MLB Playoffs Discussion

i'm with you. the whole point of baseball during the regular season is that's it's a marathon grind. teams play nearly every day. you have to have depth to win. you get to the playoffs and they change the rules on that. stupid.

 

Yeah, that happened yesterday. He's on the roster, but I doubt he'll start a game.

 

The TV networks make the rules in the playoffs.

 

Yeah, I know. I just don't like that it works out this way. I'm reminded of the Kevin Brown series in 1998.

 

seems like this in all sports. the playoffs begin, lots of games, then, when you get towards the end it's this slow crawl toward the anticlimax.

 

http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/new...t_id=2260557&vkey=news_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col


PHOENIX -- Does a team that has won 17 of its last 18 games need anything more? The Rockies and center fielder Willy Taveras believe so.

The Rockies announced that Taveras, who hasn't played since Sept. 8 because of strained right quadriceps, will return to the lineup as leadoff hitter for Thursday night's Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Diamondbacks.

...


If I'm them, I'd start Willy T against Webb but not necessarily everyone else. Webb is good and tough against normal righties. Willy T can make weak contact or bunt and get on base with infield stuff and then cause problems from there.

I think the Rockies also look at it this way - the reason for this surge is (along with the pitching) that their #3-#5 hitters have been awesome for the past month. Add another guy at the top of the lineup and you have more people for them to drive in.

Spillboroughs is fine, but he hasn't been a huge part of this run - he bats in the 6 spot, I think, and he had a total of 6 RBI in September. Willy will improve their CF defense as well (though Spill is pretty good himself).

 

Kaz Matsui is their leadoff hitter... and he's been one of the best in baseball this year when he bats at that spot.

He's staying at the top of the lineup.

 

In September during their run, he batted 0.220 with no power. His OBP was 0.316 and his OPS was 0.614.

 

He missed a huge chunk of games in September due to injury, and didn't come back strong.

His August was when he solidified himself.

 

Certainly true - my only point is that he wasn't a critical part of their success. Anytime Willy has been healthy, I believe he has been their leadoff hitter, despite how well anyone else (Spillboroughs, Kaz, etc) have done. The Rockies have already announced that Willy T is their leadoff hitter tonight.

 

Here - I was referring to the season-ending run. He was great in the tiebreaker game and the first round of the playoffs. Apparently, he's moving to the #2 spot and Tulowitski is moving down to the bottom somewhere. I'd keep him at #2 based on his numbers and move Kaz down.

 

wow...i'm shocked. kaz matsui has played great in the leadoff spot.

go get 'em, willy.

 

The Rockies just keep on rolling. So much for Willy T messing up the mojo.

Does the Rocks amazing stretch run remind anyone of the Stros from 2005? Just got red hot at exactly the right time.

 

Last night was a stake in the heart of the Diamondbacks.

The Rockies beat their best pitcher, convincingly.

Rockies in 5.

 

seems like arizona doesn't have enough offense to hang but somewhow i get the feeling that they are gonna put up a fight.

 

d-backs tied it up. going to 10th

 

I thought it was odd that the 2nd base ump didn't call the vicinity play like we see in every game.

 

Valverde just did his best impression of Lidge.