Bottom line is we have a very average to below average middle relief. Its been that way all year and it finally bit us in the ass.

Appreciate it. Thanks

JFC, are these guys going "Lil' Chiefy" on me?

Impossible to quantify this, but to claim that psychology has no role in sports, which is what you're essentially doing, is incorrect.

I don't believe in "clutch," but I believe in choking. Emotions and psyche affect the game, for better or worse.

correct. he has pitched like shit at home this year.

This is no guarantee.

That is not what is commonly referred to as momentum.

Pointing out a critical play in history that would have changed the strategic implications of later plays which then would have changed what the manager would have done is not momentum.

Yeah, I don't think there is such a thing as momentum from game-to-game in baseball. Doesn't work like that.

In-game? Yes, I believe in that.

I remember when Jayson Werth walked off Lance Lynn in the 2012 LDS too. Then the Nationals went up 5-0. They ran away with the momentum on that one...

I also remember when the Astros walked off in the '04 LCS to go up 3-2 after winning three straight at Minute Maid. Cardinals folded up shop after that one.

tomorrow is all about Shields. Nothing more.

uh, no?

Two evenly matched teams fighting for a title. This is how legends are made.
If the Royals win, they will be remembered for ever as being a team to beat the "big boys.'

If the Giants win they are a modern dynasty.

its epic.

I'll clarify. The effect of "momentum", especially in the world series, is so small that it may as well not exist.

It might be more of a thing in the dog days of August for a terrible team or for a team well ahead and coasting.

Perhaps that's a bit dramatic, but momentum is 95% mental (hardly voodoo), doubt creeps in, and too many players start over playing.

I'm sure you played sports, but that's what momentum is, mental... And usually a bad mental state meeting-up with a good mental state, and resulting in the bad mental state players playing scared and trying do things they shouldn't, and the good mental state players having the confidence they need to get the job done and playing withing their limits.

Its true. Its very true. The Giants have to get on him early. Even though the Royals didn't win game one, they hit madbum very hard in game one.

Shrugs.

There is one type of momentum in baseball that I believe in: when a pitcher is shitting his pants.

Well, I believe my evidence is very strong.

Had Don Denkinger called out instead of safe, St. Louis would had most likely won the game. Instead, St. Louis lost it shit, and blew the game. The aftermath was in Game 7, St. Louis got their shit kicked in.

Had Steve Bartman didn't do a dumbass catching the ball, and if Alou would have caught that, the Cubs would have most likely been in the World Series. Instead, he ****s up the play, frustrated the Cubs/fans/players, etc, and the Marlins took advantage of "Oh, we got a lucky break". It definitely impacted the game. The aftermath, the Cubs lose Game 7.

I can go on and on and on, but I'll just say, momentum do exist in sports, either you agree with it or not.