"Matching up well" against a team?

[indifferent]

Is it true that certain teams match up well against another team or is it just a small sample size? You'd expect a team with a better record to win the season series against a team with a worse record, somewhat proportionally to the difference between the two teams. Yet, every team has a team that seems to beat them, regardless of their record. For the Cards, it seems to be the Phillies and Giants in recent years. For the Cubs is it the Brewers?

 

The Cubs were the only team in the Central who beat the Cards in the regular season. Do they match up well with the Cards? I guess that depends whether you believe there's such a thing as favorable matchups in the MLB.

 

Seems to be a much more probable theory in the NFL. For example, if you have the best running back in the league (but have a lower tiered passing game), playing a team with the most porous rushing defense in the league is certainly a better match up than a team with the best run defense.

[stitchface]

A lot of it is luck - when you play a team, which of their pitchers you face, which of your pitchers they face. That being said, there could be advantages if their hitters don't do well against several of your pitchers. the great example is TB versus NYY last year.

[TruffleShuffle]

I bet a lot of teams will "match up well" with the Cubs this year.

[Balsa]

The Mets always seem to kill us when we need a win.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The Mets always seem to kill us when we need a win.

 

By that I'm sure you actaully meant, "Every team always seems to kill us when we need a win."

[Derwood]

There is some truth to it. For example, the Cubs don't match up well against soft tossing rookie lefties because they have zero patience and don't just walk in 8 runs an inning like they should.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

There is some truth to it. For example, the Cubs don't match up well against soft tossing rookie lefties because they have zero patience and don't just walk in 8 runs an inning like they should.

 

I cringe every time I hear an announcer, when plugging the next day's game, say "making his major league debut". You know we're in for a 2-hit shutout.

[Balsa]

There is some truth to it. For example, the Cubs don't match up well against soft tossing rookie lefties because they have zero patience and don't just walk in 8 runs an inning like they should.

 

I cringe every time I hear an announcer, when plugging the next day's game, say "making his major league debut". You know we're in for a 2-hit shutout.

 

Ugh. I hear that. Remember that game against Colorado with the pitcher who had something like the most walks of any pitcher in baseball? We didn't get one until what, the seventh inning?