As you know from reading dol-2019-world-series-breakdown.html I predicted Nationals in 7 before this series even began. Omg would you look at that? Here we are mere hours away from first pitch of Game 7 with the man I predicted winning Series MVP on the mound. I don't know about you? but I am fired TF up and it's not just because I have two units riding on this game. It's Game 7 baby! The two best words in sports. Who doesn't love a Game 7? It all comes down to this.
Now that we have the obligatory game 7 clichés out of the way I present you,,,,,, my blog: The 2019 World Series has left the highly paying customer (average price from game 6 was $1262) unhappy every night; unless of course they traveled a long way to get there, are a transplant, or bandwagoner as the road team is 6-0. That's right, which means conversely the home team is 0-6! Something that has never happened before in the history of seven game series. Talking all sports; even football. Of all the potential pitching match-ups in this (starting) pitching rich series Max Scherzer vs Zack Greinke isn't the best, but it is a historic one.
BTW I can't decide/don't know if Game 7 is supposed to be capitalized or not so I'm kinda just going with how I feel in the moment.
With Game 7 looming the question on everybody's mind is will the road warrior trend continue? The roulette guy in me says no. If it does, obviously this would be the first time in the history of 7 game series that the road team won every game. Despite 4 blow outs, the series has been incredibly even with the Astros holding the slightest advantage possible outscoring the Nats 28-27. Both teams have scored in every inning at least once, with the exception of the Nationals in the 3rd inning. While they say you can throw the regular season record out the door come October, the Astros had a monumentous advantage in that department, winning 14 more games than the Nats in 2019. But in case you haven't watched any of the World Series or follow baseball, the Nationals have been the best team in baseball since May 24th.
However, since Major League Baseball Opening Day was March 28th, 2019 the Nats do not host game 7 tonight.
The way this series has gone they probably prefer that. Of course the 107 win Astros at home in game 7 would seem like a smart pick. It very well could happen. This team has been the class of baseball all season long. This three year run has seen 311 regular season wins, 2 pennants and as of 6:46 pm 1 World Series ring. In a one game situation anything can happen and with Scherzer's health a question mark if you told me the Astros win 11-2 tonight it wouldn't blow my mind. But G-d man these Nationals are something else. There's the May 24th shit, baby shark, the Wild Card comeback, sweeping the NLCS, and now it all comes down to game 7. I know baseball has totally changed in the last few seasons, although game 7s have always been an anything goes affair. Neither will likely have the opportunity to get in that much trouble in a game 7, but how on earth can you trust a team starting Zack Greinke in a GAME 7 OF THE WORLD SERIES? Look, I have my own mental health demons so I know how it goes. I have had panic attacks, I can't talk to girls unless I'm drunk on an app and all that shit nobody likes talking about. Zach Greinke has well documented issues. I really don't feel that bad addressing it here. Even outside of that. The dude is a weirdo. Head case has been thrown around. It sucks. I feel for the guy. But facts are facts. He's also very rich so I don't feel that bad but how can you have faith in this guy tonight? All the pressure is on the Astros, ie him. 107 wins. 2017 champs. They're playing at home. Huge favorites going into the playoffs. There may soon be a narrative they can't win at home in the playoffs considering in 2018 they lost three straight home ALCS games. Only four straight World Series games would be worse. Can he handle it? In four starts this postseason Zack's only gotten past the 5th inning once; a quality start in a 7-0 game one loss of the ALDS. Like I said I don't think he'll really get a chance to get rocked too hard, but this all has to be considered. He's not a guy with great postseason numbers either.
To be fair, it would be extremely Zack Greinke to completely dominate tonight. He's such a weirdo he may not even have it register that it's game 7.
Then there's my guy Mad Max. In game 1 he did just enough to win. 5 innings of 2 run ball. He hasn't pitched since because of a neck injury. To take a page out of the Nationals book; since 2013 Max Scherzer has been the best pitcher in baseball.
Three Cy Young Awards and no hitters since 2013. While he's no Curt Schilling in October, Scherzer has pitched well and in many cases been a hard luck loser. In 21 postseason appearances (17 starts) he's 7-5 3.36 ERA, 134, 107 IP. I saw him pitch IRL for Detroit in game 6 of the 2013 ALCS. The dude is nasty. He's one of my favorite non-Red Sox in all of baseball. While he likely won't win MVP (unless he pitches a shutout tn) he has a chance to cement his legacy in the all-time conversion. A signature start if you will. With an elite 7 year run bookended by very respectable seasons Old Brown Eye has a shot at Cooperstown. A legendary performance tonight, on the road would do an awful lot for his résumé. If I had to pick one these guys to show up in this spot I'm picking Max Scherzer every single time.
Both line-ups have their fair share of studs.
The Nats have that 2-3-4 of Eaton, Rendon and Soto. Trey Turner is electric and a great shit talker. While he's certainly not who he was pre-2014, Ryan Zimmerman is still a franchise icon. In a game 7 situation he has a chance to truly make D.C. baseball history with a big knock.
The Astros are obviously a fucking wagon. They likely will sweep the major awards this off season. Jose Alutve could get runover by a skateboard and die tomorrow and still make the HOF. Carlos Correa hits fucking 6th. Bregman is likely the MVP. Brantley is one of the best FA signings of all time. They are herbie hancock fully loaded. With the DH in play the Nats are actually in a better position than if they were at home. I don't think it's any coincidence they are winning games when Asdrubal Cabrera is at 2nd and Howie "best batting average of the last three seasons combined" Kendrick is DHing. 3-0 in Houston averaging 8.33 runs a game, compared to 0-3 1 run a game at home. In a game 7 anything goes, we may even see Strasburg for a batter or two if that's what it takes. I have chuckie big dick great expectations for this game. In the final World Series of the decade let's hope this game 7 is more 2016 than 2017. I am on the Nats and the over tonight. Even though I am a gigantic Scherzer fan I wouldn't be shocked if he doesn't make it two times through the line up given his health. Another reason for the over! Then to completely sit on a fence if I somehow missed this game and checked the box score tomorrow and saw 7.1 11 k's and 1 ernie I wouldn't be too blown away either. Between the firepower of these offenses and the question marks on the mounds for both teams with the over managing due to analytics I love the over like a son who got a football scholarship. When you factor in Dave Martinez literally risking his life getting so angry yesterday after that blown call on the Turner infield single how can you not pick the Nats?
Oh and the road team has won the last three game 7s.
These boys are fucking ready. I picked them to win it all in 2018 and are just a little late to the party. Even I was driving earlier today 5-3 Nats really stuck out to me which would also happen to cash my ticket. I'm saying Nats win 6-4. MVP Juan Soto?
P.S.
The umps have been fucking dreadful this series, especially behind the plate. While I'm not a robot umps guy, I am a get-it-the-fuck-together-it's-the-World-Series-guy. I just want this to a good game (that ends in a Nationals victory with at least 8 runs scored) Nobody wants to see a Buckner/NFCCG situation.
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