corbin working multiple innings to keep a lead to go for a 3-0 lead.

HappyfunBall: My daughter came downstairs right as Suzuki hit his HR. I delared her a good luck charm and told her to stay until the end of the inning. Possibly the best Dadding I’ve ever done

kdl: Too “cute” to go with Ross, Suerto or Guerra here?

Tony Wolfe: I don’t think so

Craig Edwards: I don’t think so. Especially if you are thinking about starting Ross in game four. Getting him an innings might help him.

CTBNL: Is it possible Scherzer and Strasburg just have a deep well to go to?

Craig Edwards: whatever they’ve been throwing down there has been working.

Al Gone Quinn: Will Nats enjoy an additional advantage at home with pitchers more experienced at hitting?

Tony Wolfe: Not against Greinke.

Craig Edwards: Greinke is the best hitter of the group, so probably not.

Al Gone Quinn: Forgot about Greinke

David Laurila: With routs in mind, the Yankees beat the Pirates 16-3 in Game Two of the 1960 World Series. They won Game Three 10-0, and Game Six 12-0. The Pirates won the Series.

Craig Edwards: One of the lesser known tracks on 2001.

EonADS: They will probably enjoy forcing the Astros to pick between Brantley and Alvarez, though.

Craig Edwards: Probably benching Alvarez, though putting Kendrick back in the field isn’t exactly a treat for the Nats.

Morbo: Fun fact, Greinke has a higher career wRC+ than billy Hamilton

Craig Edwards: That is fun…unless you’re Billy Hamilton.

David Laurila: Perhaps the most-notable rout in World Series history came in 1934 when the Cardinals beat the Tigers 11-0 in Game Seven.

EonADS: How much do you guys like D-Mart using Rainey here? Will getting him back some confidence actually work?

Craig Edwards: Day off tomorrow, so it is fine.

drybutt: Astros had a chance to take the lead and momentum when they pinch hit Kyle Tucker, but he’d never seen Strasburg before or been in a huge spot like that so Strasburg strikes him out. Then because they have no LHP face Soto, they intentionally walk him for their first IBB all season instead of trying to get him out. That allowed the Nats go on a 2-out rampage when they could have been out of the inning. For a highly analytical team Houston’s WS roster seems to be a bit flawed.

Brad LaPlante: ” Perhaps the most-notable rout in World Series history came in 1934 when the Cardinals beat the Tigers 11-0 in Game Seven.”

Of course, the Cardinals also lost Game 7 in 1985 11-0.

Wire Fan: Verlander now 0-5 in 6 WS games.  I get record is not the greatest way to measure a pitcher, but for a guy who’s thought to be a big game pitcher,  that is not good.

Craig Edwards: Though Correa’s at bat was more important and he popped out right before Tucker and there were two walks before Soto. They ended up in some bad situations, but Carlos Correa, Justin Verlander, and Ryan Pressly caused them, and there’s not much you can do about that.

HappyfunBall: Strasburg has 40K and 2BB this post season. Is that good?

Craig Edwards: working to confirm.

Dystopian Future: Seriously all this chatter about how “bad” the Astros are wouldn’t be at all a thing if Alex Bregman doesn’t boot that ball in the seventh. These things happen! The Nationals are a really good baseball team. The Astros are also a really good baseball team. It’s seven games, anything can happen. Don’t be surprised.

Craig Edwards: It is still surprising. Which is good, I think.

Morbo: Verlander-Kershaw WS game 7 matchup ultimate redemption/failure matchup

Craig Edwards: I just plugged those narrative into my computer and it exploded.

Morbo: Odds the Astros resign Cole?

Craig Edwards: Pretty low. They traded for Greinke and can fill in with a mid-tier starter and still win 100 games next year.

stever20: it’s not that Verlander is 0-5 but it’s also with a 5.73 ERA in those games….

Craig Edwards: They say whoever has the most fun wins, and right now, Washington is having a lot of fun.

David Laurila: Conversely, Lefty Gomez went 6-0, 2.86 in the World Series.

EonADS: Assuming Craig is responding on his phone/tablet now.

Craig Edwards: No. I lied to make a bad joke.

Dystopian Future: That is not Adam Eaton, FOX.

Craig Edwards: I’m sure he’s a fox to some.

Rubes: Gotta say it…Baby Shark!

David Laurila: One of the biggest cheers in NLCS  Game Four at National Park came when Gerardo Parra hit a pinch-hit single.

CBeisbol: Has Verlander read Yu Darvish’s tweet yet?

Craig Edwards: Yes, and Houston has now denied Darvish’s request for a press pass with clubhouse access.

tommytoms: astros win expectancy is finally 0%!

Craig Edwards: it is just less than 1 in 1,000

CBeisbol: Nationals have outscored their opponents 87-4 after the 6th inning this post season.

 

Joe Sheehan

@joe_sheehan

 

The Nationals have outscored their opponents 87-4 after the sixth inning this postseason.

24 Oct 2019

Tony Wolfe: that’s the part of the game they’re supposed to be bad!

Rubes: Ticket prices for games 3, 4, and 5 starting around $700 for standing room only on stubhub.  Just looked at my ticket stub from  1979 Game 7…$12.

Morbo: As a Cardinals fan j think the best way to fix our offense is to sign Gerrit Cole. Rotation of Cole, Flaherty, Carlos Martinez, Mikolas, and Hudson/Wainwright (?). If you only allow your opponents to score every fifth day you don’t need to score very much.

Dystopian Future: The seats are emptying and finally that’s a few boos from the Houston crowd. Not the note you want to travel to DC on.

Craig Edwards: That’s basically what they did this year, except without Cole. They’ve got guys locked into most of the positions on the field so they need to improve where they can and the rotation makes the most sense.

Hank G.: When are you going to update the World Series odds? You still have the Nats with a 44.95% chance of winning the series, and that was before Game 1.

Craig Edwards: after the game.

Tony Wolfe: oof, that could have been cleaner

Rubes: fangraphs had odds of Nats winning the series at about 45% going into game 2, which was a tad insulting.  Probability of Nats winning the series going into game 3?

Craig Edwards: guessing around 65 or so, but that’s just a wild guess.

3B2K: If the Nationals can win this it would have to be one of the all time upsets. Karma exists! ie for this stuff about Osuna recently.

Craig Edwards: I mean, sure, but /gestures wildly at professional sports/ not really.

David Laurila: Thanks to everyone who stuck around to the end. Long game, long chat, good fans all of you.

Tony Wolfe: I know the projections weren’t kind to the Nationals, but I still have trouble buying into this being that large-scale of an upset.

Craig Edwards: That was a lot of fun. Close game for a while, then not for the last little bit.

Craig Edwards: Thanks everyone for all the questions. We’ll go ahead and close things up tonight.

Tony Wolfe: Til next time, everyone!