Cubs decide not to renew Maddon’s contract for next year. Leads Cubs to their first championship in over 100 years and reaches the playoffs the next two but now gone after missing the playoffs this year. I don’t think he will be unemployed very long.
I think it's unreal. The guy won in Tampa Bay. The guy took the Cubs to a World Series title and 4 post-season appearances in 5 years. I think the Cubs may live to regret this decision.
A month ago I said I'd be shocked if Maddon was gone. Shows what I know. I guess the end-of-season collapse was the death knell. He'll have another job very soon. Thanks, Joe. It's been a great ride.
OK season over. Astros end up the #1 overall seed with 107 wins, just edging out the Dodgers who won 106. Yankee's won 103 and the Twins won a 101. I wonder if this is the first year that all 3 division winners in the AL won over 100 games? Naturally the Astros and Dodgers are the favorites, but the AL is no cake walk so the Astros will have to run a gauntlet of great teams to make the WS. Do the Braves have a punchers chance of beating the Dodgers? The Nat's finished the season strong, do they have a chance of at least making the NLCS?
Dodgers vs winner of Brewers/Nats Braves vs. Cards Yanks vs. Twins Astros vs. winner of A's/TB It doesn't matter who the best team is now. Playoffs are won by the hot team. re: Maddon Both the Angels and Padres are after him and the Angels haven't even fired Ausmus yet. Bruce Bochy is also available after escaping from Frisco. The Dodgers 106 wins is the team record. The old record of 105 was set by manager Charlie Dressen in 1953. He was then fired for asking for a multi-year contract.
All of the potential matchups in this post-season are intriguing. I'm ready for some playoff baseball.
What are your thoughts on the Braves/Cards match up? I haven't followed the NL very much at all, what has Dallas Keuchel done for the Braves? AL CY Young...it's clearly either going to be Verlander or Cole. I like Verlander myself. AL MVP ...Mike Trout had a great year, and is a great player. He hasn't played since mid-September but he's going to win it. Bregman will finish 2nd his only chance was to just go on a tear in the last 2 weeks, hit .400 and a bunch of HR's. He finished well but not enough to make anybody think twice about giving it to him. AL Rookie of Year....nobody is even close to Yordan Alvarez in the AL.
My picks: CY- Verlander CY- Ryu MVP- Trout MVP- Bellinger So many great rookies this year it's hard to pick just one.
The Braves/Cards matchup should be an interesting one. The Braves had a great year and Keuchel has done well for the Braves. The Braves are a very young, very talented team, but have had some injuries down the stretch. I guess this series will hang on how many Braves are ready to go for the series. Otherwise, I see Atlanta winning a competitive series with St. Louis.
In my mind DJ LaMahieu is the AL MVP. Played six positions including all four in the INF regularly as the Yankees weathered 32 IL trips. Hit consistently throughout. .330 BA batting all over the top six positions in the order, finishing at leadoff. 26 HRs. 100 RBIs. Stellar defense. He carried the team this far through an unprecedented series of injuries.
I see that the MLB commish has tossed a grenade at Oakland City Council with his comment that he likes the possibility of the Las Vega's A's if things can't be worked out in Oakland.
Holy Crap have the Cardinals unloaded on the Braves or what? 11-0 after 2 innings AJ lighting up his victory cigar about now.
The arrogant young Atlanta Braves haven't escaped from the wood shed yet. It's 13-1 now and Jack Flaherty didn't leave the game before drilling Acuna between the numbers @98...