Off-Topic Forum

The Phillies were missing their best player for a big chunk of the season.  So their regular season record is a bit misleading.

The Astros are cheaters.  It's not just one guy.  it's not just a manager who's no longer there.   It's the team culture.  

Who is the Phillies player they were missing?

As far as the cheating "culture" I disagree. They cheated, they were punished (the organization), they got rid of most of the cheaters and have moved on. Bregman is the only real player left from the 2017 scandal that I recall.

Like I said, the Astros have moved on from that and Dusty Baker has done a great job and changing the "culture"

I thought maybe we might get through the thread and just talk about the game, but alas...

I cannot tolerate the new playoff format (amongst other rules put in place of late), but how many are rooting for the Phillies due to the bad taste the Astros gave fans during the 2017 'garbage can' win?

The Phillies were plagued by injuries for much of this season. Harper was out for 2 months, but Eflin, Wheeler and Dominguez all missed games due to injuries and Segura was out for an extended time and he is probably our best situational hitter. Regardless, I love the uncertainty of the new format (and not just because it allowed the Phillies into the post-season). If a money bloated 100+ win team can't get past a lower seed than there is something wrong with that team or something right with the lower seed. The Phillies have been playing exciting baseball this post season and deserve to go all the way!! (my totally unbiased take of course)

I am excited to see the Phillies as well. I know almost nothing about them (except for Harper of course). I'll be honest though, I was kinda rooting for the Padres. I like the brown UPS driver uniforms. LOL. I do not care for Soto, but I like Machado, Tatis, and a few others there.

I'm going to watch. I have no interest in either team so I can just enjoy the games. My wife did a play-off card and has both teams for the finals and she has The Astros to win it all... I think she said it was 500 bucks for first place!! It's up to her and two others (Both who have The Phillies to win)

I have the luxury of seeing all four of my teams win championships during my Lifetime. I'm from Chicago and a Huge Bears fan, saw them win Superbowl 20 way back in 85, saw MJ and the Bulls dominate the 90's. Watched Toews and Kane win Three for the Blackhawks then .... My Cubbies finally won!!!

Yeah, that's the past and it's been dealt with. I don't generally care for Bob Costas as he's gone far beyond the scope of the game with commentary, but I agree with his assessment last night on the postgame about Houston. 

"But those who continue to say that that explains away their success — it's like people who try to put all the (New England) Patriots' success and (head coach Bill) Belichick and (quarterback Tom) Brady under the heading of Deflategate or taping a Rams' practice before their first Super Bowl victory.

It just doesn't add up. These guys have been to the LCS six straight years, and they've gone to the World Series four out of six. And they can't bang on trash cans anymore."

Let's move on, man, and talk about the game.

Cheating is the team culture. That's one of the most idiotic things I've heard lately. Of course people forgot about other high profile teams that were also caught. But now young players like Yordan or Pena are labeled cheaters? They were not around 5 years ago. Like I said, that's just stupid. For the record, yes I'd love Dusty to get a ring. But the Phillies are a great team. Good luck to both teams.

Unfortunately, that's the worst part with both the Astros and the Patriots. Same with Bonds, Clemens, ARod, Palmeiro, McGwire, etc. - They were all already good enough to be great teams and/or players, they didn't need to do the "extra". It's unfortunate, but that's where they've put themselves as organizations and as players.

That said, I seriously doubt there has been cheating going on this season. And if it has, oh well. Probably both teams in the WS are doing it (as well as all the others that were in the playoffs). Go Phillies!