Major League Baseball: 2024 Season

[Blitz24]

The man known as "Charlie Hustle", Pete Rose, the MLB all-time hit king and a man famously banned from baseball, has passed away at the age of 83.

 

[Dolph Drago]

Get that man in the Hall of Fame already!

 

[JohnBM01]

October baseball can mean one of two things. Either you are playing the very late stages of the season, or... it's Playoffs time! Every MLB team wishes they can advance to the Playoffs. Now that the Playoffs are here, 30 teams with the same dream have been whittled down to 12. Expanding the Playoff field to 12 means a few more opportunities for teams who have just enough to reach this level. Neither the Texas Rangers nor Arizona Diamondbacks made it to the Postseason. So we will be assured new Champions in the American League, the National League, and with the World Series Championship.

The Wild Card games begin today. Four of the eight teams playing in the Wild Card series may be living out their postseason dreams for only two or three games. Wild Card round winners will advance to the Divisional Series.

Here is a reminder of the Wild Card games:

• AL WILD CARD 2: #5 KC Royals at #4 BAL Orioles
• AL WILD CARD 1: #6 DET Tigers at #3 HOU Astros
• NL WILD CARD 2: #5 ATL Braves at #4 SD Padres
• NL WILD CARD 1: #6 NYM Mets at #3 MIL Brewers

Enjoy the Postseason!

 

[Joey D]

Me watching the Tigers nearly blow it in the bottom of the 9th:

You'd think years of the Tigers doing this to me would've steeled from it, but I guess not.

 

[Blitz24]

Mets take game 1 on the short turnaround 8 to 4. They only got hits in the 2nd and 5th innings but scored 3 and 5 runs in those innings respectively. The Brewers did not have a single baserunner after the 4th inning.

 

[Fezzik]

Me watching the Tigers nearly blow it in the bottom of the 9th:

You'd think years of the Tigers doing this to me would've steeled from it, but I guess not.

Can Skubal pitch every game? You may need him to.
Who cares if his arm falls off afterwards?

 

[kjb]

Mets take game 1 on the short turnaround 8 to 4. They only got hits in the 2nd and 5th innings but scored 3 and 5 runs in those innings respectively. The Brewers did not have a single baserunner after the 4th inning.

Glad the Mets won. For me the ideal WS would be the Mets vs Yankees with the Yankees winning the whole thing 🤣. Both teams have to do their part though

 

[Blitz24]

Glad the Mets won. For me the ideal WS would be the Mets vs Yankees with the Yankees winning the whole thing 🤣. Both teams have to do their part though

If that World Series happens, the Yankees would HAVE to win the matchup or else they'd consider the season a failure.

 

[kjb]

If that World Series happens, the Yankees would HAVE to win the matchup or else they'd consider the season a failure.

Their seasons have been failures since 2009

 

[JohnBM01]

The Houston Astros went from dismal start to winning their Division. How long can their season last after a tough start? Their test will be against the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card series. Depending on how far the Astros go, this may be another summary... or my last summary of the season. Hopefully this Astros run goes far, but I am not entirely confident. Anyhow, let's get it!

* #6 DET Tigers at #3 HOU Astros (best-of-3)

[GAME 1] 3-0 Tigers most of the game. Astros rallied in Bottom of the 9th with an RBI. The Astros' ten straight postseason opener wins was on the line. And that streak would come to an end

[GAME 2] Five innings of scoreless baseball was pitched by both teams. That is, until Detroit drills a solo homer to deep right to put the Tigers up 1-0. The Astros loaded the bases with nobody out in the Bottom of the 7th, and Jon Singleton knocked in a base hit after a throw to home wasn't caught. So we're tied at one as the Astros try to save their postseason lives. Altuve hit a pop-up to right foul ground, but the speed of Jeremy Peña was able to beat out a pitch to home plate. And for the first time this postseason, the Astros take the lead, a 2-1 lead. Detroit came back in the Top of the 8th to tie on timely hits and some poor pitching by Houston. It is now a 2-2 tie. A deep RBI to left with the bases loaded and two outs resulted in three Tigers crossing home plate to get a 5-2 advantage. Houston's bid to rally in the Bottom of the 9th ended up with no runs scored. Damned shame for Houston (pardon my choice of words). Cheers, Detroit.

[GAME 3] -not needed-

--- REVIEW ---
GM1: (3-1; Detroit)
GM2: (5-2; Detroit)
GM3: -not needed-

RESULT: DET wins series 2-0

--- UPCOMING ---
NEXT: next season and Spring Training...

The 2024 Houston Astros finished the regular season 88-73 on the season, 2024 AL West Champions! Sadly, Joe Espada and Dana Brown are winless in the postseason with the Astros.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." -Dr. Seuss

You know, I wasn't confident the Astros were going to make much noise anyhow this postseason. I hate saying this as an Astros fan... but this is the best time for the Yankees to try to win the Postseason- you won't have to face the Astros. Just to go from an atrocious 12-24 start to come back and win the AL West is commendable. Not once have the Astros felt like they've ever taken control like in 2022 or 2023. Also, you believe this is the first time since about 1993 or 1994 that the Astros have not hit a Grand Slam all season?

My emotions range from proud they made it this far to being disappointed their 2024 postseason lasted all of two days. At least the Astros made the postseason, let alone win the AL West, when everyone (myself included) wanted Joe Espada and Dana Brown gone. The Astros got their groove back and took the AL West once again. However, the Detroit Tigers were in that "hot at the right time" mentality and took down the Astros and ended their season.

For me, no more reports this season because my team is finished. Congratulations to whomever takes the 2024 Championship. I'll await my Texans and Rockets now.


Congratulations to all recent series winners and today's/tonight's winners! And congratulations to all who made the Postseason! Better luck next season if your team(s) failed to advance to the Postseason.

 

[Joey D]

I'm stunned that the Tigers pulled that off! Sorry @JohnBM01, the Astros played tough for sure and I thought they were going to rally in the 9th yesterday and in the 7th today.

The hit by Ibanez was just money. I thought for sure it was foul, but the baseball gods kept it fair.

 

[JohnBM01]

The Houston Astros are DONE, now so are the Baltimore Orioles. The Kansas City Royals won their first playoff series since 2015. That Royals team would go on to win the World Series. Baltimore won a Wild Card berth, finishing 2nd in the AL East behind the New York Yankees in the AL East.

So that is now two teams emptying their lockers and looking forward to next season- Houston and Baltimore.

 

[JohnBM01]

The San Diego Padres 86'ed the Atlanta Braves out of the 2024 Postseason in a sweep. So now it is Detroit, Kansas City, and San Diego all advancing to the Divisional Series on Sweeps; while Houston, Baltimore, and Atlanta are emptying their locker rooms and going on vacation.

 

[Fezzik]

go Tigers and Royals!

Thanks for knocking out the 2 scariest possible opponents for my Yankees.

 

[kjb]

go Tigers and Royals!

Thanks for knocking out the 2 scariest possible opponents for my Yankees.

Especially the Astros 🤣 sorry @JohnBM01 but I am so glad they are gone.

 

[Fezzik]

If the Yanks can't beat up the AL Central to get to the World Series they should sack all the management. Best chance they'll have in years, whilst Judge is still in God mode and Soto is there.

 

[kjb]

If the Yanks can't beat up the AL Central to get to the World Series they should sack all the management. Best chance they'll have in years, whilst Judge is still in God mode and Soto is there.

I completely agree. The path is set for them. I doubt Hal Steinbrenner will fire Cashman and Boone though. Hal to me is more concerned with making money than winning chips. That said hopefully if they win Hal will go out of his way to keep Soto. I love Soto and he was built for New York. Hopefully Steve Cohen doesn’t snatch him from the Yankees this offseason

 

[JohnBM01]

The only Game 3 in the Wild Card round was between the New York Mets at the Milwaukee Brewers. By a score of 4-2, advancing are... the New York Mets! So Blitz24's boys shamed the Brew Crew once again. Pete Alonso hit a three-run jack in the Top of the 9th to break the hearts of the Brewers and their fans. Maybe Milwaukee isn't really a playoff team despite having so many fine regular seasons. In fact, I think I heard this is now the 3rd straight postseason where Milwaukee fails to advance to the next round. On a different note, good job by the Kings of Queens to advance to the NLDS. Next for the Mets- the Philadelphia Phillies.

Elsewhere, I heard that the Cincinnati Reds have signed or will sign Terry Francona as their new manager.


Other than that, the Divisional Series is set!

 

[Fezzik]

That said hopefully if they win Hal will go out of his way to keep Soto. I love Soto and he was built for New York. Hopefully Steve Cohen doesn’t snatch him from the Yankees this offseason

My fear is Soto going there and Alonso signing with us. Big power righty in his 30s with lots of Ks, definitely our type and sure to be a disastrous contract.

 

[Joey D]

Are you not entertained!

 

[Eggstor]

If you watched baseball on a Bally Sports/Diamond Sports Group channel this year and it wasn't to watch the Atlanta Braves, you'll likely need to search your cable/ satellite (but not IPTV) provider's channel lineup, or pay MLB through the nose to stream, next season as DSG (soon to be rebranded in a deal with FanDuel) is looking to drop 11 of the 12 teams they carried last year. DSG's contracts with the Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers expired at the end of this season, while DSG plans to void the contracts with the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays in bankruptcy court, and also terminate the joint ventures with the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, and the St. Louis Cardinals. ESPN noted that terminating the joint ventures could trigger legal action.

MLB, for its part, has announced that it will take over the broadcast production of the Guardians, Brewers and Twins, much like it has for the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, while the Rangers' broadcast future will, while in limbo, not include Diamond Sports Group or likely MLB. Given MLB's 90%-of-DSG's-payment guarantee was good for only the 2024 season, and that the Rangers are looking for other options, I expect all 6 teams (plus any others that fall under MLB's "protection") will get a fair chunk less money next season for local broadcasts, especially if, like the Brewers, they had sold streaming rights to DSG.

 

[Blitz24]

First team to punch their ticket to the NLCS are the New York Mets following a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies courtesy of a Francisco Lindor grand slam providing the only needed runs.

 

[JohnBM01]

Philly DONE, huh? Congratulations to your Mets!

 

[Fezzik]

Big G gets some abuse from sections of the Yankee fanbase (not from me) but he always performs in the postseason (960-ish OPS).

Stanton wows with HR, rare steal as Yanks up 2-1

Giancarlo Stanton hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning amid a battle of the bullpens, and the Yankees beat the Royals 3-2 on Wednesday night in Game 3 of their AL Division Series.

www.espn.com

A first Subway Series for nearly a quarter of a century is on. That last one in 2000 was the year I started watching baseball seriously. It had only been available on “normal” TV here in the UK since 1997. Obviously the Yankees were on Sunday Night Baseball a lot (that’s the only game we got), I’d heard of their legends like Babe and Yogi, and so they became my team.

 

[JohnBM01]

New York Yankees to the 2024 ALCS. The Kansas City Royals got dethroned by the Bronx Bombers, winning this best-of-5 3-1. Coincidentally, that was final score as the Yanks knocked out the Royals by tonight: 3-1. I said all along this is the Yankees' best chance to make the World Series since they don't have to face my Houston Astros. I am NOT a Yankees fan, and I am NOT picking them to win it all. I'm just saying this is their best chance in ages at maybe their 28th Championship.

Most New Yorkers are probably wishing for a glorified Subway Series (Yankees vs. Mets) for the World Series crown. That possibility is still alive.

 

[Fezzik]

New York, New York!

It’s destined to be. For this next week only I will also support the Mets. Let’s go!

 

[kjb]

Yankees won last night so they did their part after the Mets did their part. So 4 more wins from teams before we get a Subway series. It's funny growing I didn't realize you had to choose a side. In my house we cheered for both the Mets & Yankees, I didn't realize I was supposed to hate one if I liked the other. So I am happy when either teams wins but if they play each other I cheer for the Yankees. Since I have been in NC I have met a lot of NYers who only like the Mets or the Yankees it seems strange to me. Anyway Go New York Go!

 

[Blitz24]

If the goal is for your team to win a World Series, I'm not sure either team wants to face their respective city rival. This is probably more so for the Yankees.

 

[Fezzik]

If the goal is for your team to win a World Series, I'm not sure either team wants to face their respective city rival. This is probably more so for the Yankees.

The Dodgers are scary, the Padres have too many ex-Yankees - I'd rather face the neighbours.

 

[Blitz24]

The Dodgers are scary, the Padres have too many ex-Yankees - I'd rather face the neighbours.

Which would then be discounting the Mets. Of the remaining 6, 4 of them have a strong chance to win the World Series. The Yankees and any of the 3 NL teams (Cleveland and Detroit do not seem to have either the pitching or hitting in a longer series).