OnlyBucs

163D2A255C0 wrote: Going against the odds, but Phillies in 5.

I'm getting crushed out here in Philly land by all of these jackasses.


I feel your pain. Twice in my lifetime Pittsburgh held 2 of the 4 Championships. 79 BUCS and Steelers / 09 Penguins and Steelers. I couldn't take it if the Phillies and Eagles both did it.



Glad your prediction was wrong and I'm all in with WW Dave Astros in 6!!



GO HOUSTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

467364646F5664646F6864010 wrote: Going into the season, run production wasn't the question.  Defense and RP were.



DNK what it was- Harper coming back after injury?  Managerial change? (complete with back office bean counters telling the rookie manager what to do), guys finding their way? 



Whatever it was/is, this is the time to do it.



A friend told me that he thinks this Phils team is the most exciting in years.  I had to think about it.  I liked the Rays' story line, but I have to admit- the Phils excite me more than they did.  I didn't think that the Rays stood a strong chance to beat the Dodgers.  If the Astros aren't careful, this Philadelphia team's going to bring The Commissioner's Trophy back to The Keystone State; just the wrong side. 



The Stros can't afford to mess around. 


Pretty sure having a payroll a tad bit bigger then Bob and his boys has helped in a big way.

So has better drafting and developing over the years, I would think.



I would think that there are more than one reason for the difference in results. Maybe the difference in AL- West vs. the NL-Central has a hand in it, too. I DNC enough to see how well the other teams in the divisions have performed in recent years.



Payroll's just the fall-back factor that people can use because it's harder to overlook.



Regardless, these things are usually cyclical. Wasn't all that long ago that the Astros were down and out. I can't remember. Did they also have an ownership change?

I have this nagging thing, maybe it's just bucfan bias, but that despite everything Dusty Baker isn't a good manager.  It just seems like I've witnessed him doing a bunch of dumb stuff. I guess that's partly because I've seen him more than anyone else besides Pirates managers. He has some success but it seems like he just accumulates numbers from being around so long, like a player.  I've lost my dislike for him since he left the Reds though.  Maybe I'm just sour grapesing.

Taking nothing from the other 29, but cream rises to the top yet again.



Now, the fun begins (for teams that choose to participate.) Clock's ticking.

083A36362210333A37323D3A5B0 wrote: I have this nagging thing, maybe it's just bucfan bias, but that despite everything Dusty Baker isn't a good manager.  It just seems like I've witnessed him doing a bunch of dumb stuff.  I guess that's partly because I've seen him more than anyone else besides Pirates managers.   He has some success but it seems like he just accumulates numbers from being around so long, like a player.  I've lost my dislike for him since he left the Reds though.  Maybe I'm just sour grapesing.
No, I think you are spot on. Dusty was never a good handler of pitchers (Mark Prior and Kerry Wood ring a bell?) He always seemed to make the wrong move when it mattered most, or failed to. He has accumulated numbers over a very long career, much like Tony LaRussa, who I could never stand. I too lost my dislike for dusty, unlike LaRussa nd Joe Maddon.

4156405015131412141A230 wrote: Going against the odds, but Phillies in 5.

I'm getting crushed out here in Philly land by all of these jackasses.


I feel your pain. Twice in my lifetime Pittsburgh held 2 of the 4 Championships. 79 BUCS and Steelers / 09 Penguins and Steelers. I couldn't take it if the Phillies and Eagles both did it.



Glad your prediction was wrong and I'm all in with WW Dave Astros in 6!!



GO HOUSTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Now I get to spend my time at work consoling the poor little dears. Don't know which is worse - the euphoria of them winning or the tears from them losing!

Doc and I had Houston in 6. What ? No Fanfare? ;D

46787D75667E7E755570677423110 wrote: Doc and I had Houston in 6. What ? No Fanfare? ;D
I'm sorry, you're absolutely correct, some fanfare is indeed in order.



Congrats to me! I'm the prognosticator of prognosticators!



Of the 4 people who have picked every round, the records:

Surgnbuck- 6-4

Javy- 6-4

WildWoodDave2- 4-5

Doc- 4-6



Dave didn't make one prediction, but it wouldn't matter, as either Javy or your's truly will have the best record. Javy has Philly, I have Houston, and that will be for the whole burrito.

Congrats Surge!!