ST Game Thread 3/5 Phillies vs Reds at Sarasota
By
Cincinnati Reds Video Poker
Posted at 2:01 pm
Lineups according to C. Trent:
PHILLIES
Rollins SS
Victorino CF
Utley 2B
Burrell LF
Dobbs 3B
Helms 1B
Bourn RF
Ruiz C
Lieber P
THE UNSTOPPABLE REDLEGS
Phillips 2B
Hamilton CF
Encarnacion 3B
Dunn LF
Valentin C
Gonzalez SS
Bellhorn 1B
Hopper RF
Wilson P
I'd have to say that Paul Wilson is the favorite for #5 pitcher at this juncture, with Bailey looking like he needed some more seasoning in the minors after yesterday's struggles in the 2nd inning. We haven't seen ELizardo at all, not sure if he is healthy or not. I guess Saarloos and Livingston are in the mix as well, but they can always use Saarloos as a swing man since he has bullpen experience, and I don't know if you want to do that with Wilson who is coming off of a major arm injury.. better to have him in a set routine.
That’s something that drives a lot of people nuts about Joe Torre. He almost never calls for the squeeze, suicide or otherwise. IMO, the Yanks’ offense is too one-dimensional. If the sluggers aren’t slugging, they don’t have a plan B. Which kills them in the post-season. It wasn’t like that in the dynasty years.
The Yankees also won an exciting game today. They were trailing by one run, with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. Outfielder Bronson Sardinha, brother of Bats catcher Dane Sardinha, hit a two-run walkoff homer.
So the Yanks and the Reds are the only undefeated teams left. And they’re headed for a showdown the day after tomorrow!
The White Sox played a lot of smallball when they won the WS. They only had one legit slugger at the time, that being Konerko (former Red that we traded in lieu of Casey) but they did a lot of bunting, situational running, timely hitting. they also had solid pitching, great relief (including Hermanson closing most of the year) and outstanding defense (the game I attended with my Dad Rowand made a superlative game saving catch at the wall in left center). I think most world series teams need to know how to manufacture runs and protect leads rather than just mash.
Yeah, I agree. The problem is the short series. Even 7 games is not a lot. And hitting involves so much luck.
I think that’s why the stat-heads say power pitching, a lights-out closer, and great defense are the keys to winning in the post-season. Those elements are less likely to be affected by luck.
The Yanks lost to the Indians, BTW, so the battle of the undefeateds is off. Reds won. 🙂