Breaking this Series Down Old Skool Without Numbers
I’m sorry but that was just too many days without baseball. And there’s not much we can debate or analyze since that’s all been done ad nauseam. But from a completely general, no numbers analyzed perspective, this is how I see these two teams matching up.
Starting pitching: This area starts and ends with the Giants. We have the best starting 4 in baseball…..Edge: Giants
Relief pitching: again, the edge goes to us. Atlanta had a significantly better BP than the Phillies. Edge: Giants
Closer: Wilson > Lidge. Lidge had a good season but he’s not the dominant guy he was in 2008 and he’s only pitched once in the last 2 weeks. He can turn bad quicker than one of Huff’s game worn thongs….. Edge: Giants
Experience: Obvious Edge: Phillies
Hitting: the fact is, our offense is a million miles away from the “De Rosa/Rowand/Bowker” opener. Top to bottom our guys can hit a bomb or a critical hit at any given point in the game. And our hitters get better when we go to their park, there’s get arguably worse when they come to ours. Edge: Even
team speed: big edge to the Phillies (108 sb’s > 55 sb’s). I’m counting on Posey showing off that cannon early in the series to gun down some base runners and hopefully make them think twice about running wild on us…..Edge: Phillies
defense: I haven’t watched enough Phillies games this year to have a feel of how their team defense is but we are near the top of the NL in fewest team errors with 73. The Phillies are behind us with 83. Edge: Giants
So there ya go. I don’t think you could argue too much of what I’ve posted above. Then how is it that the Phillies are considered such huge favorites by the National media? Answer: Ignorance and hubris. Guys like Keith Law and his band of cronies, who write stuff just to get noticed, were wrong about this team all year. They were wrong about them last year. WE are the experts of this team, not them. And this doesn’t have anything to do with being a blind fan, I pretty much nailed my win predictions in 2007 and 2008 when they sucked.
I don’t have a prediction on this series. It could go either way. A clutch hit here. A huge mistake there. But my friends, what I do know is that *glory and destiny* are but 8 wins away…….
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
GIVE ME THE ENCHILADA WITH THE PICKLES SAUCE SHOVED UP BETWEEN A FILLY’S ASS UNTIL HE CAN’T COME ANYMORE! (Sorry Frank)
I’ve done the math for y’all, it goes like this:
Four from these guys,
four from those guys and, ta dah.
Roster set; NO changes from the NLDS. I guess that means we have the same shitty lineup with NO Whitey.
It is brisk and windy today in DC…expect it to be the same in Philly…Candlestick cold tonight.
Advantage: Giants!
I am a bit more than a tad surprised that Runzler didn’t replace Mota. Bochy raved about his pen session the other day and it all but sounded guaranteed that he’d take over for Mota. Especially when you consider all the potent lefties the Phils can present throughout their lineup. I’m guessing Bochy didn’t trust Runzler’s ability to consistently find the plate. Last thing we need is to be handing out free passes in their bandbox.
Fiending out for this game tonight!! I am ready for a 5-3 win over the horses.
He can turn bad quicker than one of Huff’s game worn thongs….
————————————————————————————————
Damn, Flav, I was just about to make breakfast
I’m so excited about this series!!! flav- u remember last year when I wrote abou that crazy dream I had towards the end of last season??? it was abotut game 1 of the ws: giants vs yanks and I was telling the gmen to settle down, relax and just play their game??! I guess I was seeing this year, a year early!!!
go giants!!!
I’m about 60 miles east of Philly, and as GH said it’s pretty windy today, although it’s not blowing nearly as hard as yesterday. Very nice fall day, too bad they gotta play at night.
Agree with Flav on everything but offense. While the Phils offense is a tad overrated, it’s just excruciating watching the Giants try to eke out a run.
7 hours to go. Let’s go Giants!
Seven hours to gametime. Anybody excited yet? National stage for the National League Pennant. Only one step bigger than this. Somehow this team has, despite all the doubters and doomers, kept getting it done all season. Many times down. Not out yet. A split in Philly puts the Giants in the driver’s seat. I wonder if the nags are feeling the pressure.
I’m hopeful of a Giants victory in this series, but I guess I’m a tad more pessimistic than some of you. I think the playoff experience factor is huge. Last night we saw an experienced Yankee team just will itself to victory over a Texas team that faltered under pressure near the end.
Win or lose this series, though, it will be a tremendous learning experience for the Giants’ younger players.
Two of the Giants older players I’d really like to see have a great series are Franchez and Huff. We’ve heard a lot from them about how thrilled they are to be in the playoffs; now it’s time for those two to step forward and help this team get deeper in the playoffs. It’s not just enough to be happy to be here, and I know they want to do well in the playoffs. But it’s time for those two to show that they are more than just happy to be in the playoffs, that they are ready to help lead this team further. Obviously they WANT to do that. I’m hopeful they can.
I figured calling the offenses “equal” would get argued. My point is that on numbers alone (hrs, batting ave, slugging %) the teams are almost equal. Factor in that out bats should improve hitting in Philly (while there’s do not improve at AT&T) and I feel like the offenses are nearly equal. They have bigger names (rollins, utley, Howard) but all 3 of those guys have problems at the plate. Names don’t score you runs…
I don’t know. the whole “experience” thing can be over-rated. While it’s certainly possible that the giants could take a prat fall like the rangers (see game two of nlds), they just don’t let it get their dauber down. and if that’s not one of the big benefits of “experience” then i don’t know what is.
As always when two teams are this well matched, it’s going to come down to the bit players. which bottom-of-the-order guys trigger or complete a big rally. which middle reliever coughs up a big hairball on himself.
humm baby!!
I have no idea how to thank Craig/Flav for this blog.
No idea
It used to be just the Splash but oneflapdown77.com has been a fucking haven for me. Laughfter, fuckwadishness and more baseball knowledge then my tweeny little mind will ever sponge upon.
Thank GOD for the Giants
And thank GOD for the Flap
No matter what happens, this has been a winning season.
And by the way…
Halladay’s had a good season but he’s scared of the Giants.
Oh yes, my friends.
He’s scared.
Lincecum? He had to be reminded what team he was playing today. And his response?
“Who?”
Texas fell apart last night because their bullpen sucks ass, not because they lacked playoff experience…….
but the experience part will come when we see how they handle it. do they just go in the toilet now or do they battle back? they’ve got to win one at home to get to the series, no matter how great they are on the road.
Experience plays a part, but I really don’t think you can overlook all those one win games and narrow victories the G’s eked out the last 6 weeks of the season. Obviously that wasn’t 2 straight world series appearances, but that’s definitely something to draw on for pressure situations
This is on a big stage tonight. I hope the Giants can just play ball and not let the nerves get to them. Torres needs to slow down his at-bats. Franchez has to slow down the twitchiness. Timmy needs to not over-throw. I think the first inning for Timmy will be the key, like it was his last start. Find the rhythm and flow. Get control of the emotions and just play ball.
Watching the beer league championshipo errr, I mean the ALCS last night I felt bad for CJ Wilson (or whatever the hell his name is). Dude pitched his ass off but The Rangers just fell apart in the end there. They should have known better than to invite little Bush to the game. Shrub is carrying around more bad karma than anyone else in Tex-Ass and you hook him up with box seats??? That meltdown was inevitable.
Here are the picks. That’s runs, HRs, Huff hits:
3Bagger 14,3,5
Decap 25, 8,6
Max 13,5,3
Dirt 14, 5,6
Macdog 17,7,4
Kristen 17,6,9
BigSarge 13,5,12
Flavor 22,6,6
Zumie 26,8,10
Ewisco 23,6,12
Kevin 15,7,7
Dennis 25,6,5
Edd 21,5,8
Chuckles 20,7,9
Michael 20,5,6
Ted 30,7,10
GiantHead 22,8,7
SportDude 19,5,5
Uribe, Renteria, Burrell, Rowand. That is SF’s playoff experienced players (did I miss anyone?) and all of them have won it all. 3 of those 4 will be playing regularly. Plus didn’t Ross give Renteria some props for getting him to slow down his stride before he took Lowe deep? I don’t think experience is a huge factor but it probably helps to have had some exposure to the atmosphere.
I see Uribe and Burell playing regularly, not the other two.
If Fontenot falters I think Bochy will go to Renteria pretty quickly and slide Uribe to 3rd.
Zito! 😉
Javier Lopez pitched for WS champ Bosox in 2007…
McCovey Cove in the 1st @ Hollywood, Dennis?
Solid second choice, Loo. NorCal shipper. But goddamn if they ain’t hammering the 4 horse. Doug O’Neill for his brother Dennis. But he has a penchant for 2nd. Still haven’t got to take a look-see.
Just saw the pp. 4 looks to have ’em over a barrel. PASS.
4 looks to tower over ’em, Loo. I’m gonna pass.
Joey P. at Monmouth, now that’s for me.
Mike just so you know, picked up both boxes today. thanks again!!
Giants have as good of chance of winning this as Philly. The sports Analysts all point to the fact Philly’s hitters were hurt sometime during the year and that is why the Giants numbers match up with the Phillies. Which I think is a lot of BS. This series is going to be like Atlanta. The Giants need to score first other wise the offense feels pressure to score to catch up and then they swing at everything. The Giants pitching matches up just fine. Everyone will relax with that first run, including the pitchers. So Score early
Burrell, Posey, and Torres were all, for the purposes of that injury argument, out for a couple months each.
Exactly!! GO GIANTS
Torres CF, F.Sanchez 2B, Huff 1B, Posey C, Burrell LF, Uribe SS, Fontenot 3B, Ross RF, Lincecum P
Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Rollins SS, Ibanez LF, Ruiz C, Halladay P
The wife decides tonight is a good night for a dinner party?
WHAT THE FUCK?
This is grounds for divorce or at least a trial separation until early November.
It is my daughter 17th birthday today, she thinks Timmy is cute, so I think this will be the perfect Birthday present for the Giants to win.
So go to the local brewpub to watch the game, and call in every hour to the house for updates on the dinner party…
it’s sarcastic ideas like this that have always kept me from getting married–I would totally do something like this……
Nice read of B-Wheezy in today’s Merc. “The man, the myth, the beard”
http://tinyurl.com/23apdh3
Still don’t have FOX here. Anyplace to watch on computer?
McCovey Cove couldn’t deliver the goods, but I’m feeling a little Barry Bonds right now.
10th and final at Keeneland #1, Perjury.
Uh-oh, 5-0…
Loo why don’t you just go find a sports bar that has direct tv?
Loo try adthe.net that’s how I watched the last game of the NLDS.
GIANTS!!!!
Win this one for Mrs. Cleaver!!!
(cuz you just *know* June was a Giants fan)
“That’s a lovely dress you’re wearing, Mrs. Cleaver.”
Something tells me Eddie Haskell is a no good goddamn Dodger fan.
“America’s favorite mom” just passed away. Barbabra Billingsley was 94.
At least she saw the Giants win the WS…
We should all be so fortunate.
R.I.P. Babs
Ward, I thought you were a little hard on the beaver last night.
Sorry poor taste.
Did the Eddie Haskell is really Alice Cooper rumor ever make it to the west coast?
Yes. But it was eclipsed by the John Holmes rumor
I’ve got the same situation at work as Loo: No Fox thanx to Cablevision and asshole Dolan. Unfuckingbelievable. If this doesn’t get resolved soon, there’s gonna a few pissed off football fans in NY-NJ tomorrow.
Like some others here, I’m not too worked up about this series. I picked Giants in 5, so maybe it’s the meds that have me so calm.. my reasoning is: who wants to go to Philly twice in one week?
Flappers and Flapperettes. It is October 16th and the Giants are still playing.
Can I get a hallelujah Giant brothers and sisters?
Hell yeah, bozo. I’m catching the gm at someone’s house so I’ll catch up with u guys via the iPhone. My patience paid off. The o/u finally dropped to 5.5. I dumped on the over….
I was just gonna post the O/U. Every fiber of my being tells me it’s going OVER. But then I look at our shitty lineup and wonder how we’ll score. Compound that with NO Whitey sitting on our bench taking up space and it looks like goose egg city.
I’m a goddamn nervous wreck and this without doubt is the worst lineup ever to grace a NLCS field.
Vern and Vera wherever you are, allow me to say….your son sucks! NO Whitey.
Here at last, here at last, Thank God Almighty, it’s here at last!! (apologies to the reverend)
GO GIANTS!!!!
OMGOMGOMGOMG!!! I can’t stand it!!!!!
so not here at last, they have to run 5 biilliion commercials first. arrggghhh.
Now, I did my required lineup and NO Whitey bashing. I’m ready for some ball. I’m picking Juan-Gone as my guy to rise to the occasion and take Doc deep into the Philadelphia night.
Score first, score often, and WIN goddammit!
How the hell did that not fall? SOB.
I’ve already seen enough of Shane fucking Victorino and his smug grin. Fuck him.
Stuck with Joe Fuck and Tim McCrapper calling the game. Assholes
I hate the stupid Fox talking head fucks.
I thought the wind was supposed to be blowing in, looks like the ball is carrying early…
Buster missed that pitch by a foot.
Jesus H. Christ. Might as well pack up the bats and head back to the hotel.
Burrell swings at that pitch? The boys are tense
CODY ! ! !
If we don’t homer, we don’t score.
don’t go there with it, no hit!
more towel waving Mofos? Reminds me of stupid ass M.L. Carr.
Where the hell is everybody? Biggest game in years and some of you decide to spend time with the wife and kids? You guys need to prioritize.
That didn’t last very long. Son of a bitch. Fuck that little fat fuck. Now Rapunzel gives up a hit to Doc. Better be careful…
well that was a short lived lead. timmy jim is not lookung all that big time right now.
Lincecum is getting squeezed
i was thinking timmies getting squeezed and now timmie thinks he’s getting squeezed. god i hate mcarver
Got squeezed big time on that 3-1 pitch. HUGE AB here w/ Howard. Good of Bochy to give’em a blow.
Man, Lincecum not getting either side of the plate on those low ones…those were two pretty good pitches to Utley. At least one should have been a K.
Whew. Tim and Buster didn’t pick a good time (when is there?) to get crossed up.
No harm no foul. Time for the little runt to get us going…
Damn, this is exciting. It almost feels surreal at time for me watching the game. We’re in the goddamn NLCS. How bout that.
Man WTF is up with this HP Umpire.On the Take? Tim’s even saying Fuck where’s that pitch?
NW
nervous wreck, that is
hopefully everyone is settled down now. sure looks like pat is. 3 up, 3 down and get back to the dugout.
well, it’s a game; it’s a game; hang in there, boys; Rowand will do something good in this game.
Don’t you mean Mark Lemke?
Timmy needs to start getting ahead in the counts. He’s falling behind nearly everyone now.
Throw strikes.
How the hell Derryl Cousins got the crew chief gig is beyond me. He’s horrible.
Awfully good play by Uribe and Huff. Awfully good. And big.
If you go to Merriam-Webster’s site and type in the word “monotone” or “bland” or “dull,” a photo of Joe Buck pops up in each case.
in sepia tones.
Tim’s been a little off, Cousins has some do with that,but he’s making the big pitches when he needs them.Must be his lucky cap his original one from day one in the Bigs.
Cody!!!!
Hell Yeah CODY ROSS!!!!!!! The Babe!!!!
Encore! Encore!
Cody “Eatshithalladaymuthafuckah” Ross!!
I’d be remiss. If we don’t homer, we don’t score.
cody on pace to hit 16 hr’s this series.