The Teams in the Playoffs

clvclv said:
Maybe. But I'd personally much rather be one of those teams that doesn't need that performance coming from someone you don't expect it from.

Having those guys guarantees nothing other than if you have them and execute, the odds are MUCH MORE in your favor.
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You are right that having the studs doesn't gurantee you anything. And you would much rather have them then not. I want the most talented team possible. Who wouldn't. But you don't need them. You do however need good pitching regardless of who it comes from. You just have to hope your studs perform or get that once in a year perforance from someone else.
 
thewupk said:
You are right that having the studs doesn't gurantee you anything. And you would much rather have them then not. I want the most talented team possible. Who wouldn't. But you don't need them. You do however need good pitching regardless of who it comes from. You just have to hope your studs perform or get that once in a year perforance from someone else.
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That was the point I made earlier - I think "need" is a bit of a stretch, but I'd rather have them if at all possible. Since I'm one of the believers that the postseason is more-or-less a crapshoot, I'd just as soon have as many factors on my side on paper as I can get.
 
The Astros' home record is what put them in the playoffs and that team is built for that park. Strikeouts don't mean as much when the ball is leaving the park with regularity.

The post-season has always been a crap shoot (see 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates and countless other teams), but I think playoff baseball boils down to execution, often in isolated situations. Not classic small ball, but good ABs on offense, no extra outs on defense, and making quality pitches. I think a strong bullpen is the new key in the playoffs.

To me, the regular season still boils down to consistent starting pitching, a steady bullpen, good defense (doesn't have to be spectacular) and a balanced offense. Power has been the best bet on offense, but I wonder if that era is changing a bit, Astros' success notwithstanding. I think the thing about offense in baseball over the stretch of a season is that it's kind of like a relay. Guys will get hot and then go cold so one thing that isn't talked about a lot is when guys all get hot or go cold at the same time.
 
Jeff Banister should be manager of the year in either league. I haven't been so impressed with a rookie manager in quite a while. Great job by him this year, anyone that says having a very good manager doesn't matter didn't follow Texas closely this year.
 
Hard to say what really wins.

Giants won the WS with pretty much ONE effective SP.

You have some teams with dominant SP, and some balanced throughout.

Not really a certain way, baseball playoffs as always are a crapshoot.

Would pick the Cards to win it all, been the most consistent team all year.
 
Heyward said:
Hard to say what really wins.

Giants won the WS with pretty much ONE effective SP.

You have some teams with dominant SP, and some balanced throughout.

Not really a certain way, baseball playoffs as always are a crapshoot.

Would pick the Cards to win it all, been the most consistent team all year.
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True, but does the most consistent or best record team ever win?
 
clvclv said:
I think this (and bravesnumberone's post) define the postseason for me.

Not trying to pick an argument nsacpi, but we can all go back and find a fluke spot where a true TOR type got beat by an inferior pitcher when his offense tanked or his defense booted the ball around like a bunch of little leaguers, In general though IF only your "big dogs" produce offensively and you play solid defense without stranding tons of runners (often playing small ball when needed) having those "Aces" gives you a *elluva lot better chance to win a 2-1 or 3-2 game in the postseason. Those guys tend to give you 7-8 strong innings consistently this time of year, meaning that more often than not you stand a better chance of winning than those teams running the Lohses of the world out there against them since you're not sifting through 2 or 3 middle relievers before you even get to your best setup guy or Closer.

FWIW -

Jack Morris (All-Star in 1981, 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1991 - 3rd in Cy Young balloting in 1981 and 1983, 4th in 1991, 5th in 1986 and 1992, 7th in 1984, and 9th in 1987) beat Smoltz 3-2 in Game 4 and 1-0 in Game 7 in 1991.

David Cone (All-Star in 1988, 1992, 1994, 1997, and 1999 - won Cy Young in 1994, 3rd in 1988, 4th in 1995 and 1998, 6th in 1999) beat Smoltz in Game 2 in 1992, Jimmy Key (All-Star in 1985, 1991, 1993, and 1994 - 2nd in Cy Young balloting in 1987 and 1994, 4th in 1993) beat Glavine 2-1 in Game 4.

Orel Hershiser (All-Star in 1987, 1988, and 1989 - won Cy Young in 1988, 3rd in 1985, 4th in 1987 and 1989) beat Maddux in Game 5 in 1995 before Glavine's gem in Game 6 against Dennis Martinez (All-Star in 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1995 - 5th in Cy Young balloting in 1981 and 1991).

Smoltz beat Pettitte (the only Pitcher with more postseason wins than Smoltz) in Game 1 in 1996, Maddux beat Jimmy Key in Game 2, David Cone beat Glavine in Game 3, Pettitte beat Smoltz 1-0 in Game 5, and Key beat Maddux 3-2 in Game 6.

Pretty tough to say that many of the losses Maddux, Smoltz, and Glavine had in the postseason came to also-rans who had the game of their life.
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I'd say more then anything it was our pen that killed us. Leibrant losing game 6 and 7 (or maybe that was Alejandro I forget). Reardon caughing up game 3 and 4 of 92.

93- game one was a great example Schilling was dominant but somehow we get a lead and McMicheal blows it.

95- If it wasn't for Borbons performance I'm game 4 do we win that series?

96 nlcs McMicheal blows game 4

96 ws game 3 glavine leaves after 7 down 2-1 and McMicheal gives up a 2 run homer to Bernie Williams. Game 4 takes 3 pitchers to get out of the 6th with a 3 run lead , outside of Bielecki the entire pen was a dumpster fire that day.

97 don't remember much outside of Eric Gregg

98- maddux had to come in and get a save

99- rocker can't hold a 1-0 lead for maddux in game 1 not to mention the almost meltdown against the mutts

01,02 and 03 and 04 where basically on the starters

05 farnsworth can't hold a 4 run lead

10- takes Kimbrel out and Dunn blows a game 4 lead.

11- venters and Durbin were pretty bad

13- carpenter,medlen and Teheran but didn't help that eof venters were out and Walden was hurt
 
Stella! returned strong from his injury and earned a starting spot in the Wild Card game. Rooting hard for him and the Cubs.
 
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