The Major League Baseball Post Season: Wild Card Round - by Brian Phillips

6pm EST October 2: AL Wild Card Line ups/Rosters out. Thoughts below.

After a year of record setting dingers, another high water mark in strikeouts, and embarrassing futility at the bottom of the American League we’ve reached baseball’s post season. Now the game changes. (For instance the Yankees don’t get to play the Orioles any more.)

One thing we’ll recognize is the creative deployment of pitching staffs. Openers aren’t just for the Rays any more. With all their injuries the Yankees were even doing it fairly often as the season wore on. It’s no accident that the A’s, Rays, and Brewers all made it to October. They’ve been leaders in how bullpen arms can be dispatched at any time and more efficiently. They’ve also been brutally honest in accepting what their starters can and cannot do. When Milwaukee got red hot (after losing Christian Yelich no less!) their starters were lucky get two trips through an opponents order.

We’ll be adding to our coverage here as we move through the playoffs. We’ll start with Tuesday and Wednesday’s Wild Card match ups. Remember! It’s one game. Win or go home.

Milwaukee Brewers at Washington Nationals

Tuesday October 1

Brandon Woodruff (11-3 3.62) vs Max Scherzer (11-7 2.92)

Woodruff was just returning from injury in September so don’t expect him to go any longer than the first three. The Brewers would be happy to let him wind it out 100% one time through the order. After that we’ll likely see an improving Jordan Lyles for a couple of frames followed by blow away closer Josh Hader at most any time. Without Yelich the Brewers have to keep this close. I don’t like them against a power righty like Scherzer. They can strike out at a high clip. Ryan Braun and Lorenzo Cain are dinged up already, and not good against righties.

The key to beating Scherzer is hunting for home runs. He will give them up. If you can grab a walk or a cheap hit, a bomb or two can be lingering behind those. Yasmani Grandal, Eric Thames, Mike Moustakas, and impressive rookie Keston Hiura will be looking to jump a Scherzer heater. The X-factor is young lead off hitter Trent Grisham. He’s had his moments this season.

As for the Nationals, this is an impressive line up. Keep an eye on two hole hitter Adam Eaton. He’s quietly pumped up his power profile the last couple of months. With Trea Turner in front of him, and mashers Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto and the always reliable Howie Kendrick 3, 4, and 5 this is a club that can jump out to an early lead and sit on it.

Washington’s biggest weakness is it’s bullpen, but with an all or nothing Wild Card game it’s all hands. If Scherzer runs into trouble (and he has had back trouble this season) we could see Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin both appearing.

I like the Nats at home, but this is baseball. These Wild Card games can be strange.

Tampa Bay Rays at Oakland A’s

Wednesday October 2

Charlie Morton (16-6 3.05) vs Sean Manaea (4-0 1.21)

With all the above about bull penning we might just have to forget all that when we look at this pitching match up. Morton has been great all year, and on paper any way he should be able to navigate an A’s team that sees most of their thump come from the right side of the plate. That said, when Morton has struggled (and that’s not very often) it’s been on the road. Oakland will put the ball in play so I don’t expect Morton to just mow them down.

As for Manaea he returned from injury late in the season and looked very good. His underlying numbers don’t quite add up to a sterling 1.21 ERA, but the A’s have to be pleased with what that they’ve seen. Given a choice you’d rather start a good lefty against Tampa if only to mitigate stud outfielder Austin Meadows a bit. (Why the Pirates traded him I have no idea.)

6pm EST: Rosters And Line Ups Now Out

The biggest surprises come on the Tampa side. Former Indian Yandy Diaz is leading off and playing first. He was out for weeks with a bum foot and only returned at the end of the year to DH. The Rays must feel he’s ready to go, and Diaz is certainly a plus glove if he’s healthy. One time Columbus Clipper Jesus Aguilar is also on the roster if Diaz doesn’t hold up. Rookie Michael Brosseau starts at second and bats 9th over Daniel Robertson. He’s shown some pop against lefties this year. If need be Joey Wendle is a good choice to pinch hit and play second or third should the A’s go to a righty. I can’t wait to see left handed hitter Matthews face Manaea. Should be fun to watch.

The Rays have 10 pitchers on the roster tonight and in case Morton falters I like them to look at Ryan Yarbrough before Blake Snell. Snell’s injury marred 2019 had him coming back displaying some of his old wildness. Tyler Glasnow could certainly give them three solid innings as well.

Over on the Oakland side Bob Melvin is opting for experience over interesting rookies. Robbie Grossman bats 8th in left over Seth Brown. Jurickson Profar hits 6th at second over Sheldon Neuse. Four of the first five hitters hit from the right, but all are dangerous. If I had a vote for AL MVP it may well have gone to Short stop Marcus Semien, who has had an amazing all around year. Matt Olson is the biggest power danger for Morton in the four hole. DH Khris Davis has had hand problems all year, and just hasn’t been himself. Still, he’s got that lightning strike power.

Oakland has tapped 11 pitchers for this game. Perhaps this is an acknowledgement that Manaea is not that far removed from a long IL stint. Jesus Luzardo recently returned from suspension. If a long man is needed they could well turn to him.

I like Oakland at home 5-4.

Bold Predictions for Every MLB Team - by Brian Phillips

Our editor asked me to come up with five bold predictions for the upcoming baseball season. I'll do you better boss. Here's one for every team:

Arizona Diamondbacks

It's been the talk of the off season among fantasy nerds like myself. The D-Backs are installing a humidor to make the balls heavier to help out their pitchers. When they struggle offensively that contraption will be gone by June.

Atlanta Braves

A.J. Minter will be closing by mid season. Fastball at 96. Wipeout slider that garners a 23% swinging strike rate. If he can prove he's tamed the walk beast he's in.

Baltimore Orioles

On their way to a last place finish the O's look to replenish a weak farm system by trading Manny Machado. The Yankees offer a package that includes top prospect Miguel Andujar. Holding their noses about trading with a division rival, Baltimore pulls the trigger. New York gives Machado a 6 year deal in the off season.

Boston Red Sox

Mookie Betts goes 30/110 with 25 steals and hits .320 to win AL MVP. A deep dive into his 2016 reveals he may have been the unluckiest regular in the league last season. A .268 batting average on balls in play will do that. Everything else looked normal.

Chicago Cubs

In his first full season on the northside Jose Quintana has a career year. 18 wins in 32 starts. 200 innings. 220 strike outs. Seriously considered for NL Cy Young.

Chicago White Sox

Struggling to maintain a .280 on base percentage, shortstop and lead off hitter Tim Anderson is moved to 9th in the order and eventually optioned to triple A to learn plate discipline.

Cincinnati Reds

Jesse Winker wins a regular starting job. Seizes lead off spot. Hits .310 and scores 85 runs. His on base percentage is sabermetric porn at .380

Cleveland Indians

With Jason Kipnis going on the DL.... again... The Tribe call up #1 prospect Francisco Mejia. Though he's a catcher by trade Cleveland has been working him out at third. Jose Ramirez moves to second full time. Meija talks over at the hot corner and rakes. With a cannon arm he grows into the position and remains a fixture at 3rd for the next several years.

Colorado Rockies

The trade deadline arrives and Colorado has been unable to deal Carlos Gonzalez. Cargo is mired in his second straight terrible season. David Dahl has long ago taken his place in right field. Gonzalez is DFA'd. The Yankees acquire him after he clears waivers for a single A pitcher. Gonzalez pinch hits in game five of the divisional round and hits a series winning home run because Yankees.

Detroit Tigers

Nick Castellanos is a bright spot for an otherwise bleak rebuilding season. He goes 32/110 and hits .290, out producing Miguel Cabrera.

Houston Astros

Free from Pittsburgh Gerritt Cole is given his full arsenal of weapons. Allowed to work his breaking stuff Cole wins 17 games and posts a sub 3.20 era. He starts game one of the World Series.

Kansas City Royals

Jake Junis (who?) leads the club in starts, wins, strikeouts and ERA. Represents KC at the All Star Game.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Crushed by the pressure of trying to be a two-way player in the best league in the world Shohei Ohtani has his last at bat before the end of May.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Beset by injuries the Dodgers fail to win the division title.

Miami Marlins

At the trade deadline the Marlins trade Cameron Maybin to the Yankees for cash considerations. Next season Maybin announces he's signed a three year deal with the Nippon Ham Fighters.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have the highest team batting average and the highest team ERA in the National League.

Minnesota Twins

Fernando Rodney loses the closer job by May 1st. Gets it back June 1st. Loses again August 15th.

New York Mets

At one point during the season Yoenis Céspedes, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Michael Conforto, and Seth Lugo are all on the disabled list at the same time. Adrian Gonzalez gets 550 at bats.

New York Yankees

Aaron Judge strikes out 220 times and sees his batting average crater to .230. Giancarlo Stanton spends at least four weeks on the disabled list.

Oakland Athletics

Having hit 24 home runs in just 59 games in 2017 Matt Olson slams 52 and leads the American League in 2018.

Philadelphia Phillies

Weary of his underachievement, the Phils bench third baseman Mikel Franco by the end of May and insert top prospect Scott Kingery at the hot corner. Franco is traded to the Dodgers at the deadline because Justin Turner cannot stay healthy.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Cancer survivor Jameson Taillon makes 30 starts and strikes out 200 in 185 innings of work.

St. Louis Cardinals

No longer able to hold him back, late bloomer Jose Martinez is a regular at first base just weeks into the season. Matt Carpenter logs extended time at 2nd and 3rd to make it happen. Martinez hits .300 with 25 home runs and is a National League All Star.

San Diego Padres

Jose Pirela will hit .285 with 20 homers, 80 RBI, 85 runs and 15 steals and represent the Pads at the All Star Game.

San Francisco Giants

Beginning the season without Madison Bumgarner and Jeff Samardzija the Giants find themselves in a deep hole by June. An already aging roster will not be able to staunch the bleeding. The Giants finish last and manager Bruce Bochy is fired.

Seattle Mariners

All the way back from Tommy John surgery Cardinals 2013 #1 pick Marco Gonzalez will log 180 innings with an ERA of 3.20, 15 wins and a strikeout per inning.

Texas Rangers

Joey Gallo and Rougned Odor combine for 80 home runs, and between them a .210 average.

Toronto Blue Jays

With only Curtis Granderson holding him back, one time Astros prospect Teoscar Hernández forces his way into the starting line up. Hernandez strikes out a lot, but with a 50% flyball rate and loads of hard contact he hits 30 home runs.

Washington Nationals

By May 1st 20 year old top prospect Victor Robles is a fixture in center field and goes neck and neck with the Braves' Ronald Acuna for National League Rookie Of The Year.

My Picks:

American League Division Winners: Yankees, Indians, Astros.

Wild Cards: Red Sox, Mariners.

National League Division Winners:   Nationals, Cubs, Rockies

Wild Cards:  Dodgers, Brewers

World Series:  Nationals/Astros

World Champions:   Houston Astros

Brian Phillips hosts the CD1025 Morning Show in Columbus,OH. Tune in or stream it at CD1025.com .

Reds Opening Day at The Library Bar: A Tradition Unlike Any Other - by Colin Gawel

*** Reds Opening Day Rained Out! Rescheduled Friday March 30th. All bets are off but hope folks can make it. 

Join your favorite Pencilstorm writers for MLB Opening Day at The Library Bar on Thursday March 29th. First pitch for the Reds vs Nationals is 4 pm and I wouldn't be  late if you plan on catching Homer Bailey on the hill as he might be headed for the showers by 4:30.

The Tribe open the season later that evening on the West coast against Brian Phillips and the Seattle Mariners. 

Reds Win Total 73.5?  It's funny. The Reds have been awful the past few seasons but they have been a surprisingly fun team to watch. When future hall of famer Joey Votto is locked in, every AB is must watch TV. And he is locked in most of the time. Billy Hamilton ABs are must miss TV but the guy is a human highlight reel on the base paths and especially in center field. (Watch This)

I want to say the team will improve in 2018 but the pitching once again looks historically bad. How bad? The Pencilstorm fantasy baseball league drafted 360 players. Exactly three Reds pitchers were chosen. Luis Castillo, Raisel Iglesias, and Homer Bailey. Actually, I chose Homer as my last pick and he isn't even starting for my fantasy team despite being the Reds opening day pitcher. That's rough.

If Reds manager Brian Price had any sense and/or balls, he would read Chapter 9 in Brian Kenny's amazing baseball book Ahead of the Curve and just eliminate the starting pitcher for 2018. Every pitcher goes through the line-up one time and they all pitch roughly equal innings. This would mathematically guarantee to improve the team's win total. But who wants use numbers when you can rely on tradition? Price's inability to accept reality and think outside the box will finally cost him his job this year.

That reminds me of a story I once wrote: What if Dusty Baker was Bryan Price?

And.......        The Reds Will Remember the Dusty Baker Years Fondly.

Anyway,  I'm an optimist so I like the Reds to combine dumb luck with magic to get 74 wins. 

Cleveland Indians 94.5 wins. The only thing not to like about this Tribe squad is that everything looks too good. Nobody in the AL Central can touch them so it's all about knocking off the Astros or Yankees in the playoffs. Payroll reality sets in next year so it's do or die time on the North shore. I'll take the over. 98 wins.

Colin Gawel wrote this at Colin's Coffee in between serving customers. Excuse the typos please. Colin and The Bowlers are playing Little Rock Bar Sunday April 29th 2-5pm. 

Brian Phillips with the Greatest Old School NFL Films Collection Ever. Watch! (This Constitutes Pencilstorm's Complete Super Bowl Pre-Game Coverage.)

Originally published January 2016. You should watch it every year. It's great. 

My God, aren't you sick to death of Super Bowl hype? This year has been miserable, and hell, my Seattle Seahawks are in the the damned game! Between the deflated balls and people crying real tears because Marshawn Lynch won't talk to them, I just can't take it anymore. I'll turn on the TV Sunday at 6:30 pm. just as the opening kick sails through the dry Arizona air, but that'll be about it. What I provide below is a fun distraction from all this garbage if you are in need. I know I am.

The National Football League is a many-tentacled behemoth, but for some reason they've chosen a hands-off approach to the myriad of blurry old games from the 70's and 80's on You Tube. There's some real treasures there, saved for decades and lovingly uploaded. How long will these time capsules be allowed to exist? It's anyone's guess, so I suggest you have at it while there's still time.

Our rules are simple: 1) NO NFL Films productions. Those are top-flight to be sure, but to really get a feel for what a game was like, we need the over-the-air broadcast. Bonus points if the source left the commercials in. Those are their own kind of fun. 2) We won't be looking at any video 1990 and later. More bonus points, of course, for anything from the 70's. Since the long-obsolete Betamax was introduced to the market in 1975, and the VCR in 1976 (also long-obsolete when you think about it, except for at Ricki C.'s house ) HUGE bonus points for pre-'75 material. I don't know how, but it's out there, as you'll see. 

These are in no particular order of importance. Please share fun ones you find, especially games you remember seeing. The mind is a funny thing, and you'll be amazed by what you've forgotten, and by the same token you'll shake your head at things you thought happened that didn't.

January 4, 1981 Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns. AFC Divisional Playoff.

This game had everything! A  minus-37 degree wind chill, legends like John Matusak, Lester Hayes, and Lyle Alzado, the great Don Criqui on play by play and quite possibly the worst kicking performance in NFL history. Kids, the Browns' Don Cockroft was one of a dying breed: the straight- on kicker. You'll laugh out loud as he misses an extra point and two other field goals. Due to Cockroft's ineptitude the Browns passed up what would have been the game winner with :41 seconds left, and instead ran the infamous Red Right 88.

You'll see the predictable result at the 34 minute mark of part 3 above. The end to yet another sad chapter in Cleveland sports history. 

A side note: If you watch carefully one of the crowd shots features two Cleveland fans sharing a flask of booze in cavernous old Cleveland Stadium. Think to yourself how different the NFL is now. In 1981 the stadium was filled with drunken working stiffs instead of today's drunken rich guys. And do you think today's NFL would just allow piles of snow to remain close enough that the players run knee deep into them out of bounds? Hell no! This was real football. 

I Didn't Go To Bed Until Halftime Highlights Was Over. October 22, 1973.

I never missed Howard Cosell's Halftime Highlights on Monday Night Football as a kid. I begged my parents to let me stay up to see them. In those days there was no ESPN. You got the games you got on Sunday and didn't see much of anything from the others. Fun fact: 1973 was the first season where you could see your local team if the game was sold out. Up until then it didn't matter. Not even the Super Bowl could air live in your town if your team was in it. Commissioner Pete Rozell wouldn't back down even when President Nixon called for the blackout to be lifted so he could see the Skins and Dolphins in Super Bowl 7. Can you imagine! The owners had no idea what a gold mine they were sitting on. 

Anyway the above gem is from week 6 (Raiders/Broncos) of the 1973 season. The Sunday highlights begin at the 3:30 mark with the Colts and Lions from Tiger Stadium. The Lions mascot is hilarious in his raggedy Halloween get up. The goal posts were still in the front of the end zone and the crowd noise in the package was a cheap loop. Classic!

December 23, 1972 The Immaculate Reception. Oakland at Pittsburgh. AFC Divisional Playoff. 

Okay, I cheated a bit. You can tell by the modern bug on the screen that this was a rebroadcast by NBC at some point. Still it's such an important moment in league history it's worth pointing out. The legendary Curt Gowdy on the call.

December 31, 1983. Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins. AFC Divisional Playoff.

After crushing the hated Denver Broncos in the AFC Wild Card game for Seattle's first-ever playoff victory, the 9-7 Seahawks traveled to Miami as heavy underdogs to the 12-4 Fish. Marv Albert is on the call as Dave Krieg immediately kicks off this video by throwing an awful interception. After the Dolphins score Steve Largent makes a couple of huge catches (he didn't make his first of the day until the 2:25 mark of the 4th quarter!) and Curt Warner seals it to send Seattle off to the AFC Championship Game. Also: Chuck Knox!

(Note: You might be confused at the 8:15 mark. This video seems to be right off the satellite as it includes booth banter during a break. Sadly Marv doesn't say anything weird.)

Monday December 11, 1972. Live From The Moon. Jets at Raiders.

This portion of Monday Night Football is extraordinary because it begins with the end of an ABC News live report on the final Apollo Mission to the moon. That's followed by Glen freaking Campbell singing the national anthem and then Joe Willie Namath and the Jets in the East Bay to take on The Raiders. As long as we're on the space travel kick, you'll note the man they said came from the University Of Mars Otis Sistrunk was an Oakland rookie. Opening with a blimp shot seems anti-climatic after watching men on the moon, eh?

December 28, 1975. Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings. NFC Divisional Playoff

I couldn't find much of the "Hail Mary" Game, but this is the best part anyway. Staubach heaves up a bomb to Drew Pearson for the winner. 

Bonus! The NFL Today pre game live from Metropolitan Stadium! 

Yessir! Brent Musberger, Irv Cross, and the smoking hot Phyllis George. Ads included and a cheesy "making of the NFL Today" feature. 

December 26, 1970. Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys. NFC Divisional Playoff.

This game is only noteworthy because it's damned hard to find any over-the-air footage of something this old. We find Frank Gifford before he went to work for Monday Night Football and his harpy wife Cathy Lee was probably still in the Baptist kids choir. All that said, this may well be the most boring playoff game in history as the Cowboys beat the Lions 5-0. The video mercifully ends with the opening kick-off. 

Well, this is funny. I found the post-game too.

A young Dick Stockton handles the highlights and an excruciatingly long interview with coach Tom Landry. At the 2:45 mark you see what might be the first-ever Gatoraid commercial. 

December 12, 1982. Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots. The Snow Plow Game.

This seems like a good place to stop. Before there was Deflategate, Spygate, and The Tuck Rule there was The Snowplow Game. John Smith kicked the game winner in a 3-0 victory after a work-release inmate named Mark Henderson plowed a bare spot on the Schaeffer Stadium turf. Coach Don Shula would protest the game to no avail, though the league would pass a rule several months later banning snow plows during games. Today the tractor hangs from the roof of the Patriots Hall Of Fame. What is it with this team?! Anyway, sorry for the lousy footage here, it was all I could find. 

Crew Chatter with Brian Phillips and Greg Bartram - #savethecrew

--Have you guys ever seen a more exciting 0-0 game than the one in Atlanta last Thursday?

 BP - Me? I'm sure I have, but this one was right up there. End to end, some posts and cross bars struck. Great goalkeeping. Tons of running. Great game!

GB - Really don't think I have. I sure can't remember one, of for no reason than it was a win-or-be-done knockout match. And to look at the scoreline doesn't do the match justice. Lots of opportunities, and lots of offense. I was on my feet the last 40 minutes.

--Crew goalie Zach Steffen looked to these eyes to be playing at a World Cup level. Was he just having a good night or is he destined for big things?

BP - Whatever happens to Crew SC this kid needs a serious look. So athletic! That save he made to open the PK shootout is as good as it gets. As the ESPN guys pointed out he had to essentially reach behind himself to flick it out of danger. You can't teach that shit.

GB - Let's not just look at this game. Lets not forget that he robbed Eurolegend David Villa the game prior, both on a PK and on a point-blank shot as well. When the season started, I wasn't sure what to make of him, but he's absolutely made a statement. The USMNT would be crazy not to give him a look. Tim Howard and Brad Guzan aren't the youngest of guys, and by the time you tack on four more years in age and wear-and-tear, I think it'll be time for the next generation to step in and make their statements.

--When a Crew goal was taken away for offside and not reviewed my conspiracy senses started tingling. Isn’t the Crew advancing embarrassing for the league?

BP - I won't buy into conspiracy theories because MLS linesmen have always been garbage. Nothing new. Is a Crew SC run potentially embarrassing? No. I don't think they're capable of embarrassment. Is it awkward? Maybe. I don't know. These people used to have a good business plan. I think they threw it out a few years back.

GB - Here's the thing on that. The whistle blew. That stops the play and prevents review. Was the whistle premature? Absolutely. Did the official let play go on longer shortly after this one, which would have allowed a review if it had been needed? Yep. Conspiracy? I'm not ready to go there. Alternately, the official realized on the Crew SC goal/nongoal that he'd screwed the pooch, and made sure he administrated correctly the next time. As far as Columbus advancing, I don't think it's an embarrassment so much as simple business. We talk about it every year when a smaller market NFL or NBA team goes to the finals...the leagues are going to want the markets to advance that will put the most eyeballs on the most television sets in order to maximize their visibility. Simple business. The embarrassment goes around Teh Drama. There are eyes all over the soccer world on #SaveTheCrew signs, from College Gameday (WELL DONE, FANS!!!) to other supporters' groups around the league. The unspoken secret here would be that, the farther Columbus advances, the more eyeballs that are gonna be drawn to it, with Columbus Crew SC playing the Little Engine That Could., and picking up support from those other teams' supporter groups at least for the short-term.

--Along those lines,with the USA failing to qualify for the World Cup, isn’t this possible move of an original team another black eye for the sport?

BP - Yes. Terrible black eye. The fact that MLS doesn't seem to see that is a huge problem.

GB - It's unbelievably shortsighted. The thing they missed is that, no matter how much other supporters' groups might make fun of our stadium here, every one of them love it when they come to support the USMNT here. Every single one of them. Dos A Cero took on a life of its own, and until the USMNT lost in the most recent Mexico qualifier, US Soccer, oth the men and women, were undefeated in Columbus. Considering that the US didn't make the World Cup, that can hardly be blamed on Columbus. There's an aura here for a US match that doesn't exist anywhere else. The players love coming here for that reason. The reaction around the league makes it look even worse for the decision makers. The fact that they're looking at a smaller market as an alternate doesn't do any better. The market has been unable to support USL teams, so it's a big risk as well. If you go there and it falls flat (as I believe it would), you have a bunch of smart people looking remarkably silly.

--Has Precourt been half assing on purpose to make the move easier?

BP - I think so. Look at the marketing for the playoff game. Nothing... It's on a Tuesday... On Halloween (there's your MLS conspiracy if you want one.) No marketing. Ticket sales entirely driven by the incredible people at #SaveTheCrew.

GB - There are a lot of folks who think so. I'm not so sure. I do think that parts of the business community don't take Columbus Crew as seriously as I wish they would. I look at things like the time it took to sell our stadium's naming rights or the difficulty in securing jersey sponsors. I don't know the cause of that in the case of the jersey sponsor, but I fear that the stadium rights took the amount of time it did because our stadium is the oldest in the league and was built on a budget. If you're spending Big Corporate Dough out of your marketing/advertising budget, you want the Newst/Shiniest, and our beloved stadium isn't that.

-- is there a scenario where the Crew stay? What is the mood like in Austin? What do they have that we don’t?

BP - I get the feeling Austin doesn't give a shit. It's a great town. They have UT sports, great live music, and kick ass food. Why do these shitheads need our soccer team? Fuck them. Sure Crew SC can stay. It seemed like a joke to compare this to the movie Major League, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a cut out of Precourt as crazy as this story is turning out to be. If the lads win MLS cup or even go deep in the playoffs I can't imagine the league would let this go forward, but I really don't know. I go back and forth.

GB - Can the team stay? I say yes. This groundswell has been incredible. Getting 2000+ out to the rally at City Hall was big. Had 200 people shown up, those visuals go everywhere, and the air comes out of the tires. That didn't happen. People are engaged, and a good kind of mob mentality takes over. The support from around the league has been impressive. At least one owner tweeted out support before deleting it. The owners in the league have to okay this for it to happen. The more team owners hear from their own supporters, the less likely they are to support a move. This doesn't end on Tuesday, or even this season. All eyes are going to be on the yellow benches at MAPFRE Stadium. If you can see them, then there aren't people sitting in them. The most critical statement that can be made is the economic one. The stadium has to look good throughout the season. Butts have to fill the seats, beer has to be bought, food has to be purchased...Columbus fans have to up their game, and show their support. If they get mad at PSV (Precourt Sports Ventures) and don't show up, they prove his argument, and we can't do anything but be sad. You want the team to stay? You gotta vote with your dollars. I don't know what they have that we don't, but I know what WE have that THEY don't...a team history and tradition that started in 1994 as the first franchise awarded.

--On to the game Tuesday, what should fans expect and how do you see it playing out?

BP - Crew SC will come out looking to get the jump on NYCFC. NY have some great skill, but throughout their brief existence they've lacked quality in the back. We play on a huge field compared to them in Yankee Stadium (very small for soccer.) Stretch em out and run at them. Get up big in game one. It's a two game total goal series. Americans hate this format, but soccer fans are used to it. (Champions League knock out play etc.

GB - The atmosphere in there is going to be insane. The Nordecke has sold out their section and are expanding to other sections. The place is gonna be nuts. Supporters' groups and the team both are setting up trick-or-treating (or trunk-or-treating in the parking lot before gates open) so kids don't have to miss out. That's going to lead to some insane adrenaline for our guys, but let's not forget that Atlanta had almost 70-freaking-thousand people there, and their fans couldn't will them over the top. Our guys have to, in the words of Alejandro Moreno during the 2008 MLS Cup run, do what they do. I'm hoping that Zack Steffen is inside NYCFC's heads. Those were a couple of major saves he put on Villa, and they've had some time to think about that. Josh Williams is in great form right now, and Pedro Santos is looking better and better every match. We have them on our field and dimensions for a match, but they get us in their little shoebox for the other match. We can make this work. We can advance. We're on a hot stretch and there's no reason to think we can't continue

Brian Phillips hosts the CD1025 Morning Show and you have seen Greg Bartram's photos everywhere. They are both fans of the Columbus Crew.

Worst MLB Post Season: Tribe or Dusty? Brian Phillips Answers.

Colin G. - Once again both the Cleveland Indians and Dusty Baker can't get it done in the post season. Is there blame to be placed or is that just how the MLB playoffs go?

BP - I think in this case I'll lean with "that's baseball." That 5th inning in D.C. last night especially was truly weird. That said if I had to select one or the other for the hot seat it would be Dusty Baker. I'm guessing patience is starting to wear a bit thin with ownership. They've made multiple pushes to get over the hump and always come up short.  

Tito is a great manager. He did what he could do to put the club in a position to win. Sadly those bats went cold at the wrong time. Losing Edwin Encanarcion for most of the series was a big deal as well. Kluber's performances were head scratchers. I wonder if he's not 100%.

Colin G. - What do you make of the crucial pick off in the Nationals / Cubs in game 5 where the replay showed a clearly safe runner called out for losing contact with the bag for 1/1,000 of a second?

BP - Baseball has painted itself into a corner here. If you put in a rule to prevent that from happening then the video ump is having to decide how far and for how long the player lost contact with the bag. There are many good things about replay, but this isn't one of them and I don't know how to fix it.

Colin G. - Are the Astros the only true under dog? Who should the casual fan pull for?

BP - I get the question, but in my mind the Astros are the team to beat. Nothing but tough outs top to bottom. A rotation built to win in the post season. Good fielders. Good bullpen. I've been watching them beat my Mariners like a gong as Hunter S. Thompson used to say for three years now. I know all too well how great this team is. Adding Verlander pushed them over the top. I'm rooting for good games myself. I don't have a dog in this fight.

Colin G. - Looking ahead, what do you expect in the Championship series?

BP - I always look to the teams who have had the opportunity to set up their pitching. The Cubs went to the limit, the Dodgers have been sitting around. Their pitching is better to begin with. Every night for the balance of the NLCS L.A. will go with a starter better than anyone Chicago can bring. Lester had a good NLDS, but he had a mediocre season. Give me L.A. in five.

The Yankees are in better shape because Girardi did a hell of a job with his pitching in games three through five. Getting all those innings out of Severino in game four allowed them to not have to go nuts running starters out there just to survive. That said I like the Astros in five as well.

Brian Phillips hosts the Morning Show on CD1025 in Columbus, OH