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ALCS Game 1 Chat
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Ben Clemens
7:30
Hey everybody, and welcome to our chat for Game 1 of the ALCS
7:31
David Laurila, Tony Wolfe, and I will be chatting with you all game.
If you'd like a preview of the game, Eric Longenhagen wrote one up this morning:
Additionally, ZiPS has game-by-game predictions for this series as well as the NLCS:
Derek
7:32
Let's hope for no Dak-esque injuries this postseason
Ben Clemens
7:32
Fingers crossed!
Tony Wolfe
7:32
Hi everyone. Hope everyone got by okay during our one (1) day without playoff baseball
Ben Clemens
7:33
There are lots of worst parts of sports, but injuries that rob players of part of their prime are wayyyy up there
Guest
7:34
So, I'm on the bandwagon that expanded playoffs are a bad idea.  OTOH, I'm enjoying having games every night and I like that teams actually need more than three starters.  What's the optimal solution here?
Ben Clemens
7:34
I am pretty sure I don't like expanded playoffs, but like you, I'm much more on the fence in terms of the strategy that teams have had to deploy this year.
I loved Cole and Glasnow coming back on short rest, and the drama involved in making that choice.
7:35
I actually don't think this is fixable, though. When teams play at home again, they'll need a travel day.
7:36
The expanded playoffs aren't what are making every team go 5 deep or come up with some patch, it's the no off days. I simply don't think there's a playoff format with no off days, expanded playoffs or no, that can work when the Mariners could theoretically play the Yankees.
Kiermaier's Piercing Green Eyes
7:38
I promise you, Carlos, winning will not stop the criticism. Winning this year is unrelated to the criticism and will, in fact, make it worse.
Derek
7:38
This a 3-man booth I can actually get behind!
Ben Clemens
7:38
Incredible opening gambit by the announcers. "The Astros were banging away against Oakland in the Divisional Series."
I see what you did there
Guest
7:39
The reason you cite for this problem not being fixable assumes that teams must play in their home stadiums when possible.  But could MLB go to an all-neutral-site playoff format, not unlike college bowl games are held at neutral sites?
Tony Wolfe
7:40
I couldn't imagine owners would go for that. There's a lot of gate revenue to be had that should incentivize a team getting home field advantage
AvatarDavid Laurila
7:40
Hello all. Had some technical issues, but I'm here to talk baseball.
Ben Clemens
7:40
Hey David!
I'd add to Tony's point that I like teams having home field advantage.
Playoff crowds are incredible
Tony Wolfe
7:40
Also that
AvatarDavid Laurila
7:41
Of note, The Rays have gone 8-1-1 on their last 10 series with the Astros. The losing series was last year’s ALDS.
7:42
Also, the Rays have gone 13-1-4 in their last 18 series. This is since August 4 and against all teams.
Derek
7:42
Any lineup surprises for either team here?
Tony Wolfe
7:43
Altuve dingers in the second AB of the game. Houston up 1-0
Ben Clemens
7:43
The Rays are basically as expected; their bench is five lefties, which means they're playing their most-right-handed lineups
I guessssss you could argue Aledmys Diaz at DH is a surprise, but they are light on righty bats
Kiermaier's Piercing Green Eyes
7:44
That legendary inning in Toronto with the errors and thrown beers does not happen at a neutral site.
Ben Clemens
7:44
Yep
Guest
7:44
What percentage of fans do you think is rooting for the Rays over the Astros?
Ben Clemens
7:44
Oh gosh, 80%?
It's gonna be huge
AvatarDavid Laurila
7:44
I've tweeted a few times recently that Altuve's poor season was an injury-related anomaly and that he's still a top-notch hitter.  He's a top-notch hitter.
Tony Wolfe
7:45
The college bowl game doesn't really work either because those ask fans to travel for just one game. Even just a neutral site World Series would be asking a LOT from fans
Kevinthecomic
7:45
Renfroe a bit of a surprise - no starts and only 1 ab in the alds
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