Post by yankeesgm on Sept 17, 2010 18:57:15 GMT -5
Welcome to the PBL 2010 World Series Preview !
Probable Pitchers
Game 1 –NYY Chan Ho Park (0-0, 3.18) v STL Chris Carpenter (1-0, 3.86)
Rewind to April 2010, Park is a fading former starter seeing out his contract in the Yankees bullpen. Mid-August Javier Vazquez goes down with a shoulder injury and Chan Ho is catapulted into the rotation. He takes his chance, goes 5-2 in nine starts and here he is – opening the World Series in the Bronx! Just one start in the playoffs, against the Twins in Minnesota, he pitched 5.2 innings giving up three runs on seven hits before the Yankees finally won it with two runs in the top of the 12th.
Chris Carpenter, No.2 in the Cardinals rotation, went 19-9 in 34 regular season starts with a 2.94 ERA and led the majors with four shutouts. This will be this fourth playoff start, he has one win from the previous three, giving up 21 hits in 21 IP and opponents are hitting .253 against him.
Verdict: Should be Advantage Cardinals but will the baying Bronx bleachers turn up the heat enough?
Game 2 – NYY C.C. Sabathia (2-1, 3.00) v STL Brad Penny (0-0, 7.84)
CC is the undoubted ace of the Yankees rotation, 20-9 in 34 regular season starts with a 2.73 ERA. He led the majors in innings pitched and was second in Whip & Vorp. In three playoff starts he’s 2-1 with a complete game and has only walked three batters.
Brad Penny went 16-10 in 34 regular season starts with a 3.38 ERA. In his first playoff start he lasted just 3 innings against the Giants but managed to reach the eighth innings against Colorado in his second start. He’s given up 17 hits in 10.1 playoff innings, walking 9 as opponents bat .378 against him.
Verdict: Strong Advantage Yankees
Game 3 - NYY (TBC) v STL Jamie Garcia (1-0, 4.50)
Joba Chamberlain (3-0, 2.65) could well be the Yankees starter here but they’re hedging their bets with Javier Vazquez just activated from the disabled list, he could well be fit enough to start. Joba started the playoffs relegated to the bullpen after going 10-8 in 28 starts in regular season games with a 5.02 ERA but was restored to the rotation when AJ blew his elbow out. He’s made four playoff appearances, two from the bullpen against the Twins while winning both starts against the Rays.
Jamie Gracia went 19-11, 3.86 in his rookie season where he made 33 regular season starts. He led the majors with a 70% groundball percentage. He’s made one start in the playoffs, going six innings against the Rockies, giving up three runs on four hits and getting the win.
Verdict: Pivotal game of the series – if whoever the Yanks send to the mound overpowers the Cardinal’s rookie it could be the beginning of the end. If Garcia continues his fine form we could be looking at a long series
Game 4 – NYY (TBC) v STL Adam Wainwright (1-1, 2.42)
This is probably where Vazquez will return to action, 13-7, 4.11 in his 24 starts before his elbow injury. If the Yanks have any doubts we could be seeing Chan Ho’s second start of the series, retiring pitcher Andy Pettitte sneaking in for a last start or even CC pitching on very short rest? In other words – we haven’t a clue!
Adam Wainwright is the Card’s ace, the only pitcher in the majors to match CC’s 20 wins ending up 20-8 with a 2.90 ERA in 36 regular season starts. Only giving up 215 hits in 245 innings opponents batted just .235 against him. In three playoff starts he’s pitched over 22 innings, losing to the Giants and getting a no decision and a win over the Rockies with opponents now only managing .221.
Hot Batters
For the Yankees Mark Teixeria has hit 6 out of the park and Robinson Cano is hitting .467 going 14 for 31 with three homers and 7 runs driven in. Back-up Kevin Russo has hit in 5 out of seven AB’s giving him a .714/ .750 / 1.143 strapline
For the Cardinals Matt Holiday & Colby Rasmus both have 2 homers as does third base back-up Tyler Greene. 3B David Freese is hitting .405 but the Cardinals will be looking to go station to station if they can’t get their power bats going
They might as well not bother
Yankees Derek Jeter is mired in a 3 for 31 slump and in danger of Laverick starting Russo in his place while St Louis power man Albert Pujols is 8 for 33 with no homers and a .242 average
Probable Pitchers
Game 1 –NYY Chan Ho Park (0-0, 3.18) v STL Chris Carpenter (1-0, 3.86)
Rewind to April 2010, Park is a fading former starter seeing out his contract in the Yankees bullpen. Mid-August Javier Vazquez goes down with a shoulder injury and Chan Ho is catapulted into the rotation. He takes his chance, goes 5-2 in nine starts and here he is – opening the World Series in the Bronx! Just one start in the playoffs, against the Twins in Minnesota, he pitched 5.2 innings giving up three runs on seven hits before the Yankees finally won it with two runs in the top of the 12th.
Chris Carpenter, No.2 in the Cardinals rotation, went 19-9 in 34 regular season starts with a 2.94 ERA and led the majors with four shutouts. This will be this fourth playoff start, he has one win from the previous three, giving up 21 hits in 21 IP and opponents are hitting .253 against him.
Verdict: Should be Advantage Cardinals but will the baying Bronx bleachers turn up the heat enough?
Game 2 – NYY C.C. Sabathia (2-1, 3.00) v STL Brad Penny (0-0, 7.84)
CC is the undoubted ace of the Yankees rotation, 20-9 in 34 regular season starts with a 2.73 ERA. He led the majors in innings pitched and was second in Whip & Vorp. In three playoff starts he’s 2-1 with a complete game and has only walked three batters.
Brad Penny went 16-10 in 34 regular season starts with a 3.38 ERA. In his first playoff start he lasted just 3 innings against the Giants but managed to reach the eighth innings against Colorado in his second start. He’s given up 17 hits in 10.1 playoff innings, walking 9 as opponents bat .378 against him.
Verdict: Strong Advantage Yankees
Game 3 - NYY (TBC) v STL Jamie Garcia (1-0, 4.50)
Joba Chamberlain (3-0, 2.65) could well be the Yankees starter here but they’re hedging their bets with Javier Vazquez just activated from the disabled list, he could well be fit enough to start. Joba started the playoffs relegated to the bullpen after going 10-8 in 28 starts in regular season games with a 5.02 ERA but was restored to the rotation when AJ blew his elbow out. He’s made four playoff appearances, two from the bullpen against the Twins while winning both starts against the Rays.
Jamie Gracia went 19-11, 3.86 in his rookie season where he made 33 regular season starts. He led the majors with a 70% groundball percentage. He’s made one start in the playoffs, going six innings against the Rockies, giving up three runs on four hits and getting the win.
Verdict: Pivotal game of the series – if whoever the Yanks send to the mound overpowers the Cardinal’s rookie it could be the beginning of the end. If Garcia continues his fine form we could be looking at a long series
Game 4 – NYY (TBC) v STL Adam Wainwright (1-1, 2.42)
This is probably where Vazquez will return to action, 13-7, 4.11 in his 24 starts before his elbow injury. If the Yanks have any doubts we could be seeing Chan Ho’s second start of the series, retiring pitcher Andy Pettitte sneaking in for a last start or even CC pitching on very short rest? In other words – we haven’t a clue!
Adam Wainwright is the Card’s ace, the only pitcher in the majors to match CC’s 20 wins ending up 20-8 with a 2.90 ERA in 36 regular season starts. Only giving up 215 hits in 245 innings opponents batted just .235 against him. In three playoff starts he’s pitched over 22 innings, losing to the Giants and getting a no decision and a win over the Rockies with opponents now only managing .221.
Hot Batters
For the Yankees Mark Teixeria has hit 6 out of the park and Robinson Cano is hitting .467 going 14 for 31 with three homers and 7 runs driven in. Back-up Kevin Russo has hit in 5 out of seven AB’s giving him a .714/ .750 / 1.143 strapline
For the Cardinals Matt Holiday & Colby Rasmus both have 2 homers as does third base back-up Tyler Greene. 3B David Freese is hitting .405 but the Cardinals will be looking to go station to station if they can’t get their power bats going
They might as well not bother
Yankees Derek Jeter is mired in a 3 for 31 slump and in danger of Laverick starting Russo in his place while St Louis power man Albert Pujols is 8 for 33 with no homers and a .242 average