Ok, I’m going to try this again. CSzem and I attempted to have a serious discussion about the League Championship Series in our podcast recorded late Monday night, but we unfortunately got sidetracked by penis (Jesus, I hope that’s the last time I ever have to type that sentence). Brett Favre’s penis to be exact.
Furthermore, I promise that there will be no talk of the sexual exploits of Al Borland anywhere during this column. That being said, we now know that The Rangers will be playing the Yankees in the ALCS thanks to another big game performance by the quiet assassin, Cliff Lee.
Let’s start with the AL as that series kicks off tonight in Texas. Unfortunately for the Rangers, they cannot depend on Cliff Lee alone to deliver them to the promised land of the Fall Classic. He is unavailable to pitch until Game 3 and then again only if the series goes to a Game 7 (Of course, if that happens, the Rangers are all but assured victory with their ace on the hill).
For Texas to win, they will have to lean heavily on CJ Wilson and Colby Lewis, two unproven guys on the postseason stage. However, both of them get to pitch in the cozy confines of Arlington and are able to avoid throwing in the pressure cooker that is Yankee Stadium in October.
I’m not sure I like the decision by Joe Girardi to go to a four man rotation in this series and give AJ Burnett a chance to self-destruct in Game 4. Of course I love it from the perspective of a man who hates the Yankees, but I think you have to give the big fella, CC Sabbathia, a chance to go on three day’s rest (he did it last year and that worked out pretty well).
I still maintain that the Yankees lineup is too old and they’re going to fall apart playing this deep into the season. The Rangers are younger and hungrier and they have the intangible in Nolan Ryan’s sage experience and fighting ability. I smell a World Series berth for Texas.
Prediction: Rangers in 7
The ALCS is just an appetizer for the main course that is the NLCS. This is going to be a fantastic series, dominated by pitching (I just made myself hard). And the action will kick off with a bang on Saturday night with Doc going against Timmy Lincecum. There is the potential for those two to face off three times in seven games (since they’re actual men and can throw on three day’s rest).
I would hate to be in the batting lineup of either team. The prospect of facing these respective rotations would keep me up at night. Even when you get past Halladay and Lincecum, the rest of the pitchers have filthy stuff as well. If an average is above the Mendoza line in this series, it might be cause for celebration.
I’m going to take this opportunity to share with you all some of CSzem’s idiocy. Earlier this week, he sent me the following text (no, it was not a picture of a small penis): ‘If I was San Fran, I’d throw Cain in Game 1. Doc’s probably winning regardless of the opponent and then Lincecum gives them a way better chance.”
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the perfect example of a man who spends way too much time playing fantasy sports and not enough time playing real sports. Yes, if you go by the numbers only, it may make sense—on paper— to bump Lincecum to Game 2.
However, sports are not won and lost on paper. Do you know what message the Giants coaching staff would be sending to Timmy and the rest of the team if they moved Lincecum away from Halladay?
You’re basically telling your best pitcher that he’s not good enough to beat their best guy. What is that going to do for Lincecum’s self-confidence? The rest of the team will think you’re giving up the first game. Then, the Phillies will feel emboldened because they will smell the fear emanating from the Bay area.
I hate to say it, but the credibility lost by CSzem in that comment may ultimately jeopardize his co-host spot on the podcast. Maybe he should spend a little more time, you know, playing actual sports instead of just betting on them.
There’s no stat for heart, big guy.
Of course, what can we expect from a ‘man’ who retires from tennis matches? Let’s all just hope Mrs. Cszem is in charge of the young one’s athletic career.
Prediction: Phillies in 6
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2 comments:
I’m so sick of hearing about all these ridiculous intangibles. If Lincecum has his feelings hurt by being moved to Game 2, he should go out and throw a 2-hit shutout, sending the series back to San Francisco tied 1 game apiece (oh wait, that’s exactly what would happen).
These guys are professional athletes. Suck it up and do your job whenever management tells you to (like the rest of us, schmoes). The concept of “putting your best out there against their best” is as arcane a practice as managing for the Save Rule. Baseball traditionalists (like you, Tewks) will say that it’s the way it’s meant to be. But how does this benefit the Giants? It benefits us, the viewer, unquestionably, as we’re about to be treated to an incredible duel between the two best the game has to offer. But the Giants are hurting their overall chances of winning this series by NOT doing what I’ve suggested.
Managing a baseball team is about doing whatever you can to best position your team to win. In a 7 game series, your job is to set up the team so that you best have a chance to win 4 of those 7 games. Tim Lincecum is amazing, and he is the best pitcher in every game that he pitches EXCEPT for games against Roy Halladay. Why would you willingly give up a potential advantage in Game 2 just to give baseball “purists” a great matchup in Game 1?
I suggested this idea to a number of “baseball people” the other day, and the reaction was all vehemently opposed to it. But frankly, I still think I’m right. The only counter-argument that Tewks (et al) offered was that you “are sending your team the wrong message”. What message is that? “We are doing everything we can to put you guys in the best position to advance to the World Series”. Yeah, what a horrible message to send.
Once the Giants are heading back to San Fran down 2-0, I will be vindicated – except Tewks will still say he was right. I fully expect the Phillies to win Game 1, behind Roy Halladay. And I fully expect the Phillies to win Game 2, behind Roy Oswalt (v. Fatt Cain). If Lincecum was pitching Game 2, my thoughts on Game 1 would remain unchanged, but the Giants would be heavily favoured in Game 2.
Does my gambling-centric mind impact this? Of course. It’s about maximizing probability. Sadly, it’s this kind of pragmatic thinking that continues to elude guys like Tewks, who view baseball as more art than science. Hate to break it to you, but there’s math involved in baseball (and not just adding up the number of runs for each team).
You say there’s no stat for heart, and I completely agree. That’s the point. It’s a made up intangible. Suck it up and do your job.
I’m so sick of hearing about all these ridiculous intangibles. If Lincecum has his feelings hurt by being moved to Game 2, he should go out and throw a 2-hit shutout, sending the series back to San Francisco tied 1 game apiece (oh wait, that’s exactly what would happen).
These guys are professional athletes. Suck it up and do your job whenever management tells you to (like the rest of us, schmoes). The concept of “putting your best out there against their best” is as arcane a practice as managing for the Save Rule. Baseball traditionalists (like you, Tewks) will say that it’s the way it’s meant to be. But how does this benefit the Giants? It benefits us, the viewer, unquestionably, as we’re about to be treated to an incredible duel between the two best the game has to offer. But the Giants are hurting their overall chances of winning this series by NOT doing what I’ve suggested.
Managing a baseball team is about doing whatever you can to best position your team to win. In a 7 game series, your job is to set up the team so that you best have a chance to win 4 of those 7 games. Tim Lincecum is amazing, and he is the best pitcher in every game that he pitches EXCEPT for games against Roy Halladay. Why would you willingly give up a potential advantage in Game 2 just to give baseball “purists” a great matchup in Game 1?
I suggested this idea to a number of “baseball people” the other day, and the reaction was all vehemently opposed to it. But frankly, I still think I’m right. The only counter-argument that Tewks (et al) offered was that you “are sending your team the wrong message”. What message is that? “We are doing everything we can to put you guys in the best position to advance to the World Series”. Yeah, what a horrible message to send.
Once the Giants are heading back to San Fran down 2-0, I will be vindicated – except Tewks will still say he was right. I fully expect the Phillies to win Game 1, behind Roy Halladay. And I fully expect the Phillies to win Game 2, behind Roy Oswalt (v. Fatt Cain). If Lincecum was pitching Game 2, my thoughts on Game 1 would remain unchanged, but the Giants would be heavily favoured in Game 2.
Does my gambling-centric mind impact this? Of course. It’s about maximizing probability. Sadly, it’s this kind of pragmatic thinking that continues to elude guys like Tewks, who view baseball as more art than science. Hate to break it to you, but there’s math involved in baseball (and not just adding up the number of runs for each team).
You say there’s no stat for heart, and I completely agree. That’s the point. It’s a made up intangible. Suck it up and do your job.
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