Starting Pitching Is Key To Both LCS
The T Goes 4-for-4 In Playoff Forecast
After correctly predicting the Division Series, The T is obviously sticking with a Angels/Cardinals Fall Classic. Here's how the LCS will shake down:
ANGELS vs WHITE SOX
The White Sox have their starting rotation set and have impressive stats hanging on the foursome of Jose Contreras, Mark Buerhle, Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia. In reality, only Contreras has pitched well since the All-Star break. Their pitching isn't as hot as advertised. Garland was a fast starter and Garcia may be shakable under the heat of the LCS. For Chicago, it comes down to whether Buerhle can pin down Games two and six. He's one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball for the last seven years.
The Angels starting rotation is the mirror opposite of the White Sox in this series. The advantage will go to Chicago only if they can take the first two games. After that, the Angels will have recovered.
On offense, these two teams plays similar National League styles that focuses on laying down a bunt and taking another base. Chicago has more power, but Los Angeles has the best player in this series--Vladimir Guerrero. ANGELS IN SEVEN.
CARDINALS vs ASTROS
Both St. Louis and Houston beat clubs that pushed the limit as to whether there's too many teams in post-season. As in the American League, the two best teams in the league are in the NLCS.
To fear Houston's starters is folly. They are beatable, for sure, especially when the other team can beat you so many ways and with some many gamers who have been in this situation before.
Houston's Roger Clemens is not the big-game pitcher everybody wishes he would be. Roy Oswalt is a diminuitive presence on the mound and Andy Pettitte is not the pitcher he was when the Yankees were winning championship before the turn of the century.
The Astros will need some of their unheralded role players like Chris Burke, who hit the winning homer in Sunday's Game 4, to contribute a few big hits.
St. Louis has a chip on their shoulder. It's evident that Tony LaRussa has drilled the nightmare of last October's sweep to Boston in every Redbird. The demeanor of this team is very similar to the LaRussa-managed 1989 Oakland Athletics who won the title after losing to the Dodgers the year before.
St. Louis has the horses to easily beat Houston. The sure sign of trouble will present itself if a couple of games become battles of the bullpen. This would be a development that would test the Cardinals ability to reach the World Series for the second straight year. CARDINALS IN FIVE.
After correctly predicting the Division Series, The T is obviously sticking with a Angels/Cardinals Fall Classic. Here's how the LCS will shake down:
ANGELS vs WHITE SOX
The White Sox have their starting rotation set and have impressive stats hanging on the foursome of Jose Contreras, Mark Buerhle, Jon Garland and Freddy Garcia. In reality, only Contreras has pitched well since the All-Star break. Their pitching isn't as hot as advertised. Garland was a fast starter and Garcia may be shakable under the heat of the LCS. For Chicago, it comes down to whether Buerhle can pin down Games two and six. He's one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball for the last seven years.
The Angels starting rotation is the mirror opposite of the White Sox in this series. The advantage will go to Chicago only if they can take the first two games. After that, the Angels will have recovered.
On offense, these two teams plays similar National League styles that focuses on laying down a bunt and taking another base. Chicago has more power, but Los Angeles has the best player in this series--Vladimir Guerrero. ANGELS IN SEVEN.
CARDINALS vs ASTROS
Both St. Louis and Houston beat clubs that pushed the limit as to whether there's too many teams in post-season. As in the American League, the two best teams in the league are in the NLCS.
To fear Houston's starters is folly. They are beatable, for sure, especially when the other team can beat you so many ways and with some many gamers who have been in this situation before.
Houston's Roger Clemens is not the big-game pitcher everybody wishes he would be. Roy Oswalt is a diminuitive presence on the mound and Andy Pettitte is not the pitcher he was when the Yankees were winning championship before the turn of the century.
The Astros will need some of their unheralded role players like Chris Burke, who hit the winning homer in Sunday's Game 4, to contribute a few big hits.
St. Louis has a chip on their shoulder. It's evident that Tony LaRussa has drilled the nightmare of last October's sweep to Boston in every Redbird. The demeanor of this team is very similar to the LaRussa-managed 1989 Oakland Athletics who won the title after losing to the Dodgers the year before.
St. Louis has the horses to easily beat Houston. The sure sign of trouble will present itself if a couple of games become battles of the bullpen. This would be a development that would test the Cardinals ability to reach the World Series for the second straight year. CARDINALS IN FIVE.
Keep up the good work »
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Wednesday, February 21, 2007 7:49:00 PM