Daily Thread: Girardi begs Mo to reconsider

[HammerDown]

depends on Buchholz if he is stretched out enough and effective, one more rehab start tomorrow

lester has 1.7 era last six starts, lackey has been money all year long (despite record), so has doubrount (mostly)

but how do you not put Peavy in the rotation?

good problem to have, but I have no idea right now

Man, I can't WAIT for the playoffs. I'm no fan of the extra wildcard but am really looking forward to those playoff games too.

If the Dodgers win the NLCS in 4 or 5 games but the Red Sox go 6 or 7 in the ALCS, I think you're in deep shit unless you can beat Kershaw in game 1.

That said, let me tell you about a strategy I've always wondered why isn't used more...

 

[Brocktagon]

Hey Hu, with 117 moderators at Zig's House of Censorship & Hypocrisy, you can post pics like this, right?

doesn't leave much to the imagination. why not just go bare nipple?

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Damn...legit baseball talk. I'm outta here.

 

[HammerDown]

If your team just came off a 7-game series and is facing a well-rested Dodgers club, what do you do about game 1?

Here's my thinking.

Send your fifth starter against him!

If you win, that's a series-changing bonus and your rotation is rested. If you lose, you send your ace out for game 2 against their #2 guy.

I've never understood in playoff series why managers will send their best available out against a dominant pitcher like Kershaw, Verlander, Big Unit, CC in his prime, Halladay. Basically concede game 1 and come out to win game 2 at all cost.

Opinions?

 

[HammerDown]

Not many gave the Giants a chance against Verlander, Scherzer, Fister, Anibal, Miggy, Prince & Co last year.

Verlander shit the bed (again) in the playoffs, and it was the Giants pitchers who were beasts (again).

What the Sox staff lacks in overall talent versus the Dodgers staff, they make up for in playoff experience. A staff of Lester, Peavy, Buchholz, and Lackey ain't chopped liver.

The only guy I fear is Kershaw, and not just because of how good he is. He can neutralize the Sox speed (Ellsbury) and power (Ortiz) because both are lefties.

A Dodgers/Red Sox WS would be a dream series. Let's hope it happens. The Pirates and Tigers no doubt would like to have a say.

 

[bravesfan]

If your team just came off a 7-game series and is facing a well-rested Dodgers club, what do you do about game 1?

Here's my thinking.

Send your fifth starter against him!

If you win, that's a series-changing bonus and your rotation is rested. If you lose, you send your ace out for game 2 against their #2 guy.

I've never understood in playoff series why managers will send their best available out against a dominant pitcher like Kershaw, Verlander, Big Unit, CC in his prime, Halladay. Basically concede game 1 and come out to win game 2 at all cost.

Opinions?

if you're real thin at pitching then that would be recommended

 

[bravesfan]

A Dodgers/Red Sox WS would be a dream series. Let's hope it happens. The Pirates and Tigers no doubt would like to have a say.

I would love nothing more than to see the braves go to another world series

 

[HammerDown]

if you're real thin at pitching then that would be recommended

But no one ever does it. And the strategy would work even if you're not thin on pitching but your rotation is clearly outmatched or they have a well-rested, dominant CC-in-his-prime or Big Unit going in game 1. In that case, send out your 5th starter, hope for a win but prepare for the loss, assuming it will be a 7-game series and your ace comes out in game 2 against their second best.

Why not?!

 

[Blitzville]

 

[fordman84]

This guy should have been posting more this whole time!

 

[HammerDown]

"Hammar panicked and sent Fordman a 9-1-1 and he came running as usual." - Sake

 

[rokketmn]

I've never understood in playoff series why managers will send their best available out against a dominant pitcher like Kershaw, Verlander, Big Unit, CC in his prime, Halladay. Basically concede game 1 and come out to win game 2 at all cost.

Because you never know what will happen. You don't want to just give a game away.

CC hasn't been good in the playoffs for the majority of his starts (unless they are against Minnesota and Baltimore). When he was asked to match up with Cliff Lee in 2009, he failed both times.

Verlander is no better in the playoffs, and this season he has been mediocre.

I would take my chances with the Red Sox rotation depth. Greinke, Ryu, and Nolasco don't scare me. The Sox pitchers are all capable of shutting down the Dodgers even with Matt Kemp.

I would play an agressive game against Kershaw (bunting, stealing) and work his pitch count in hopes of getting him on a bad night or try to get him to make mistakes.

 

[Blitzville]

This guy should have been posting more this whole time!

Got your attention too huh?

Everyone seems to be talking about Sanchez being bumped in New York. do you think he'll be back?

 

[HammerDown]

An example of what the mods post on the Hoop.

 

[poprocksncoke]

 

[HammerDown]

Because you never know what will happen. You don't want to just give a game away.

CC hasn't been good in the playoffs for the majority of his starts (unless they are against Minnesota and Baltimore). When he was asked to match up with Cliff Lee in 2009, he failed both times.

Verlander is no better in the playoffs, and this season he has been mediocre.

I would take my chances with the Red Sox rotation depth. Greinke, Ryu, and Nolasco don't scare me. The Sox pitchers are all capable of shutting down the Dodgers even with Matt Kemp.

I would play an agressive game against Kershaw (bunting, stealing) and work his pitch count in hopes of getting him on a bad night or try to get him to make mistakes.

Being aggressive with Kershaw's pitch count just isn't as effective because he can go 120 easily and the curve is devastating whether you've seen it once or six times in a PA.

And I think you should give Greinke, Ryu, and Nolasco a little more credit. The Dodgers rotation is better than yours and they're in a position to really start resting these guys. You're not.

 

[BigDDude]

I'M HIP-NO-TIZED!!!!!

 

[rokketmn]

A Dodgers/Red Sox WS would be a dream series. Let's hope it happens. The Pirates and Tigers no doubt would like to have a say.

As well as the Rays and Braves. Not to mention the Cardinals.

The Rays pitching scares me, and that team always seems to play above their talent level.

Call me crazy, and I think Kershaw is the best in the biz, but if I were a Cards fan, I wouldn't be worried about a Wainwright/Kershaw matchup. Waino is good, and has that playoff experience. The Card lineup is as dangerous as any in baseball.

 

[BigDDude]

An example of what the mods post on the Hoop.

First,................, there is good............

 

[BigDDude]

...then........., there is GOOD LORD NO!!!!!!!!!!