World Series Preview (Giants)
With the number one and 2 starting pitcher and bullpen ERA, this will definitely be a good pitching series. That's why the 2010 Fall Classic will come down to runs; and stranding runners on base.
In Game 6 of the NLCS, the San Francisco Giants simply couldn't score. They stranded 12 runners on base, including 9 in the last 5 innings. So why are they in the World Series?
The answer is starting pitching. In Game 1 of the NLDS, San Francisco scored only 1 run. The run was on a questionable call, a call that cost Atlanta the game. However, all the Braves needed to do was score a run to tie and 2 runs to win. But they simply couldn't do that.
In that game, Tim Lincecum's slider and change-up were amazing. It worked as the Braves were chasing pitches in the dirt, and that led to a 14 K, 2-hit shutout. Although Lincecum allowed 6 runs over 14.1 innings in the NLCS, he still went 1-1. But, if Lincecum's slider and change-up work and the Rangers aren't patient, Lincecum could be dominant.
In Game 3 of the NLCS, Matt Cain's sinker was amazing. He forced a ton on ground balls, and the Phillies couldn't reach base. He allowed 2 hits and no runs over 7 innings, and the Giants went on to win 3-0. If Cain's sinker works in the Fall Classic, he could be unstoppable.
Although Jonathan Sanchez wasn't able to find the strike zone in the NLCS, when his change-up is working, so is he. He allowed just 2 hits and 1 run over 7.1 innings in a 3-2 win over Atlanta in the NLDS. Although he didn't get the win, he was working. His change-up was working, as the Braves were swinging in the dirt. If his change-up works, he could be deadly.
Madison Bumgardner, a rookie who is 1-0 in the playoffs and 7-6 in the regular season, doesn't have too many pitches and doesn't rely especially on one pitch. But if his slider is hitting the outside corner, and his breaking ball is working, it is hard to hit him.
In Game 6 against the Phillies, there was a runner on third and a 2-2 count for Ben Francisco. Bumgardner threw a perfect breaking ball on the outside corner and got Francisco looking, then forced a fly-out. He relies to fly ball outs a lot, but the Rangers can go deep. He might need to establish a sinker and go for ground balls, or it could be trouble for SF.
The guys batting can get hits easily, but scoring runs is another thing. The only way the Giants scored in Game 6 was on a single, an error, and a homer. If Juan Uribe hadn't hit a Ryan Madson change-up over the wall in right, the World Series could easily be Rangers vs Phillies.
Uribe likes pitches low, and he is great in clutch moments, as seen in the NLCS. If you give him a good low ball to hit, the Giants could have an easy run on the board. Uribe is also good if you leave one right over the plate, and he can hit a breaking ball too.
Rookie Buster Posey loves breaking balls, as he can get under them for a deep hit or hit it for a line drive. Both of Posey's RBI's in Game 4 came on breaking balls, and that's where he had most of his success.
Aubrey Huff is an outside ball hitter. He likes zipping outside pitches over the middle for a single, or to right field for a double. However, if you establish a slider on the far outside corner, Huff could be a limited weapon.
Pat Burrell is also great it breaking balls. Right over the plate or down low, Burrell can belt it out of the park any time, so giving him a good breaking ball might not be a very good decision.
Cody Ross was easily the playoff MVP so far. Ross hit 3 homers in the first 2 games of the NLCS, hit 4 homers, knocked in 8 runs and knocked in the winning run twice. However, Juan Uribe was big too, knocking in the GW runs in games 4 and 6 of the NLCS.
Ross is a great inside hitter, so if you give him a cut fastball over the inside part of the plate you will be sorry. Ross has 4 homers and 8 RBI's in the postseason, including 2 off Doc Halladay in a 4-3 win.
The key to the series for San Francisco is for the starters to have their key pitches working, and for the bullpen to be reliable to. Javier Lopez, the sidearming lefty, is unhittable when his pitches are hitting the outside corner. When his hanging slider works, Sergio Romo works. Brian Wilson relies on ground ball pitches and the infield to get out of jams. If the pitching works, then the Giants bats won't have to do much.
But if San Francisco doesn't strand runners and they hit homers, the World Series would be a lot easier.
In Game 6 of the NLCS, the San Francisco Giants simply couldn't score. They stranded 12 runners on base, including 9 in the last 5 innings. So why are they in the World Series?
The answer is starting pitching. In Game 1 of the NLDS, San Francisco scored only 1 run. The run was on a questionable call, a call that cost Atlanta the game. However, all the Braves needed to do was score a run to tie and 2 runs to win. But they simply couldn't do that.
In that game, Tim Lincecum's slider and change-up were amazing. It worked as the Braves were chasing pitches in the dirt, and that led to a 14 K, 2-hit shutout. Although Lincecum allowed 6 runs over 14.1 innings in the NLCS, he still went 1-1. But, if Lincecum's slider and change-up work and the Rangers aren't patient, Lincecum could be dominant.
In Game 3 of the NLCS, Matt Cain's sinker was amazing. He forced a ton on ground balls, and the Phillies couldn't reach base. He allowed 2 hits and no runs over 7 innings, and the Giants went on to win 3-0. If Cain's sinker works in the Fall Classic, he could be unstoppable.
Although Jonathan Sanchez wasn't able to find the strike zone in the NLCS, when his change-up is working, so is he. He allowed just 2 hits and 1 run over 7.1 innings in a 3-2 win over Atlanta in the NLDS. Although he didn't get the win, he was working. His change-up was working, as the Braves were swinging in the dirt. If his change-up works, he could be deadly.
Madison Bumgardner, a rookie who is 1-0 in the playoffs and 7-6 in the regular season, doesn't have too many pitches and doesn't rely especially on one pitch. But if his slider is hitting the outside corner, and his breaking ball is working, it is hard to hit him.
In Game 6 against the Phillies, there was a runner on third and a 2-2 count for Ben Francisco. Bumgardner threw a perfect breaking ball on the outside corner and got Francisco looking, then forced a fly-out. He relies to fly ball outs a lot, but the Rangers can go deep. He might need to establish a sinker and go for ground balls, or it could be trouble for SF.
The guys batting can get hits easily, but scoring runs is another thing. The only way the Giants scored in Game 6 was on a single, an error, and a homer. If Juan Uribe hadn't hit a Ryan Madson change-up over the wall in right, the World Series could easily be Rangers vs Phillies.
Uribe likes pitches low, and he is great in clutch moments, as seen in the NLCS. If you give him a good low ball to hit, the Giants could have an easy run on the board. Uribe is also good if you leave one right over the plate, and he can hit a breaking ball too.
Rookie Buster Posey loves breaking balls, as he can get under them for a deep hit or hit it for a line drive. Both of Posey's RBI's in Game 4 came on breaking balls, and that's where he had most of his success.
Aubrey Huff is an outside ball hitter. He likes zipping outside pitches over the middle for a single, or to right field for a double. However, if you establish a slider on the far outside corner, Huff could be a limited weapon.
Pat Burrell is also great it breaking balls. Right over the plate or down low, Burrell can belt it out of the park any time, so giving him a good breaking ball might not be a very good decision.
Cody Ross was easily the playoff MVP so far. Ross hit 3 homers in the first 2 games of the NLCS, hit 4 homers, knocked in 8 runs and knocked in the winning run twice. However, Juan Uribe was big too, knocking in the GW runs in games 4 and 6 of the NLCS.
Ross is a great inside hitter, so if you give him a cut fastball over the inside part of the plate you will be sorry. Ross has 4 homers and 8 RBI's in the postseason, including 2 off Doc Halladay in a 4-3 win.
The key to the series for San Francisco is for the starters to have their key pitches working, and for the bullpen to be reliable to. Javier Lopez, the sidearming lefty, is unhittable when his pitches are hitting the outside corner. When his hanging slider works, Sergio Romo works. Brian Wilson relies on ground ball pitches and the infield to get out of jams. If the pitching works, then the Giants bats won't have to do much.
But if San Francisco doesn't strand runners and they hit homers, the World Series would be a lot easier.
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