Saratoga Springs, NY – We’re less than a week into the MLB postseason and there has already been a lot of buzz around this year’s edition.
From both of the lower seeds winning the wild card games to Chase Utley breaking Ruben Tejada’s leg in a
controversial slide Saturday night, there’s a lot to talk about.
So with that being said, let’s just get to it!
Here’s this week’s edition of Ebs’ Hot Takes:
Chase Utley’s slide wasn’t dirty. I have a feeling that this hot take is going to hit a lot of nerves among the readers, but I’m just calling it as I see it as an objective fan to this series.
Yes, you might not like Chase Utley’s slide Saturday night during Game 2 of the NLDS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, but you have to look at the play from the bigger picture.
Was Utley trying to hurt Ruben Tejada? Of course not, and if you think he was you are a very, very mistaken. Utley was trying to do one thing on that play and that was to break up the double play. That’s exactly what he did.
Should Utley have slid earlier? Probably, but you understand where he was coming from. The later he slide the more of a chance he would have broken up the play. Look, this is playoff baseball and that was a playoff baseball slide.
Obviously, you hate to see that Tejeda come up injured because that’s the last thing you want to see as a result of that play. But it is what it is at the end of the day. These plays are dangerous and hopefully the MLB will look at this type of play in the offseason.
Lastly, whether or not Utley plays Monday, he’s currently suspended for games three and four but is expected to appeal, I suggest that Matt Harvey doesn’t retaliate. I understand you want to to stick up for your teammate and that’s fine, but remember, you play in the NL and not the AL. If these playoffs have taught us anything, pitchers are fair game when they step in the batter’s box, too.
How much does home-field advantage really matter? It’s interesting to note that the road team won each of the first five home games to start the postseason. Also, in wild card games, the road team has six of the eight matchups to start the new format.
It makes you wonder how much the home-field advantage really matters in baseball. Sure, you’d rather not have to travel and would rather bat last, but the results aren’t showing thus far. It’s rather interesting to say the least.
The New York Yankees are a few moves from competing 
next season. Boy, was that AL Wild Card game disappointing? It really showed some holes up and down the New York Yankees’ lineup.
One thing is very clear, the Bronx Bombers certainly could have used Mark Teixeira Tuesday night. While Greg Bird was a nice surprise, Teixeira was arguably New York’s best player all season.
I’m not too worried about Jacoby Ellsbury because before his injury earlier this season, he was one of the Yankees’ best bats at the time. He’ll rebound.
Some names the Yankees should look into this offseason; David Price, Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Tony Sipp and Edwin Encarnacion if the Toronto Blue Jays don’t pick up his club option.
