2009 MLB Playoffs

[amherstblackbear]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

It's forecasted to be WNW, not sure how that relates to the layout of the park.

As I understand it, pretty much every prevailing wind direction except down favors hitters.

[Jon]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

The Sox are better this year than they were last year. The problem is, so are the Angels and the Be Pinstriped Ones. They almost pulled off a miracle last year, but I have an odd feeling that the champ will come from the NL again.

[amherstblackbear]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

What makes the MLB playoffs hard to call (and fun) is that momentum counts for squat. Otherwise, it would have been the Rockies sweeping the Red Sox in 4 a couple years back.

The Sox have been screwing around for a couple weeks, now. And it won't matter at all if Lester throws a gem and playoff Beckett makes an appearance.

I think Boston's best shot is if Anaheim reverts to their old aggressive ways. If they stay patient and limit Boston's starters to 5-6 innings, there's a soft underbelly to that Boston bullpen.

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

The Sox are better this year than they were last year. The problem is, so are the Angels and the Be Pinstriped Ones. They almost pulled off a miracle last year, but I have an odd feeling that the champ will come from the NL again.

I think the AL's only legitimate shot comes from the Twinkies/Yankees series, either the Twins ride the wave similar to Colorado of 2 years ago or the Yankees do as is expected of them. Boston and LAA both kind of limped into the playoffs, and that could be 5 games of Twins/Tigers failings.

The NL has 4 pretty **** good teams, however LAD limped into the playoffs big time, and Colorado is missing De La Rosa for the NLDS, not even counting they have to play Philly.

This could be a pretty interesting playoffs, but when is that not the norm?

[Hammer]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

I still think we're looking at Cards/Phillies in the NL and Yankees/Red Sox in the AL, with the Series champion coming from the AL this year.

[SJHovey]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

In the first round, Phillies sweep, Cards and Twins in 4 and Red Sox in 5.

I like the Red Sox to beat the Twins and the Phillies to beat the Cardinals. I think the Phillies repeat in a close series.

[JF_Gophers]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

So the Rockies/Phillies game is apparently going to finish in just 2 hours.

Well if someone scores a run that is.

[Swansong]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

I could see the Twins winning tonight on sheer adrenaline, but beyond that, they simply aren't nearly as good as New York.

[amherstblackbear]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

Twins won't win in 4 by stranding runners at 3rd with less than 2 out.

[JF_Gophers]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

Had Cabrera bunted Span to 3rd, it would be 1-0 Twins.

On the road Gardy should of been trying anything he could to get that run first.

[gregg729]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

Which is like saying K2 is a drop off from Everest.

Here's all you need to know about Yanks/Twins (H/T NoMaas)

Hitting

OPS+: Yanks 117, Twins 109
OPS: Yanks .839, Twins .773
Runs/Game: Yanks 5.65, Twins 5.01

Pitching

ERA+: Yanks 104, Twins 92
FIP: Yanks 4.32, Twins 4.38
K/9: Yanks 7.82, Twins 6.52
BB/9: Yanks 3.56,Twins 2.87
HR/9: Yanks 1.12, Twins 1.14

Fielding

UZR/150: Yanks -4.8, Twins -6.0

Baserunning

SB: Yanks, 111/139 SB - 80%, Twins 85/117 SB - 73%

Head to Head
Yankees 7, Twins 0

Key personnel missing since last meeting
Twins: Justin Morneau
Yankees: nil

What the heck is UZR?

Go Sox!

[GreatLakerMohawk]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

What the heck is UZR?

It's a fielding metric. Like Jason Varitek's UZR should be -6549546514687

It's also a not-very-trustworthy statistic, like all fielding sabermetrics.

[Swansong]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

It's a fielding metric. Like Jason Varitek's UZR should be -6549546514687

It's also a not-very-trustworthy statistic, like all fielding sabermetrics.

But it's better than fielding percentage, errors and other traditional defensive metrics.

And yeah. Jason Varitek sucks. I could steal on him. I run like I have a piano strapped to my back. A 9 foot grand.

[amherstblackbear]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

What a finish. Cards are one out from taking the split, and Holliday commits a 2-base error on a fairly routine fly. Blake takes the count to 3-2, 2 outs, bottom of 9th, tie run on 2nd, draws a walk.

Next batter gets the single, and the Dodgers are playing for the win...

[Terrierbyassociation]

Re: 2009 MLB Playoffs

Matt Holliday: Epic Fail.