The Running of the Bulls (NLCS)

Throneberry Fields Forever ^ | 16 October 2011 | Yours Truly

[BluesDuke]

I think the 2011 World Series could become a Home Run Derby of sorts because while early this season it looked like the pitchers were WAY ahead of the hitting, right now both the Rangers and Cardinals will need a LOT of hitting to win.

Both these teams can hit. I'm not entirely sure whether it'll turn into a downright Home Run Derby, but they can pick you apart with all kinds of hitting.

What they're going to need is a lot of pitching. Both clubs have starters who haven't gone deep into games this postseason. They both have solid bullpens. The keys will likely include what I noted earlier---how much the Cardinals' ability to wheel bullpen bulls in and out in short spells, and (watching La Russa in this postseason) at the earliest hints of trouble, and in the right matchups, will neutralise the Rangers' long men and their own potent enough hitters. Watching how La Russa deals with Nelson Cruz, for one thing, is going to be very entertaining.

La Russa's bullpen management has reminded me in a way of an old maxim by which Casey Stengel lived when he managed the Yankees---you don't wait for "the book," if you need a stopper, you bring him in now. Remember---he made a big mistake in the 1990 Series, not bringing in Dennis Eckersley when he really needed him to protect leads before the ninth inning, and it may have helped cost him that Series. This isn't a man who ignores the lessons he gets handed to him with his hat.

Ron Washington just might be standing to learn some lessons about that, too. He's been a smart bullpen manager this year and this postseason, but I can't help wondering if having so many long men and thus a few fewer options if the Cardinals get especially frisky at the plate isn't going to backfire on him a couple of critical times.

[this_ol_patriot]

Home Run Derby

Not in Busch Stadium it plays big compared to the bull pens that the Rangers, Brewers and Tigers play in. St Louis is a funny team, they had huge averages all season, never seen a team with so many 290-300 hitters do so bad but got hot when it counted and still needed Atlanta to lose their last 2 games. Atlanta lost 5 straight at the end.

The Phillies had to get hot against Atlanta after losing 8 straight, funny if the Phils had lost to Atlanta they may have still have been in it, doubtful with their anemic hitting but you never know. BTW the Phils outscored the Cards in the DS 21 to 19, good pitching can hold the Cards down but poor hitting made the Cards pitching staff into aces. I'm a Phillies fan and I know there are problems, age mainly and a manager who hasn't left 2008 yet, just what iffing.

I watched Texas for the first time this year in the series against Detroit, I like them, Texas in 6 IF they can get homers in Busch stadium.