Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2011 14:42:04 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]Pittsburgh Pirates (50-25) @ San Francisco Giants (47-28)[/shadow]
PIT: Brad Mills (9-1, 1.51 ERA)
SF: Tim Lincecum (6-4, 2.85 ERA)
This second half edition of the Game of the Week features two elite teams and two elite pitchers. Tim Lincecum has been a slight notch below his usual unholy self, but it still carrying an ERA below three and is on pace to rack up close to 250 strikeouts. He's the anchor of the best pitching staff in the National League, and gives way to the best bullpen in the National League.
While Matt Capps' ERA is masked by a number of unearned runs, his walk to strikeout ratio of 3 walks to 43 strikeouts is divine, and he's saved 21 of 23 chances. Paul Pope has been marvelous in short relief, while Turkeyfoot, Wen Seto, brings his bizarre delivery and nearly a strikeout per inning to the Bay Area.
The Pirates counter with Brad Mills. Completely recovered from a torn elbow, and rescued from the Toronto Blue Jays, after bouncing in and out of the rotation in Toronto, he's found a home as an All-Star starting pitcher. His 1.51 ERA and 0.85 WHIP are tops in the National League.
Mills, however, will be working to a potent lineup as San Francisco uncharacteristically has one of the best lineups in baseball. The Giants have battered lefty pitchers to a 15-8 tune, thanks to fearsome right-handed sluggers.
Marinus Vernooij is a force from the right side of the plate with 12 home runs, while former Pirate Ramiro Pena already has 13 long balls and we're still a week away from the season's midway point. In addition, the Giants have added young lefty superstar Mauro Montoya from Toronto for Andrew McCutchen, Gaby Sanchez, and a prospect.
The two teams are two of the best in baseball, and this game may very well be a preview of the NLCS.
Questions for the GM's. For Shane Callahan, did you expect anything close to the numbers Brad Mills has put up this year?
The Giants have a filthy bullpen. Do you try to work counts to get Tim Lincecum out of the game, or does than not factor because of the quality of San Francisco's pen?
Several years ago, you traded for San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval. How do you feel that trade has worked out for you?
For Robert Nichols, you've made a ton of changes to an already good team. In is Wen Seto, Mauro Montoya, Chris Iannetta, out is Gaby Sanchez, Andrew McCutchen, and Sergio Romo. What were you trying to accomplish with some of these deals?
Let's talk Quinton O'Toole. He's hitting a solid .289 right now and has shown he'll draw a walk and get on base. How has he performed according to your expectations?
You have Lincecum on the hill, but the Pirates have some ferocious lefties in the middle of the pen. In the seventh inning of a close game, are you going to go with Lincecum against the middle of the order, or are you bringing in Turkeyfoot or Jesse English?
PIT: Brad Mills (9-1, 1.51 ERA)
SF: Tim Lincecum (6-4, 2.85 ERA)
This second half edition of the Game of the Week features two elite teams and two elite pitchers. Tim Lincecum has been a slight notch below his usual unholy self, but it still carrying an ERA below three and is on pace to rack up close to 250 strikeouts. He's the anchor of the best pitching staff in the National League, and gives way to the best bullpen in the National League.
While Matt Capps' ERA is masked by a number of unearned runs, his walk to strikeout ratio of 3 walks to 43 strikeouts is divine, and he's saved 21 of 23 chances. Paul Pope has been marvelous in short relief, while Turkeyfoot, Wen Seto, brings his bizarre delivery and nearly a strikeout per inning to the Bay Area.
The Pirates counter with Brad Mills. Completely recovered from a torn elbow, and rescued from the Toronto Blue Jays, after bouncing in and out of the rotation in Toronto, he's found a home as an All-Star starting pitcher. His 1.51 ERA and 0.85 WHIP are tops in the National League.
Mills, however, will be working to a potent lineup as San Francisco uncharacteristically has one of the best lineups in baseball. The Giants have battered lefty pitchers to a 15-8 tune, thanks to fearsome right-handed sluggers.
Marinus Vernooij is a force from the right side of the plate with 12 home runs, while former Pirate Ramiro Pena already has 13 long balls and we're still a week away from the season's midway point. In addition, the Giants have added young lefty superstar Mauro Montoya from Toronto for Andrew McCutchen, Gaby Sanchez, and a prospect.
The two teams are two of the best in baseball, and this game may very well be a preview of the NLCS.
Questions for the GM's. For Shane Callahan, did you expect anything close to the numbers Brad Mills has put up this year?
The Giants have a filthy bullpen. Do you try to work counts to get Tim Lincecum out of the game, or does than not factor because of the quality of San Francisco's pen?
Several years ago, you traded for San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval. How do you feel that trade has worked out for you?
For Robert Nichols, you've made a ton of changes to an already good team. In is Wen Seto, Mauro Montoya, Chris Iannetta, out is Gaby Sanchez, Andrew McCutchen, and Sergio Romo. What were you trying to accomplish with some of these deals?
Let's talk Quinton O'Toole. He's hitting a solid .289 right now and has shown he'll draw a walk and get on base. How has he performed according to your expectations?
You have Lincecum on the hill, but the Pirates have some ferocious lefties in the middle of the pen. In the seventh inning of a close game, are you going to go with Lincecum against the middle of the order, or are you bringing in Turkeyfoot or Jesse English?