Comments on: Looking ahead to two more Game 5s

By: Loose Changeup

Loose Changeup — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:10:17 +0000

Sabathia, career, regular season: 3.50 ERA 1.22 WHIP 0.8 HR/9
Postseason: 4.56 ERA, 1.56 WHIP 1.1 HR/9

By: zacksdad

zacksdad — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:27:00 +0000

With the new wildcard format they had to squeeze some extra days out of somewhere. I guess they already had the schedule done and did not want to extend the end date of the playoffs.

By: Lukehart80

Lukehart80 — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:39:26 +0000

I don’t disagree that Jeter has been better at the plate than those other guys (though a mess in the field), but I don’t think the others need some sort of lecture about it, and I don’t think hustle has been an issue.

They’re going to hit tonight or their not, on the merits of their pitch recognition and swing, not on the merits of what anyone tells them between now and the game (unless someone is pointing out a mechanical flaw).

That “why can’t you be more like Derek” stuff is grade school nonsense.

By: watermelon1

watermelon1 — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:34:19 +0000

I didn’t know where else to post this, but…

How come one AL division series gets a day of rest before the ALCS, while the other doesn’t?

I understand if one series ended in 3 or 4 games, and the other series went 5… then that’s in the control of the teams.

But both series went 5 games… and now one team has more rest than the other. One team has to play game 1 the day after finishing a game 5.

This seems like such an easy thing to avoid.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:26:32 +0000

The Nats’ offense remains quite frustrating; watching the pitchers get Cards out, with not a lot of confidence that the offense could take advantage. Yesterday’s game reminded me of how the Nats got the NL East lead in the first month of the season. Starting pitching, just enough offense to win (usually provided from the 7th inning on). Though back then, they didn’t have the complete lineup (still don’t, but Kurt Suzuki has done a nice job as the most recent fill-in for Wilson Ramos).

Last time Wainwright pitched at Nats Park, he got shelled. Last time Gio faced the Cards at Nats Park, he pitched a shutout. Yeah, that was almost 6 weeks ago. I can’t see Wainwright getting shelled on the road again, and I can’t see Gio having the yips at home.

In any event, as part of “the crowd” for tonight’s game, I’ll root for a Nats offensive explosion, but expect a 2-1 stress-inducer.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:47:32 +0000

Nats will have the crowd, a 21-game winner who has to be better then his game 1 performance, and some renewed confidence, the Cards have…well…the knowledge that they have done it before, but Wainwright needs to be better with his fastball and cutter and cannot just get hitters out with his “yakker”. Will Storen be available to the Nats tonight, probably, but one has to wonder why he pitched the ninth inning Wednesday in an 8-0 blowout.

By: southofheaven81

southofheaven81 — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:30:52 +0000

Howabout hustling for a triple one at-bat after re-injuring his leg? How about busting out & getting a double last night that ended up tying the game?

I don’t care if it’s a cliche, Jeter is out there making things happen while these four have gone to sleep. The starting pitching in NY has been phenomenal, time to give them some run support!

By: kkolchak

kkolchak — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:26:55 +0000

Your choice of language says a lot about both your mentality and your maturity–and complete lack of the latter.

By: sdelmonte

sdelmonte — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:15:17 +0000

I think that we will see more close games in the next round. Everyone said that these teams were evenly matched, and for once conventional wisdom was right. In any combination of the remaining teams. pitching has a chance to dominate. And moments of late drama are that much more likely.

Strictly from the “best drama” viewpoint, I would love to see the Cards and the Giants, the last two champs, square off. Especially with the chance of a Cain vs Wainwright matchup. Though Cain vs Gonzalez would be sweet too.

And while my Mets fan heart wants the Yankees gone on a point of obnoxious principle, a rematch of the Yanks and Tigers, with all that great starting pitching, would be very entertaining. Tigers-Os would have some interesting storylines, but the prospect of Justin and CC facing off once more makes me salivate.

By: sabathiawouldbegoodattheeighthtoo

sabathiawouldbegoodattheeighthtoo — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:12:27 +0000

That should solve all of their problems. (Chavez 0-5, 2Ks)

By: Lukehart80

Lukehart80 — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:03:44 +0000

Yes, I’m sure that would be an eye-opening meeting for those four players that would totally make a difference in how they perform tonight. Probably none of them is aware that they aren’t hitting very well, but they would realize that (AND be quite inspired) if they saw video of a teammates’ ground ball rolling through the infield for a hit.

I won’t be surprised at all if a couple of those guys collect big hits and lead the Yankees to a win tonight, but it’s not going to be because they sat alone for an hour contemplating what Derek would do.

By: mybrunoblog

mybrunoblog — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:57:32 +0000

I agree. Gut check time. These guys have disappeared Houdini style. Really awful performance buy these three. Going to be a long winter if these guys spit the bit again tonight with RISP.

By: broncsfan72

broncsfan72 — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:39:49 +0000

GO CARDS!!!!!

By: southofheaven81

southofheaven81 — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:38:07 +0000

Girardi needs to sit A-Rod, Granderson, Swisher and Cano down in a room today, and remind them that the four of them have a COMBINED batting average that’s just BARELY better than the ba of their 38 year-old shortstop with one good leg!!! Let them sit alone in that room for an hour & decide what the hell they’re going to do about that.

By: willclarkgameface

willclarkgameface — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:32:22 +0000

Let’s go O’s is right!

And let’s go Cards. Like every other GM in the league, let’s root for the Cardinals to take the Nats down and show Rizzo that he’s not really the smartest GM in the room. He’s Mr. Toughguy, from Chicago, not taking care of business by talking shit. Whatevs man.

It was the most pussy move to pull your best horse out of the race to protect him like a nervous mother. That shit ain’t street, Rizzo.

By: sjtorpitt

sjtorpitt — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:31:42 +0000

Bench Arod for Chavez***

By: sjtorpitt

sjtorpitt — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:30:27 +0000

Bench for Chavez, and keep Grandy. That way there are 2 more lefties to keep in the lineup vs Hammel.

By: stex52

stex52 — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:29:09 +0000

I missed the games last night do to a commitment. Will not happen tonight. Now that close, low-scoring games have been officially predicted, I expect two blowouts.

But I’ll be watching in any case.

By: sometimesimisscandlestick

sometimesimisscandlestick — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:27:01 +0000

This has been a great post season for the fans so far. Four really good division series. The only thing that would have made it better is for the wild card to be best of three.

By: burm61

burm61 — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:18:40 +0000

Let’s GO O’s!