Really hoping to see an NL series between the Giants and the Phils. A Phils and Giants series will likely by very low scoring, solid defense, we’ll see some young guys on the Giants, some guys like Halladay that have never been in the playoffs before, just lots of good story lines and some really really good NL baseball.
I’m indifferent with respect to the Reds, but I hate the Braves — Bobby Cox can go into some retirement home and whine about the maintenence staff for all I care. Giants vs Phils in the NLCS would be a really great match up.
also, the Giants are just the type of organization to go with experience over results, I’d be quite surprised if they went with Sanchez or Bumgarner over Zito.
Bumgarner is 2nd on the Giants in ERA and 2nd in xFIP. He should be the game 2 starter if the Giants were smart, but instead they are dumb led by a dumb GM and dumb manager.
One thing I expect they’ll consider is Bumgarner’s age. He’s only 21 and he’s put a lot of innings on his arm this year. That won’t be a primary concern when you’re talking about playoffs, but might be a sort of tie-breaker consideration between him and Sanchez. I’d expect to see him in the ‘pen.
Wait so who is better than Tim Lincecum on the Giants staff? Is there really a pitcher you’d rather throw against another teams ace than Big Time Timmy Jim?
Anon21 — are you a player on the braves? I’ve always found the use of “we’ll” when describing ones team to be a bit lame, but whatever. You have to admit Bobby Cox is fine if you are a Braves fan, but if you aren’t then he gets really annoying always whining about bad bounces, poor umpiring, unfair stadiums (as if his team doesn’t bat in the same stadium…just dumb), etc.
I’m not the biggest Sabean fan because of some of his signings over the years (Zito, Rowand, Renteria), but let’s give the guy some credit. He drafted Timmy, Cain, Madbum, Sanchez, Wilson, and of course Posey. He signed Huff and Burrell. He gave Torres a chance. And while the Freddy Sanchez trade hasn’t been great, he has produced and played excellent D when healthy.
Plus, using a strictly by the numbers approach to a human game doesn’t always work out perfectly. I’m all for advanced metrics (I’m commenting on fangraphs, after all), but to say that Bumgarner should be the game two starter is ridiculous. Remember when the Cardinals threw Rick Ankiel in Game 1 of the playoffs a few years back? How’d that work out? I love Bumgarner and I think he’s a mentally tough kid, but do you really think he’ll do better in a situation like that than Cain and Sanchez?
It’s a pretty normal convention; sorry you don’t like it.
And as for Bobby, all I know is that he’s a great player’s manager. If he has to blame the stadium or the umps so as to keep his guys from hearing a negative word escape his lips, that’s just him doing his job.
The only way the Reds will finish with a better record than the Giants is if the former wins out and the later loses out then wins the play-in game. Possibly, but a very long shot.
Normally, I’d agree, but the Giants have been very willing to bounce Zito’s starts around the last week. It’s a strong indication of where they rank him in the rotation.
Game 1: Timmy
Game 2: Cain
Game 3: MadBum or Dirty (please no Zito)
Game 4: Timmy (on 3 days rest)
Game 5: Cain (on full rest)
You get your two big guns out there for 4/5 games, only once needing to throw someone out on short rest. Also, because of days off, you can get Timmy back for Game 1 of the NLCS on full rest. Cain can then go game 3 of NLCS on five days rest, and be ready to come back for game 7 on full rest again.
I know it is looking far into the future, but I see no reason not to plan ahead (and then you can always switch around as needed if a series ends in less than 5 or 7). Max the usage of your top guns, esp when all it does is require one of them to start one time on short rest.
Is this too video-gameish? Would real world teams/managers not consider this?
last year, and i assume it’s about the same this year, MLB.TV playoff package gave access to as many as 4 camera angles (out of about 8 choices) at once, but NOT the TBS/Fox feeds. you can listen via the home or away radio call while watching the 4 cameras and get a pretty good visual sense of the game. it’s different, but works fine and you get to see the between innings happenings from strange angles, which i actually enjoyed.
you can watch the TBS/Fox feeds on archive if you’re patient and don’t check any news sites.
Yeehaw. I JUST plunked down money better spent elsewhere for MLB Postseason. I’d forgotten that wonderful camera angle selection, and how frankly annoyed I was by it. It still seemed limiting, and subpar to regular season camera coverage.
I can do the patience/no news sites angle. I started watching the last Giants/DiamondBLANKS series the day after it ended. Those games were of the type that filled you with false hope which was then dashed and subsequently revived by the Padres.
What comes next in that horrific cycle? Oh yeah.
P.S. Bhaakon is a McCoven.
They don’t watch ESPN, they have more self respect than that.
JP says:
October 1, 2010 at 1:30 pm
“This hasn’t been Lincecum’s finest season, nor has he been the best pitcher on the Giants.” Huh??? Is Brian Wilson better?
Boomer says:
October 1, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Don’t the Giants play the Phillies if the Braves take the WC and the Reds have a better record?
richard says:
October 1, 2010 at 1:50 pm
I’d argue that this season, Cain has been the more reliable overall. If not for his horrible August, Timmy would’ve been the best by a mile this year…
richard says:
October 1, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Yes, but the Reds won’t have a better record.
Phils – Reds
Giants – Braves
That’s how it’s going to shake out.
Alec says:
October 1, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Really hoping to see an NL series between the Giants and the Phils. A Phils and Giants series will likely by very low scoring, solid defense, we’ll see some young guys on the Giants, some guys like Halladay that have never been in the playoffs before, just lots of good story lines and some really really good NL baseball.
I’m indifferent with respect to the Reds, but I hate the Braves — Bobby Cox can go into some retirement home and whine about the maintenence staff for all I care. Giants vs Phils in the NLCS would be a really great match up.
GiantsFan14 says:
October 1, 2010 at 2:19 pm
not that it matters much, but Bumgarner is 21.
also, the Giants are just the type of organization to go with experience over results, I’d be quite surprised if they went with Sanchez or Bumgarner over Zito.
marcello says:
October 1, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Even with his down year, Timmy has still been a better pitcher overall than Cain.
Anon21 says:
October 1, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Well, we’ll be happy to stomp all over you in the NLDS, so that you don’t have to see too much of Bobby. How does a sweep sound?
Matt says:
October 1, 2010 at 2:42 pm
The fat lady hasn’t sung yet.
pm says:
October 1, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Bumgarner is 2nd on the Giants in ERA and 2nd in xFIP. He should be the game 2 starter if the Giants were smart, but instead they are dumb led by a dumb GM and dumb manager.
pitnick says:
October 1, 2010 at 3:16 pm
One thing I expect they’ll consider is Bumgarner’s age. He’s only 21 and he’s put a lot of innings on his arm this year. That won’t be a primary concern when you’re talking about playoffs, but might be a sort of tie-breaker consideration between him and Sanchez. I’d expect to see him in the ‘pen.
Brendan says:
October 1, 2010 at 3:28 pm
ya they’re just so stupid for running out lincecum and cain 1-2, what a horrible run team
TexasRanger says:
October 1, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Wait so who is better than Tim Lincecum on the Giants staff? Is there really a pitcher you’d rather throw against another teams ace than Big Time Timmy Jim?
Alec says:
October 1, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Anon21 — are you a player on the braves? I’ve always found the use of “we’ll” when describing ones team to be a bit lame, but whatever. You have to admit Bobby Cox is fine if you are a Braves fan, but if you aren’t then he gets really annoying always whining about bad bounces, poor umpiring, unfair stadiums (as if his team doesn’t bat in the same stadium…just dumb), etc.
Matt says:
October 1, 2010 at 4:40 pm
I’m not the biggest Sabean fan because of some of his signings over the years (Zito, Rowand, Renteria), but let’s give the guy some credit. He drafted Timmy, Cain, Madbum, Sanchez, Wilson, and of course Posey. He signed Huff and Burrell. He gave Torres a chance. And while the Freddy Sanchez trade hasn’t been great, he has produced and played excellent D when healthy.
Plus, using a strictly by the numbers approach to a human game doesn’t always work out perfectly. I’m all for advanced metrics (I’m commenting on fangraphs, after all), but to say that Bumgarner should be the game two starter is ridiculous. Remember when the Cardinals threw Rick Ankiel in Game 1 of the playoffs a few years back? How’d that work out? I love Bumgarner and I think he’s a mentally tough kid, but do you really think he’ll do better in a situation like that than Cain and Sanchez?
Anon21 says:
October 1, 2010 at 5:05 pm
It’s a pretty normal convention; sorry you don’t like it.
And as for Bobby, all I know is that he’s a great player’s manager. If he has to blame the stadium or the umps so as to keep his guys from hearing a negative word escape his lips, that’s just him doing his job.
Mike says:
October 1, 2010 at 5:33 pm
They could tho, if the Giants lose 3, then win the tie braking game, while the Reds sweep this weekend.
Bhaakon says:
October 1, 2010 at 5:36 pm
The only way the Reds will finish with a better record than the Giants is if the former wins out and the later loses out then wins the play-in game. Possibly, but a very long shot.
Bhaakon says:
October 1, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Normally, I’d agree, but the Giants have been very willing to bounce Zito’s starts around the last week. It’s a strong indication of where they rank him in the rotation.
Bhaakon says:
October 1, 2010 at 5:40 pm
“Big Time Timmy Jim? And I thought “Cainer” was lame.
Clearly the all important ranking of nickname quality demands a Dirty Sanchez-MadBum 1-2 punch.
Buster Posey says:
October 1, 2010 at 6:04 pm
I would hope the SFGiants go:
Game 1: Timmy
Game 2: Cain
Game 3: MadBum or Dirty (please no Zito)
Game 4: Timmy (on 3 days rest)
Game 5: Cain (on full rest)
You get your two big guns out there for 4/5 games, only once needing to throw someone out on short rest. Also, because of days off, you can get Timmy back for Game 1 of the NLCS on full rest. Cain can then go game 3 of NLCS on five days rest, and be ready to come back for game 7 on full rest again.
I know it is looking far into the future, but I see no reason not to plan ahead (and then you can always switch around as needed if a series ends in less than 5 or 7). Max the usage of your top guns, esp when all it does is require one of them to start one time on short rest.
Is this too video-gameish? Would real world teams/managers not consider this?
richard says:
October 1, 2010 at 6:31 pm
I’m guessing you haven’t seen the ESPN commercial…
Lyrictube says:
October 3, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Just relax watching music video lyrictube.us
lucask7 says:
October 4, 2010 at 10:26 am
Does anyone understand the MLB.com TV packages for the playoffs? What should I do without TBS? Any suggestions/plans?
adohaj says:
October 4, 2010 at 11:02 am
go to the bar and flirt with the bartender while you watch
mlb rep says:
October 4, 2010 at 12:10 pm
last year, and i assume it’s about the same this year, MLB.TV playoff package gave access to as many as 4 camera angles (out of about 8 choices) at once, but NOT the TBS/Fox feeds. you can listen via the home or away radio call while watching the 4 cameras and get a pretty good visual sense of the game. it’s different, but works fine and you get to see the between innings happenings from strange angles, which i actually enjoyed.
you can watch the TBS/Fox feeds on archive if you’re patient and don’t check any news sites.
i'm_freaky says:
October 4, 2010 at 2:20 pm
that only works in SF…
Victor Frankenstein says:
October 4, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Yeehaw. I JUST plunked down money better spent elsewhere for MLB Postseason. I’d forgotten that wonderful camera angle selection, and how frankly annoyed I was by it. It still seemed limiting, and subpar to regular season camera coverage.
I can do the patience/no news sites angle. I started watching the last Giants/DiamondBLANKS series the day after it ended. Those games were of the type that filled you with false hope which was then dashed and subsequently revived by the Padres.
What comes next in that horrific cycle? Oh yeah.
P.S. Bhaakon is a McCoven.
They don’t watch ESPN, they have more self respect than that.
Etta Osucha says:
November 4, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Fascinating column , I am going to spend much more time reading about this subject