WOW there has been some outstanding performances this post season. Timmy has shut down a weak Braves lineup with ease, I say the kid will finish this off on his own.
Dam that was a Kevin Brownish type performance by Lincecum, Braves still have a chance with their pitching but if it goes to game 5...gulp.
I wouldn't say that the Braves have a weak offense but they are only middling when it comes to power if that's what you meant by weak. They did lead the NL in OBP and were 5th in runs. I still find it interesting that Lincecum has lost a few MPH on his fastball. He still has deceptive stuff and it's working for him but I wonder what the cause is for that loss in velocity. I've heard a number of theories but never anything concrete.
The Braves offense has been on fumes since September, not sure if losing Chipper and then Prado finally caught up to them but they have been struggling for a while now. I am stunned Lincecum hasn't developed arm issues with that delivery but I did read about his velocity issues when he was going through that horrible stretch in July/August.
Right NOW: Lincecum > Halladay (even though he had a no-hitter vs the Reds) Cain > Oswalt Sanchez > Hamels
WOW...strong statement there. It's close but I'd take Doc/Roy/Cole by a hair. Lincecum was awesome tonight but Halladay was LEGENDARY last night, Cain was my preseason Cy Young fav but Roy has been fantastic since the trade and I will agree with you on Sanchez/Hamels. I am hoping for this series, it might be 1-0 each game and will almost assuredly be a 1 or 2 run game each night.
No way can you be serious. IMO Halladay>Lincecum>Oswalt>Hamels>Cain>Sanchez Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels would be pitching against the Giants lineup which would give them a huge edge over Lincecum, Cain, and Sanchez vs. the Phillies lineup.
^^^ Hamels, Cain, and Sanchez are pretty close and I can see an argument being made for them to be ranked in a different order among the bottom 3 but I gave Hamels the edge because of his postseason success.
His delivery is far less likely to lead to arm injuries because he uses torque and his body more for velocity than most pitchers who rely so much on their arms. Lincecum had a hiccup this season where he had a few bad starts in a row. Aside from that, I think when he's at his best (which he's been over long extended periods of his career so far), he's as good as any pitcher in the league...Halladay included. I don't think there's very much distinction there, if any.
Going by Game Score (a metric used to rate pitchers), Roy Halladay's no-no (GS 94) was the 4th best postseason start in history...until Lincecum yesterday (GS 96). Stros make a few appearances on the list, both good and bad. http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/345
If anyone wants to argue about whether Babe Ruth is the greatest baseball player in history, the man has the third greatest postseason pitching performance in history on his resume. And he was the homerun king for decades.
This is an example of stats that can be dangerous, Halladay did something NO ONE had done in over 50 years and while Timmy's performance wasn't far behind the Braves actually had harder hit balls off Lincecum and actually had scoring opportunities. Also take into account how much the Braves have struggled on offense and how good the Reds have been hitting the ball. The eyeball test would tell you how incredible Halladay performed, as the best hitting team in the NL had MAYBE 1 hard hit ball and even that one did not endanger the no-hitter. Give me Halladay's performance but Lincecum's performance was so dominant that it reminded me of Kevin Brown's performance against the Stros in 1998.
i'm not taking anything away from Halladay. but there's luck involved in every no-hitter. the no-hitter itself doesn't tell you that he pitched a better game than the guy who pitched a one-hitter. the hitters can be knocking the cover off the ball from the guy pitchign the no-hitter...but just hitting it right at someone. the inverse of this is Barry Bonds saying, "you can do everything right as a hitter in an at-bat... and still get out."
They're not dangerous (lol), they just ALWAYS need context. I totally agree with your assessment of the 2 games.
There is way too much controversy in this year's MLB playoffs. It seems like every game...there are blown calls and a bunch of whiners about how the game would have turned out differently had the right calls been made. It really gets old and makes the games feel illegitimate. Do we need to start putting asterisks next to these games and even the entire playoffs? The way it is being ranted and raved about by the media and even fans seems to imply so. Baseball games now lack legitimacy because the human error argument is no longer good enough...because noone is willing to overlook it when it comes to the importance of playoff games. So, something should be done about it. Or, put a muzzle on it.
max, did you watch halladay? i know you have a crush on timmy, hell, i'm a fan too, but halladay looked as if he coulda gone 2-3 more innings and the reds wouldn't have been able to touch him. i think you are taking something away from doc.
Controversial calls and the ensuing hubub have happened in every postseason ever. This year is no different. ...aaaaaand I'm off to Austin for ACL. Adios mofos.
True but this is why Halladay's no-hitter was so incredible, I can honestly say there was NO LUCK involved. I do not remember the Reds hitting one ball that made any of us hold our breath. In the latter innings the Reds where popping balls up and grounding meekly when they weren't striking out. Normally, no-hitters involve a play that made you hold you breath or took a great play to save it but nothing of that happened. Even the final out was a routine play that the bat laying on the ground made look harder then it really was.
