Postseason Preview: All Teams Have Issues
Stan McNeal - SportingNews.com
Oct 05, 2009
Every playoff team has at least one issue to worry about:
Yankees: Making sure Alex Rodriguez doesn't squeeze the bat in half. Nothing would diminish the vibe around this club like watching A-Rod pop up a time or two in key at-bats. A-Rod should go in feeling good about himself after hitting two homers and driving in seven runs Sunday in one inning, pushing his totals to 30 and 100 for a record 13th time.
Tigers or Twins: Whether to show up. Just kidding, but the Yankees have owned both clubs. They were 7-0 against the Twins and 5-1 against the Tigers. With Detroit and Minnesota's pitching staffs being extended because of Tuesday's playoff, this series should be over in a hurry.
Angels: How to get through the final two innings with a lead. Closer Brian Fuentes is far from automatic in the ninth. Kevin Jepsen has been strong in the eighth, but he's a rookie; likewise, Jason Bulger has no postseason experience. Also, Bulger was removed from a game over the weekend because of a sore shoulder. Figure on Ervin Santana getting an opportunity.
Red Sox: How to slow the Angels' running game. Catchers Victor Martinez and Jason Varitek are among the worst in the game at throwing out potential base-stealers. The Angels were third in the majors in stolen bases. The surest way, of course: Keep 'em off the bases to begin with. The next surest way: Keep Varitek off the field.
Dodgers: Deciding who will start Game 3. Randy Wolf and Clayton Kershaw, who will start Games 1 and 2, respectively, never have started in the postseason but they're lefties and lefties give the Cardinals trouble. But L.A.'s right-handers --- Chad Billingsley, Jon Garland and Vicente Padilla --- do not do inspire much confidence. Hiroki Kuroda has been ruled out of the first round because of a stiff neck.
Cardinals: Deciding whether to use John Smoltz as a Game 4 starter or late-inning reliever. Tony La Russa said Sunday that Smoltz and Kyle Lohse, the other candidate to start Game 4, both would be available out of the bullpen in the first two games. La Russa did not address Game 4 but as inexperienced as the Cardinals' late-inning relievers are, don't be surprised if Smoltz works exclusively out of the 'pen.
Phillies: Who to pitch in save situations. Charlie Manuel used Brad Lidge in the ninth inning Saturday night and he retired the bottom of the Marlins' order 1-2-3. Was that enough to earn Lidge a shot in a save situation in the playoffs? Don't count on it.
Rockies: What to do with Jason Marquis. After an All-Star first half, he has struggled in the second half as he usually does. Marquis' career 4.88 ERA after the break is almost three-quarters of a run higher than his 4.16 ERA in the first half. If Jorge De La Rosa (groin) is OK, expect the Rockies to start Ubaldo Jimenez, Aaron Cook and De La Rosa in the first three games.
Every club has plenty of numbers worth watching (after all, it's baseball). Here's one for each:
Yankees: 7. Players with at least 80 RBIs: Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, Jorge Posada and Johnny Damon.
Tigers, Twins: 1. The Yankees' major league ranking in runs, homers, walks, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Angels: 2.56. The rotation's ERA over the final 35 games of the season.
Red Sox: Plus 31/minus 3. Games over .500 at Fenway Park/games under .500 on the road.
Dodgers: .265. Manny Ramirez's batting average since the end of July. In the final two months after he was traded last season, he hit .396.
Cardinals: 0. Career postseason innings by Ryan Franklin, Jason Motte and Kyle McClellan, the club's main late-inning relievers.
Phillies: 6.13. Cliff Lee's ERA in his past seven starts. In his first four starts with the Phillies: 0.58.
Rockies: 8.10. Ubaldo Jimenez's ERA at Citizens Bank Park in two career starts. He is expected to start there in Game 1.
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