| 2-0 |
Interesting that all four DS have started off 2-0. Has there been an instance where all four series have been sweeps? What's the likelihood of that happening to begin with? How about once they all get to 2-0?
Posted by Jeff Erickson at 10/5/2007 10:56:00 PM |
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| TBS on the right track |
| The TBS production of the playoff games hasn't been perfect. I've noticed that some of the announcing isn't as polished as it should be and there have been some camera snafus, but overall they are doing a few things that I really do like.
-I'm not getting bombarded with a ton of crazy graphics and sound clips. Outside of the silly "first base lead" graphic that they put up when a runner is on first, most of the images that TBS uses are very understated and simple. That's the way it should be. Get me the information without the distractions.
-I like how TBS sometimes goes to the studio between innings and not always to a commercial break. Cal Ripken and Frank Thomas may not be the greatest analysts in the game, but cutting to an ingame discussion for a few minutes during the game was something I enjoyed. It's better than commercials.
-Speaking of commercials, one of the things that I've loved so far is that there aren't a multitude of incredibly violent commercials during each break. This is something I would have never noticed or even cared about until I had kids. Trying to watch an NFL game on FOX or CBS without a number of people being shot point blank (24) or laying dead in the street with bullet wounds (CSI) is impossible. It's really hard to watch a game with my five-year-old son these days. The only downside is that Frank Caliendo is being shoved down my throat. I'll still take that over a group of terrorists trying to gun down some FBI guy.
Posted by Herb at 10/4/2007 1:41:00 PM |
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| AL Cy Young |
| Besides the NL MVP, I think that the AL Cy Young is the other major word with multiple deserving candidates. I wish I would have posted this earlier, so people wouldn't take today's results in their equation, but who is your AL Cy Young?
I think the following all have their legitimate arguments:
John Lackey
Josh Beckett
C.C. Sabathia
Fausto Carmona
Johan Santana
Chien-ming Wang
Santana's candidacy loses some steam because of his September results, however.
Did I forget anyone? Should Dan Haren be considered? Like the MVP, put me in the camp of "team results shouldn't matter as much" as individual results.
Posted by Jeff Erickson at 10/3/2007 4:06:00 PM |
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| Division Series Preview |
Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Comments: A squad with a 4.73 team ERA faces one with a 4.32 mark. Regular season offensive production has shown no correlation to postseason success, but that really doesn’t help in predicting this series much, since both teams will be relying on their sticks. The Rockies made a remarkable run to get into the playoffs, so they may just be happy to be here. Then again, they are the hottest team in the league. Still, the Phillies at least have a top flight starter and an offense that finished second only to the Yankees in runs scored this season (the Rockies did manage the second most runs in the NL). Colorado fields the best defensive team in the Senior Circuit, but ultimately, the Phillies have too much firepower.
Phillies 3-1.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs
Comments: The Diamondbacks were outscored on the year by 20 runs yet finished with the NL’s best record. The team no doubt entered 2007 with a bright future, but Carlos Quentin, Stephen Drew, Chad Tracy and Chris Young (although it was a fantastic fantasy year) all had very disappointing seasons. Oh, and Randy Johnson was also lost for the year. Still, somehow this team is playing in October, and with Brandon Webb possibly factoring into two of the five games, they have a legitimate chance at moving on. Still, the Cubs staff is deeper, and the lineup is better.
Cubs 3-1.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Boston Red Sox
Comments: The Red Sox allowed the fewest runs in major league baseball this season. Factoring in ballpark effects and their division, there might not be a more impressive statistic. Their offense scored the fourth most runs in baseball, and that was with Manny Ramirez missing 30 games and finishing with his lowest OPS since his rookie season. They are 8-4 during their last 12 games against the Angels and 18-6 during their last 24 games versus the Halos at Fenway. However, this Angels team is not to be mistaken with a doormat and enters with a solid starting rotation and bullpen. Still, Boston is more well rounded.
Red Sox 3-2.
Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees
Comments: The Yankees led MLB in runs scored (by 76 runs), batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. That’s pretty good, especially when you consider their ballpark is very tough on right-handed hitters. The pitching staff hasn’t exactly matched the offensive output, and Cleveland not only has the likely Cy Young winner but also a deserving candidate as their No. 2 starter as well. However, the rival Red Sox did them a favor in choosing the format, as C.C. Sabathia would have to come back on just three days’ rest in order to get two starts out of both, whereas that’s not the case in the other AL series. It’s a huge advantage for the Yankees, who have a deeper staff than the Indians. And with Joba Chamberlain becoming a dominant setup man, a once weak link has really been shored up in New York. The Yankees have been pedestrian against left-handed pitching this year (20-18), so if Sabathia gets two starts, Cleveland has a real chance at taking this series. Still, do you feel safe with Joe Borowski protecting a one-run lead against this lineup? Neither do I.
Yankees 3-2.
As for the eventual World Series champ – I picked the Yankees to win it all before the season began and see no reason to change that prediction now.
Posted by Dalton Del Don at 10/3/2007 9:38:00 AM |
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| Padres-Rockies |
Man, the National League was crazy this season. Raise your hand if you predicted more than one of the four playoff teams on March 31. I'd imagine a lot of people had none.
As a Padres fan, I woke up all the neighbors last night with a good old-fashioned desk slam. They weren't going to win the Series with that depleted lineup, but the one thing I feel terrible about is that Hoffman blew the game. He's been a class act his whole career and always faces the music when he blows a save. It'd be better if they'd have just lost 13-zed. Also remember they were one strike away from clinching on Saturday.
Posted by SHOE at 10/2/2007 3:13:00 PM |
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| NL MVP |
He was hardly a cut-and-dried favorite anyhow, but how many votes does the Mets' collapse cost David Wright in the NL MVP balloting?
I don't particularly care for the "best player on a playoff team" voting philosophy - I'd rather see the best player win. That said, when there's no clearcut favorite like this year, I can see the merit of making it a tiebreaker.
Who's your MVP?
Wright? Matt Holliday? Jimmy Rollins? Chase Utley? Hanley Ramirez? Prince Fielder? Who else am I leaving out?
Posted by Jeff Erickson at 9/30/2007 1:53:00 PM |
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| Mets' collapse |
Where does this rank among biggest collapses ever in terms of missing the postseason? Seven games up with 17 to play. Just curious to hear some responses, is it up there with Bucky Dent? Worse?
Posted by Pennucci at 9/30/2007 1:47:00 PM |
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