Series Thread: NLCS Giants vs Cardinals

[packerzrule]

Where the hell is Moxie???

Thought for sure we would hear from her.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Waino's supposed issue is overblown. He was the freaking pitcher of the month in September...you know, like a week ago, with a 1.38 ERA for the month and a 5-0 record. He's got some soreness in the elbow. Who doesn't at this time of the year. Shoot him up and watch him go

 

[calsnowskier]

Waino's supposed issue is overblown. He was the freaking pitcher of the month in September...you know, like a week ago, with a 1.38 ERA for the month and a 5-0 record. He's got some soreness in the elbow. Who doesn't at this time of the year. Shoot him up and watch him go

I don't know. You don't want to risk it with your Ace. Elbow issues are no joke.

I think they should sit him for the series to keep him fresh.

 

[jete02fan]

Position-by-position breakdown: Giants-Cardinals | MLB.com

 

[scoutyjones2]

I don't know. You don't want to risk it with your Ace. Elbow issues are no joke.

I think they should sit him for the series to keep him fresh.

LOL...I see your offer to have the Cards sit Waino and push to see Bumgarner sit preferably on Posey with Pablo the cherry on top!

 

[calsnowskier]

LOL...I see your offer to have the Cards sit Waino and push to see Bumgarner sit preferably on Posey with Pablo the cherry on top!

I don't know why you have to go all aggressive. I am just looking out for the health of your guy.

Don't you care about the health of your players? Have some compassion, man...

 

[calsnowskier]

OK, back to being serious...

Predictions?

My heart says Giants in 6. My head has no idea.

The main strength that the Giants bring to the post season is their experience and consistency (in not making a lot of bone-headed errors, and being able to capitalize on the other teams bone-headedness). Unfortunately, of all teams in the MLB, the Cards are the one team that can match the Giants in these two categories.

Looking at the matchups (please add any info about the Cards starters that I may have wrong or miss)...

Game 1 - Bum @ Wainy - This game could decide the whole series. Ace vs Ace. The losing team could be demoralized by losing with their elite stud on the bump.

Game 2 - Peavy @ Lynn - Peavy is the old grizzled vet while Lynn is the younger vet. I believe Lynn has more post-season innings, as well.

Game 3 - Lackey @ Hudson - Lackey has looked not-good since the trade. Huddy has looked not-good post ASG, but threw a gem in game 2 of the LDS.

Game 4 - Miller @ Vogelsong (or Bum) - I figure if the Giants are down 1-2, Bum gets the start. Vogey has thrown 5 straight post-season games with 1 or fewer ERs. He thrives under pressure. If he happens to poop the bed, Petit is waiting in the wings to go 4+ innings of perfect ball.

 

[gvsulaker82]

Giants and cards are just excellent playoff teams.

 

[RobToxin]

I'm starting to get sick of the National League. It's become a two-team league. This will be the fifth straight year either the Giants or Cardinals went to the World Series.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Jeez cant get an out for the life of them

 

[podsox]

Giants and cards are just excellent playoff teams.

teams that depend on power seem to do well in the post season. power hitters press to hit for power more in the postseason. guys that just hit don't change anything

 

[Fountain City Blues]

I'm starting to get sick of the National League. It's become a two-team league. This will be the fifth straight year either the Giants or Cardinals went to the World Series.

Really bleh on seeing these two in the NLCS for the umpteenth time.

 

[jvett77]

This is a difficult series to call since the regular season stats for both teams are similar. Throw in the postseason pitching performance and edge in power and I give SF the edge. The Cards were the last NL wild card team to advance to the WS (2011). We could be looking at a wild card WS should both SF and KC come out on top in each LCS; the last was in 2002, Angels over SF. The is the 4th consecutive year STL has made it to the NLCS.

2014______BA___OBP___SLG___ERA
Giants:___.255__.311___.388 ___3.50__132 HR; Postseason .238 BA, ERA 1.33
Cards:____.253__.320___.369___3.50__105 HR, Postseason .238 BA, ERA 3.86

 

[69er]

Game 4 - Miller @ Vogelsong (or Bum) - I figure if the Giants are down 1-2, Bum gets the start. Vogey has thrown 5 straight post-season games with 1 or fewer ERs. He thrives under pressure. If he happens to poop the bed, Petit is waiting in the wings to go 4+ innings of perfect ball.

Doubt it, Vogey has nailed it in the postseason starting from '12. Glad we have Bum/Vogey/Petit and I feel good with both Peavy and Huddy. Now where Timmy fits in is anyone's guess.

 

[Clayton]

Really bleh on seeing these two in the NLCS for the umpteenth time.

People act like they are seeing the same teams. The laundry is the same but the makeup of these teams changes quite a bit for year to year.

The Giants might just have better playoff pitching this year than the Cardinals. I'm kinda upset about losing a 50/50 call at first base and then losing a run off the balk but I dont think the Cards played very well at all.

 

[69er]

People act like they are seeing the same teams. The laundry is the same but the makeup of these teams changes quite a bit for year to year.

The Giants might just have better playoff pitching this year than the Cardinals. I'm kinda upset about losing a 50/50 call at first base and then losing a run off the balk but I dont think the Cards played very well at all.

There was no 50/50 call there, he tagged the guy. But that was a total balk. And yeah, your defense let Waino down, I don't think Waino was as bad as some made him out to be tbh

 

[Clayton]

There was no 50/50 call there, he tagged the guy. But that was a total balk. And yeah, your defense let Waino down, I don't think Waino was as bad as some made him out to be tbh

He took the wrong angle. I agree that the tag was there but that tag was almost out of pure luck or skill and not actually based on the decision to cut off the runner. I will say that no pitcher in his right mind is going to risk injury there, though. Bang bang plays at 1B are difficult

I do think the score still would have been 3-1, though, with the dynamics being different. The Cardinals were swinging under just about every pitch and hero ball isnt how they hit. They just weren't locating the pitching.

 

[calsnowskier]

He took the wrong angle. I agree that the tag was there but that tag was almost out of pure luck or skill and not actually based on the decision to cut off the runner. I will say that no pitcher in his right mind is going to risk injury there, though. Bang bang plays at 1B are difficult

I do think the score still would have been 3-1, though, with the dynamics being different. The Cardinals were swinging under just about every pitch and hero ball isnt how they hit. They just weren't locating the pitching.

Even if Bum missed the tag, Wong should have been called out (not sure he would have, though, knowing umpires today). Wong was out of the base path until Bum put him into it.

I agree though, the balk was just simply missed by the umpires.

 

[Clayton]

Even if Bum missed the tag, Wong should have been called out (not sure he would have, though, knowing umpires today). Wong was out of the base path until Bum put him into it.

I agree though, the balk was just simply missed by the umpires.

Its amazing how different fans view the same play. Bum clearly cut off Wong on the basepath but had the tag ready when seen in slo mo

 

[calsnowskier]

Its amazing how different fans view the same play. Bum clearly cut off Wong on the basepath but had the tag ready when seen in slo mo

The batter-runner base path is the 3' path that is chalked out in foul territory. Wong was running the entire way in fair territory. He was clearly out of the base path. Even had Bum not tagged him, he SHOULD have been called out for interference.