As the baseball world gears up for the second round of the playoffs, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:
1. Division Series begins tomorrow:
With all four Wild Card Series matchups having been settled on Wednesday, baseball fans are already looking ahead to the four matchups of the Division Series, which will begin tomorrow. The Braves, Orioles, Dodgers and Astros all secured byes through the Wild Card Series, meaning each club is fully rested as they gear up to face their first opponents of the postseason. First up on the schedule at 12:03pm CT tomorrow is the Orioles, who will take on the Rangers at Camden Yards. Next up at 3:45pm CT will be the Astros, who figure to face the AL Central champion Twins in Houston. The NL, meanwhile, features a pair of division rivalries. At 5:07pm CT the Braves will square off against the Phillies in Atlanta before the night concludes at 8:20pm CT with the Dodgers facing the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.
2. What’s next for the Mets?
The Mets had a tumultuous evening yesterday, as GM Billy Eppler abruptly stepped down from his role as the club’s second-in-command under new president of baseball operations David Stearns. Eppler’s sudden resignation was brought on by an MLB investigation into both Eppler himself and the Mets regarding so-called “phantom IL” stints, when teams place healthy players on the injured list in order to give the player a physical and/or mental resist while freeing up their 26-man roster spot temporarily. The practice widely utilized around the league, though it’s technically against MLB’s rules.
In any case, the situation is sure to have effects going forward not only on the Mets, but on the league as a whole. It’s likely that the Mets and/or Eppler himself are at risk of facing fines or other disciplinary action from MLB, depending the results of the league’s investigation, while the league’s other clubs will surely watch the situation with interest, as it may signal a crackdown on the widespread practice by the league. In the more immediate term, the Mets now figure to look for someone to fill Eppler’s shoes in the Mets front office, with Stearns now in position to choose his own number two.’
3. Showalter eyeing Anaheim:
The Angels recently parted ways with manager Phil Nevin, whose contract with the club expired at the end of the season. GM Perry Minasian recently indicated that the club’s search for a new manager was still in a very preliminary stage, noting that they had not yet established a timeline for the new hire or even assembled a list of potential candidates. One candidate has thrown his own hat into the ring, however: recently-fired Mets manager Buck Showalter has reportedly expressed interest in the vacancy in Anaheim.
On the surface, the pairing seems to be a good fit given Showalter’s desire to return to the dugout in 2024 and the tumultuous situation the Angels are facing, with the likely departure of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani this offseason, perhaps calling for a more experienced hand to guide the club as they look to avoid missing the playoffs for the ninth-consecutive time. Organizations looking to fill managerial vacancies around the league appear to be gearing up to begin external interviews in earnest next week; could one between Showalter and the Angels be among them?
MLB, I get that your algorithm worked pretty well as it did last year to get rid of the Wild Card games as quick as possible but having no baseball for 2 straight days during the early round of the playoffs isn’t great for your brand. Maybe make some changes to your algorithm for next round so there isn’t so many days without baseball.
It’s not their fault everyone got swept. You need the 1 day off between series as well.
@VonPurpleHayes
Oh, poor babies needing 1 day off between series. It’s not like they can’t play 4 or 5 games in a row.
Well you need the day off to make it competitive from a rotation standpoint. If a team needs to use their top 3 pitchers in the WC round and then move to a DS with no days off, their rotation is totally screwed. The top 2 division winners already get a bye, they don’t need to face a completely battered rotation. That would not be entertaining baseball. It worked out that every team swept their opponent in the WC round. So their aces will go game 2 in the DS, instead of game 1. This still gives the teams with the bye a significant advantage, but it’s not an insurmountable one. I think the format is fine as it is now.
@VonPurpleHayes
What’s the point of having a 5-man rotation if you’re only using 3 of them? MLB used to have guys going 9 innings every 3 or 4 games and now they have 6 guys pitching 4 innings or less every 5 or 6 games. If you’re asking for competitive, they should be able to push out 5 pitchers that are at a competitive level. Needing to have so many off days so you can use 3 pitchers tells us that your team isn’t that skilled and n the pitching department. That’s weak.
Oh poor babies having to find things to do for two days other than watching baseball.
You know, there are a lot of other great things to watch or go out and do.
@Blue Baron
Just pointing out some flaws in the algorithm for the playoffs. Bit of a miss for the MLB. Make some tweaks for next year.
Disagree. The should be penalized with a weaker rotation. I’m also for eliminating as many days off as possible during the postseason. Reward the deeper teams.
But it was only one scheduled off day. They have to allow three days for a two-of-three series.
No one uses a 5-man rotation in the playoffs. I mean this was true my entire life. The point of the 5-man is to get you through 162. The playoffs is a tournament of the best teams, using their best players. Teams also don’t use all their position bench players that they used during the season. This has nothing to do with a new format. It’s always been this way.
LordD99 In theory, a division winner could have won 100 games. Played a 3 game set, used their top 3 pitchers. Won. Moved on to face the Dodgers and lost because they used a 4th and 5th starter against a 1st and 2nd. That’s not rewarding deeper teams. That’s giving a the bye far too much of an advantage. If there was no bye I’d agree with you, but there’s a bye.
Having 1 single day off is not a big deal. It’s also technically a travel day. These teams had to hop on airplanes. In theory there were games scheduled yesterday. We just happened to get sweeps.
Tell me more Grandpa. Did they pitchup uphill in the snow, both ways? Were the bases 300 feet apart?
Your whole “algorithm” post is stupid anyway.
@VonPurpleHayes
Sorry to burst your bubble but we don’t have the Best teams in the playoffs this year. Seattle didn’t even make the playoffs but weaker teams than Seattle did make the playoffs.
@VonPurpleHayes
That’s another ridiculous part of this playoff format. You’re in the playoffs, you should be playing not golfing. If you want to golf, go play on the A’s team.
@Sid Bream Speed Demon
Correct. Tougher brand of baseball back in my day. Wouldn’t be surprised that they make it much weaker in the future so no one’s feelings are hurt. Every team will win the world series.
@Sid Bream Speed Demon
Yet, you took the time to read and respond to it. It must have been quite important to you.
Seattle didn’t qualify according to the same system and rules every team plays in.
There is absolutely no point in arguing that they should be playing and another team shouldn’t.
Such a specious argument could be made every year, but it’s moot and accomplishes nothing.
@Old York: Ridiculous statement. Nobody on the teams still alive is golfing.
@Old York: Another ridiculous statement. With more teams in MLB and in the postseason, teams need to win more games to reach the World Series than when there were only 16 and later 24 and 26 teams.
Do you listen to yourself? Saying every team will win the World Series is even more stupid.
@Sid Bream Tell me grandma, do you play with pitchers throwing underhanded from behind their backs so hitters don’t get hit.
Seattle isn’t very good the offense is in the bottom 10 with way too many strikeouts!
@Blue Baron
I was responding to VonPurpleHayes that said the best teams were in the playoffs, which is incorrect.
Bullpen was descent until they put Moore and Lopez on waivers to get under the cap
Showalter already got fired by the Yankees years ago! LoL
Perry inherited a mess and traded 2 months of a washed up Syndergaard for Mickey Moniak and Brandon Marsh who leads the league in strikeouts for Logan Ohoppe who is becoming a top catcher in baseball. Perry inherited Eppliers mess and in 3 years has brought in some nice young players with Neto and Shamual. Add in Adell and Ward and the Angels have a young core going forward..
I will take your bet on that!
Seattle’s fate was in their own hands. They choked.
According to the system, they are. Arguing otherwise is pointless.
POLITICS!
@VonPurpleHayes
But you were incorrect to suggest the best teams are in the playoffs.
I think that they’re missing an opportunity with no baseball on a Friday. Would’ve been great to have games start on Monday but still logistical challenges with that.
Or a rainout
@BrianStrowman9: Many 5- and 7-game series throughout MLB history have been played Saturday-Sunday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Saturday-Sunday with Monday and Friday as travel days.
@Old York: Somehow this was posted in the wrong place earlier.
The best teams are in the playoffs according to the divisional and playoff system in place.
You actually are incorrect to suggest otherwise.
@BlueBaron
I realize that it’s been done but a Friday game is more marketable than another weekday game every single time. I think it’s a miss there. But I recognize that it is hard to get around. Starting a playoff series on a Monday after ending the season on a Sunday is difficult to do.
@BrianStrowman9: It will never happen because Monday needs to be left open for makeup or extra play-in games.
Angels are a .500 team at best thru and thru
Yeah. I don’t disagree with you. I think it’s not optimal but just the reality of life with the new 3 game WC series
Agreed. No baseball yesterday bc all were 2-game sweeps shouldn’t have been possible. I would have liked to have seen a MIA playoff home game to see them break TB’s 19K home playoff attendance.
rundmc all the games were in Philly regardless.
I’m sure the MLB Executive office will take your precious and precocious salvo into consideration, Old York. Attendance has been at its highest since 2017. Fan interest is reignited. How about the fact that the product on the field will be better for the Divisional Rounds due to the extra day for travel and rest? It’s incredible how myopic and self-aggrandizing consumers can be. Fill your voids with shuffleboard or crossword puzzles for 48 hours, you’ll make it I promise. See you tomorrow.
@briar-patch thatcher
I’m talking about the MLB algorithm for the playoffs that are already set in stone.
Not sure there is any algorithm. They probably just look at the calendar and lay out the schedule.
Attendance is certainly still an issue for the Devil Rays.
I wish we could get Showalter to come & manage the Yankees now, and get rid of the loser we have now. I guess that’s too much to ask for? Smh
The Yankees have bigger issues than which guy is the manager.
Be careful what you ask for Captain. Look at the Mets record despite all the money spent. I’m not saying it was all Buck’s fault or that he isn’t better than what you guys got today. I just don’t know if his style works with today’s players.
It worked well enough in 2022 for him to be voted NL Manager of the Year.
The Ghost IL will become the TrashCan Banging scandal of 2023. Of course anyone
Who follows the Game can see it happening every year. Just look at Stanton…
Personally I’m willing to wait for the details to come out before passing judgment. As this is a common practice, there’s bound to be more to the story for Eppler to step down.
Random capitalization of Words reminds me of Someone else who loves to Rant on social Media.
You?
Nevin was just a puppet of Minasian. How will Showalter respond to meddling by the underqualified GM?
Showalter isn’t getting the Angels job.
How do you know? Are you Perry himself?
Nevin was a puppet for Moreno who controlled him through Minasian.
The Mets should get he investigation dismissed. Exhibit A is Corey Kluber’s 7.something ERA getting him on the 60 Day
I mean “shoulder inflammation”
The Redsox practice it well…..”imflamation’. Maybe the insurance companies teams have should look into things….
I’m proud to say that Theo raised it to an art form.
And I have no idea why this should be a problem. Isn’t someone becoming completely worn out kind of similar to a calf muscle needing rest? When Pedro was on the RS, I was hoping for a phantom DL stay every time the ASG rolled around.
Showalter Sucks!!!
The Angels should have kept Nevin and had an all hands on deck to improve the Bullpen
Because the Angel Bullpen sucks worse than Showalter
Smh
Lefty – My guess is you didn’t watch many Angels games to see Nevin in action. Showalter, on the other hand, has a decades long track record as a winning manager with a .509 win percentage. Showalter would knock some heads in Anaheim which is what they need.
I am not sure about that
Still angry about Ubaldo over Britton huh
Ha
No tbe divorce was long before that
I wonder if multiple clubs are being targeted and we only know about the Mets because Eppler left.
If it really is only being the Mets being targeted- honestly, it sure didn’t seem like they were egregiously abusing the IL this season. Maybe a specific player or front office employee complained?
Or are they being targeted because other owners aren’t thrilled with the team at the moment?
Probably Scherzer.
Lol Mets is giving MLB a side show to the playoffs for the media and fans to enjoy.
Eppler and the Mets are guilty as charged with the phantom IL.
Eppler should have been fired for his ineptitude in handling the DH and bullpen which he believed he could mask by abusing player options and the IL.
He shivved Buck Showalter at the end after sabotaging him with Vogey and now someone is dropping dime on him. Payback
I can’t understand why Steve Cohen insisted on Stearns retaining Eppler and for allowing Buck to be mistreated the way he was.
Oh and it looks like Pete Alonso is packing his bags with Boras unless he is overpaid with Cohen’s wallet like Lindor was as FA is one year away.
What a stupid take. Vogelbach was a platoon DH that had a 13% better than league average batting line for the year and 22% better in the 2nd half. He ranked in the top half of all DH for the season. Are Mets fans really stupid enough to think that is a problem?
You need better glasses lol.
He can’t run, hit LHP, hit for power, play a position, drive in runs, score runs or hit for average. Not what you want for a DH on the team with the highest payroll.
What part of platoon and DH did you miss. Vogelbach had 15 AB against LHP all season. The DH doesn’t play in the field hence the name designated HITTER.
He drove in 18% of baserunners which is 4% better than MLB average and which ranks him 6th among DH.
Vogelbach hit a HR in 4.1% of his AB which is much higher than the 3.2% MLB average. That is in line with the 4.0% average for DH.
You apparently don’t understand how the game is supposed to be played or how to look up stats. Start here. baseball-reference.com/players/v/vogelda01-bat.sht…
So you must work in the Mets analytics department.
I think I am with the majority of Mets fans here and Buck Showalter that he doesn’t produce enough to be a DH end of story.
So because I understand the basic facts I’m in the Mets analytics department? WTF is that?
I’m correct. That is all. You cannot dispute the facts. He was better than most DH in MLB.
Just because a couple of stupid people agree with you doesn’t make you right. It just means they are as ignorant of the facts as you are.
So go back under your rock and let those of us that actually understand baseball talk.
Vogelbach sucked. Who cares that he hit homeruns at slightly above average rate. All he did all year was walk or hit a single and rarely scored because of how miserable he is on the base paths.
The guy had 21 extra base hits in 319 plate appearances all year. Luis Guillorme got extra base hits at a higher rate than that.
Also, he was miserable to watch. All year he stared at pitches right down the middle of the plate.
The stats say he didn’t suck. He was not Ohtani but he wasn’t Carpenter. He was above average at the job he was hired to do.
Vogelbach’s WRC+ was 109. 9% better than league average. Which isn’t that good when you account for the 0 defensive value and 0 baserunning.
Why his fWAR was .1. He’s a below average starting positional player. You can’t just cherry-pick something and tell me he’s good.
Designated hitter means his job is to hit. He did that at an above average rate.
When it comes to WAR, his fWAR was 1.4 and he ranked 12th among DH.
fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?lg=all&sea…
This would be a good move for the Angels, imo.
The Dodgers were kings of the phantom IL/roster manipulation until the last round of rule changes, this is nothing new. It’s funny how things have just changed. You used to never hear about how bad things were on many teams behind the scenes but now thanks to guys like Scherzer, Verlander, Middleton and Lynn we’ve gotten peaks into how bad the Mets and White Sox clubhouses are
I’m old school, hire Showalter as Manager/GM. Whitey Herzog days is STL
Showalter has done nothing but underperform with great talent as a manager…so he’d be perfect for Anaheim.
Ask Orioles fans about him as well as old Yankee fans.
He also got the DBacks rolling.
A manager mentored by Billy Martin is not a fool.
2 postseason series wins in 22 seasons, and one of them was the 2012 WCG. In short, he stinks and ruins good talent.
Mets should implement Eppler into a “Japanese scout” role. Doubt he’ll ever be able to get another GM role but his relations East can not be denied. Curious to see how the remainder of his career pan out.
As long as MLB doesn’t drag out their investigation of what is pretty much BS that every team does, Eppler will be a GM or assistant GM before the Winter Meetings.
Is Buck going to keep managing until he dies! I love the guy, but he is doing a Bruce Bochy!