We've done this for the AL. Time for the NL...

I like the Braves to knock off the Cubs in 5 and the Giants to beat the Marlins in 4.

The Braves and Giants should be a great series. I don't know who I'd pick in that one.

Thoughts?

if the braves and the giants meet again, it would be another tough series. I think the Giants might be a better team. But since the Braves hit so well at Turner and they have home field advantage, it will be tough for the Giants to stop their lineup.

GO GIANTS!

The one thing that would worry me if I were a Giants fan is not having Robb Nen closing. Worrell's a good pitcher, but he's no Nen.

I'm not too worried. First off Worrell is a very good closer. Secondly, a closer isn't a huge factor in the playoffs, especially when you have an extremely deep bullpen, which the giants have. lastly, the Giants got to the WS last year with a badly injured Robb Nen. But we'll see.

flyingswoosh Wrote:I'm not too worried. First off Worrell is a very good closer. Secondly, a closer isn't a huge factor in the playoffs, especially when you have an extremely deep bullpen, which the giants have. lastly, the Giants got to the WS last year with a badly injured Robb Nen. But we'll see.

Closer is a big deal...ask Mitch Williams or Byung Hyun Kim or Jose Mesa...Donnie Moore killed himself because he blew a save in the post season in 1986. :(

those are rare occasions, there are tons of postseason series where closers aren't important. Most of the time the closer doesn't make a big difference. Also, you named Byung Hyun Kim. What did his team end up doing? They won the WS, him blowing those games wasn't really a big deal.

With the bullpen that the Giants have, the closer role won't be important.

I'm just glad we have Smoltz. He's a big step up from guys like Alejandro Pena, Jeff Reardon, Mark Wholers and Mike Stanton. :laugh:

flyingswoosh Wrote:those are rare occasions, there are tons of postseason series where closers aren't important. Most of the time the closer doesn't make a big difference. Also, you named Byung Hyun Kim. What did his team end up doing? They won the WS, him blowing those games wasn't really a big deal.

With the bullpen that the Giants have, the closer role won't be important.

It was a big deal, they would have won it a lot sooner if it wasnt for him. Also another closer blowing it (Rivera) was the reason they won.

Also those are just a few guys off the top of my head, If you want I can go and find plently more guys who cost their teams games in the playoffs. A good bullpen ending with a dominant closer is very important in the playoffs. Billy Koch cost the A's last season. That is why I like the Twins they have one of the best bullpens in all of baseball. Part of why the Braves have rarely gone deep in the playoffs is they have never had a truly great bullpen.

Having a dominant closer in the playoffs is important because the games are always closer there are more save situations during the regular season there are plenty of games where the team is up 6 and doesnt need to bring the closer in. Most playoff games are within 3 runs or so and a good closer is that much more important.

it's more about a great starter. Also you said you like the Twins for their bullpen, the Giants are the same as the Twins in that respect. Lastly, Worrell is as good as Guardado.


I don't see how anyone can tell me Schmidt isn't the best pitcher in baseball or at least the Cy Young.

CG shutout of the Marlins. 0 walks! One 3 ball count!
What an amazing game.

Go Giants!

schmidt was okay today, but overall it was a only a slightly above average performance, 5 strikeouts, thats not too good in this day and age.

tysramm1 Wrote:schmidt was okay today, but overall it was a only a slightly above average performance, 5 strikeouts, thats not too good in this day and age.

Are you an idiot??? He was amazing. The first Giants pitcher to pitch a complete game in the playoffs since 87, who cares about strikeouts??? He saved the bullpen for another day.

You have to give Beckett credit too though...he had an outstanding game.

terpy, he was being sarcastic.

That was the best pitched game i've seen since pedro pitched in relief against the indians like 5 or 6 years ago. There were some other great ones, but this was amazing.

I guess Mr.Ortiz doesn't have the playoff magic without the giants to back him up. 5.2 innings, 4 ER, not very impressive.

Let me say it again, i'm not an Ortiz hater, i think he's a good pitcher.

Ortiz was awesome last night. He would have gotten through the sixth inning without any runs if Fick had turned that double play.

Every time Ortiz has a bad game (or a at least a bad statistical game), you jump on him.

GDawgs88 Wrote:Ortiz was awesome last night. He would have gotten through the sixth inning without any runs if Fick had turned that double play.

Every time Ortiz has a bad game (or a at least a bad statistical game), you jump on him.

awesome? It should have been a double play, but you can't give up a double to the PITCHER! Also, Ortiz put the bases loaded with 0 out 2 innings in a row, you put your fielders in a tough spot when you do that.

Great pitchers can get out of bases loaded, noboby out jams. And Ortiz almost did it twice. You're right though, he should have gotten Wood out.

also, he shouldn't have gotten the bases loaded against a crappy hitting team like the cubs.

The Cubs have Sosa, Ramirez and Alou. That's some tough outs.