MLB Playoff Preview Thread

[mainepatsfan]

2005 MLB POST SEASON MATCHUPS

ALDS

BOSTON RED SOX VS. CHICAGO WHITE SOX

NEW YORK YANKEES VS. LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

NLDS

SAN DIEGO PADRES VS. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

HOUSTON ASTROS VS. ATLANTA BRAVES

[SpringheelJack]

Chief Wahoo is meant to be a tribute to Louis Francis Sockalexis, a member of the Penobscot tribe who was the first Native American to play professional baseball.

Sockalexis came up in 1897 and triggered a sensation similar to that around Ichiro four years ago. He hit .338 that year, but his career was quickly derailed by alcoholism and injury. One of the great tragedies of the sport.

[mainepatsfan]

The country can't wait for that Padres-Cardinals series to start. /sarcasm

[mainepatsfan]

So do a lot of Red Sox hitters. Which is why Steinbrenner sent him packing.

[mainepatsfan]

Yup. Hopefully they'll avoid that as well.

[mainepatsfan]

I'm sure he's just on the verge of getting on one of his hot streaks. /sarcasm

[mainepatsfan]

I'm just glad they're off today.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Yes, CHA = Chicago (American League) vs. CHN (Chicago "Cubs", National League).

[GraniteStateConservative]

The Black Sox don't get on base like the Red Sox do but they also steal a lot more and can create havoc on a team They play aggressive and force teams to make plays.

I think Podsednik isn't the threat he was before his injury.

[mainepatsfan]

It took me all year to get used to seeing LAA and LAD.

[GraniteStateConservative]

0-3 and they go home in round 1

You know we won 2/4 at Chicago, and almost won 3/4?

[mainepatsfan]

Besides the Sox pitching well don't you think they need the 5-9 hitters to do their part?

[GraniteStateConservative]

I'm also worried that Boston may not have what it takes this year to beat a team like the Chicago White Sox...

We played them very well this year. The best news for us is McCarthy being sent to the end of the playoff rotation. I just don't fear Contreras. As I wrote up, the only person who really struggled against Contreras this year was Manny, and Manny was in an overall slump at that time. He's been ridiculous over the last 12 games (9 homers!). And Ortiz is still hot.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

I'm also worried that Boston may not have what it takes this year to beat a team like the Chicago White Sox...

I think the Sox (red) will have what it takes to pull it out in 4. A good outing by Clement and Wells should assure us another visit to the A.L.C.S.

[byteback]

or DA Bronx

[Libertarian444]

Game 2 at Chicago: Wednesday, Oct. 5 -- 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Game 3 at Boston: Friday, Oct. 7 -- 4 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Crap. I'm flying to the West Coast on Wednesday and will be in meetings in California on Friday and will miss both Games 2 and 3. ARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

[JohnnyZ]

All I can say is:

Thank goodness we had Mike Stanton for those four games!!!

[JohnnyZ]

After all that, the Red Sox ended the season with the 3rd best record in the Majors, 5 games back of the Cardinals and 4 behind the ChiSox.

BoSox over ChiSox, 3-1
Angels over Yankees, 3-0 (somebody's gotta make a bold pick)

Red Sox over Angels, 4-3

Cardinals over Padres, 3-2
Braves over Astros, 3-2

Braves over Cardinals, 4-3

Red Sox over Braves, 4-2

Crazy? Yes. And I wouldn't mind meeting Fat Roger in the Series, or a rematch with the Cards. And yes of course I'm biased toward my team. But I think the NLDS will be more exciting than the AL, even though the AL has 4 out of the 5 best teams.

[TravisBickle]

Gee, what a coincidence.

The Yankees get all night (prime time) games and the Cardinals get day games. Funny how things work out.

[JohnnyZ]

That does seem bizarre.

But in terms of TV ratings .... which series would have more viewers? NY & LA? Or STL & SD?

[GraniteStateConservative]

An analysis of the Clement outing against the ChiSox I capsuled above.

1st:

Podsednik, on a 2-2 count, hit a groundball single to CF on the 6th pitch.
Iguchi, on a 1-2 count, grounds out to SS on the 4th pitch.
Everett, on a 3-1 (hitter's) count, homers to CF on the 5th pitch.
Konerko, on a 1-2 count, strikes out on the 4th pitch.
Pierzynski, on a 1-2 count, grounds out to 3B on the 4th pitch.

SUMMARY: Falling behind 3-1 was the real killer of that inning. No long at-bats, though.

2nd:

Rowand, on 1-1 count, grounds out to 3B on the 3rd pitch.
Perez, on 2-1 count, singles to LF on the 4th pitch.
Crede, on 2-2 count, pops out to SS on the 5th pitch.
Uribe, on 0-2 count, strikes out on the 3rd pitch.

SUMMARY: Still, no long at-bats.

3rd:

Podsednik, on 0-2 count, flies out to LF on the 3rd pitch.
Iguchi, on 1-2 count, strikes out on the 4th pitch.
Everett, on 2-2 count, grounds out to 2B on the 5th pitch.

SUMMARY: Still, no long at-bats.

4th:

Konerko, on 1-1 count, homers to LF on the 3rd pitch.
Pierzynski, on 2-1 count, grounds out to 2B on the 4th pitch.
Rowand, on 2-2 count, homers to LCF on the 5th pitch.
Perez, on 0-1 count, grounds out to P on the 2nd pitch.
Crede, on 0-0 count, pops out to SS on the 1st pitch.

SUMMARY: Still, no long at-bats. ChiSox capitalized on mistake pitches.

5th:

Uribe, on 3-0 count, walks on the 4th pitch.
Podsednik, on 1-1 count, bunts Uribe over and out by P on the 4th pitch (1 of the 4 was a pick-off attempt).
Iguchi, on 0-0 count, pops out to 2B on 1st pitch.
Everett, on 2-2 count, grounds out to 1B on 6th pitch.

SUMMARY: Still, no long at-bats.

6th:

Konerko, on 3-2 count, strikes out on the 6th pitch.
Pierzynski, on 3-2 count, grounds out to 1B on the 6th pitch.
Rowand, on 1-0 count, singles to CF on the 2nd pitch.
Perez, on 3-2 count, walks on the 13th pitch (2 of these pitches were related to the baserunner-- a pitchout and a pick-off attempt).
Crede, on 1-2 count, strikes out on the 4th pitch.

SUMMARY: That Perez at-bat was a battle that Matt lost, but he put it aside and struckout Crede to get out of the inning.

I think Matt pitched fine, myself. The ChiSox are impatient hitters.