NLDS Game 1: CIN @ PHI Wednesday, October 6 TBS 5:07 p.m. NLDS Game 1: ATL @ SF Thursday, October 7 TBS 9:37 p.m. NLDS Game 2: CIN @ PHI Friday, October 8 TBS 6:07 p.m. NLDS Game 2: ATL @ SF Friday, October 8 TBS 9:37 p.m. NLDS Game 3: PHI @ CIN Sunday, October 10 TBS TBA NLDS Game 3: SF @ ATL Sunday, October 10 TBS TBA NLDS Game 4*: PHI @ CIN Monday, October 11 TBS TBA NLDS Game 4*: SF @ ATL Monday, October 11 TBS TBA NLDS Game 5*: CIN @ PHI Wednesday, October 13 TBS TBA NLDS Game 5*: ATL @ SF Wednesday, October 13 TBS TBA
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Man, this should be cake for Philly.
Philly sweeps the Reds in 3.
San Fran sweeps the Braves in 3.
Nothing to see here.
"Playing guitars. It's hard to sing while playing...guitars."
Yeah, The Phillies have just too much pitching. Most years the Reds might have a puncher;s chance but with Doc, Oswalt and the way Hamels is pitching, not looking good for Cincy, I don't think it's so clearcut for the other series. Hudson and Lowe could shutdown the Giants.
I will never call anything Phillies-related a cake walk. Mostly because of superstition, but also because nothing's been a cake walk this year.
During the last series before the AS break, the Phils swept the Reds in a nerve-racking four-game set. Three of the four games ended in extra-inning walkoffs. In game 2, Reds starter Mike Leake was thisclose to pitching a 1-run complete game. In game 3, Reds starter Travis Wood was thisclose to pitching a perfect game. The Phils won game 4 1-0. Neither Halladay nor Hamels gave up a run in their respective starts, but I can't expect them to pitch shutouts again. I very much worry about this offense just disappearing. It means a lot that the Phils got the "long" LDS. I hate short series.
Phily's the favorite, but it's no cakewalk. IMO, people are really sleeping on the Reds lineup, if not the whole team overall. Phily wins, but it'll take the whole five, with some nail-biters or extra inning games.
As for Atlanta/San Francisco, I can respect the Braves playing all out for Bobby Cox. But I think they've been tiring down because of that. Combined with the Giants pitching rotation, I think it's a fairly easy series for the Giants; they win in 4. At least the Braves got Bobby Cox to leave on a high note.
So SF/Phily in the NLCS. I'll go Phillies in 6 to go to the World Series for the third straight year. The pitching is pretty even but the batting lineup for Phily is just too strong when it's healthy and consistent.
It would be more fitting for the Braves to pay tribute to Cox's legacy by losing in the playoffs like most of his teams do. Giants in four.
Philly is just on too much of a roll right now. Halladay/Oswalt/Hamels is a frightening playoff pitching rotation.
NLCS will be a pitching matchup to die for. I'll predict the Phillies to win since they were my preseason pick and they have more experience, but it wouldn't surprise me to see the Giants somehow squeak into the Series in spite of their weak lineup.
Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you... Giants go the distance to take care of the Braves, and in the shock of the playoffs, the Reds knock off the Phillies in four.
Hope I'm not the only one with the guts to pick the latter result.
smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated (Holds; June 18, 2006) While the switch from Cena to RVD should alleviate some complaints, the inevitability of the belt's return to Cena (note where Summerslam is this year) and the poor initial showing by the new ECW are enough to keep the indicator where it is for now. The pieces are in place, though, especially on RAW, for improvements to be made to the IWC's psyche in the near future.
Phillies picked up Oswalt to match up against the Reds. Phillies in a sweep. Giants in 4 over the Braves, as the eternal Braves weakness of the bullpen costs them a game. Phillies in 6 over the Giants as pitching and power beats pitching.
I am also in the Reds upset the Phillies camp. They can hit and Jay Bruce is inspirational.
Not as sure on the other series. I prefer the ATL, but think the El Gigantes have the pitching. Giants and Reds, both in 5
Reds to the Series in 6
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
That the universe was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, I will no more believe than that the accidental jumbling of the alphabet would fall into a most ingenious treatise of philosophy - Swift
Please people. Who doesn't like an upset? But this is a five game series. Five games!
Halladay. Oswalt. Hamels. You know when Cole Hamels, in a bounce-back year, is your NUMBER THREE STARTER you're in good shape for a five game series. Say you beat, I don't know Oswalt. Congratulations! You've won the right to play another elimination game against someone who led the NL in wins (that's especially for you, StaggerLee), shutouts, innings, complete games, walk rate and strikeout to walk ratio. Oh, and had more starts than he did walks.
Impressed? You should be. And now, finally, the spotlight is on. The Doctor is in, and he'll build on his Hall of Fame resume now he's finally in the playoffs. The Phillies will win. It'll go four at the most, but I won't be shocked if a sweep happens.
I think the Braves will actually pull through and beat the Giants. It won't matter in the end, the Phillies will head to the World Series anyway to face off against the Rays.
(edited by El Nastio on 5.10.10 0033) After a (very) long hiatus, I have begun to write again. And this time, I'm not alone!
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I realize this isn't 20 years ago and the Reds' current bullpen is nowhere near the "Nasty Boys" but most people thought the 1990 Reds had no shot against Pittsbugh and then Oakland's great pitching staffs and that didn't matter a bit to that squad. This version of the Reds offense certainly harkens back to the '90 squad and I think the starting pitching may be better than that group, but my memory is admittedly bad on that. Regardless, here's hoping they're able to get it done!
"You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face." Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic's "Manhunter")
So you're the Cincinnati Reds. You just got a no-hitter thrown at you where the opposing pitcher simply showcased old-school domination. You're facing the prospect that, if you win this game, you will need to face that guy again. On top of that, assuming you win this, you'll have to beat a mere "all-star" (as opposed to "all-galaxy") pitcher to NOT make it an elimination game. The guy you're facing tonight has been playing at a level beyond all-star for a couple of months. So what do you do?
Commit several errors and just hand the game over after you led for a chunk of the game.
After a (very) long hiatus, I have begun to write again. And this time, I'm not alone!
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Originally posted by El NastioSo you're the Cincinnati Reds. You just got a no-hitter thrown at you where the opposing pitcher simply showcased old-school domination. You're facing the prospect that, if you win this game, you will need to face that guy again. On top of that, assuming you win this, you'll have to beat a mere "all-star" (as opposed to "all-galaxy") pitcher to NOT make it an elimination game. The guy you're facing tonight has been playing at a level beyond all-star for a couple of months. So what do you do?
Commit several errors and just hand the game over after you led for a chunk of the game.
Sooooo...do I dare ask if the same damage is done if the umps call out Utley at second before that fateful at-bat, instead of blowing ANOTHER call?
We're flying a giant orange "CONAN" blimp over the baseball playoffs. Finally, subtlety in advertising. @ConanOBrien
Originally posted by It's FalseSooooo...do I dare ask if the same damage is done if the umps call out Utley at second before that fateful at-bat, instead of blowing ANOTHER call?
The damage would have been done at some point because, IMHO it's fairly clear that regardless of Umpire calls, the better team won the series.
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You've got to feel bad for poor Brooks Conrad. I mean, I'm rooting for the Giants in that series, but still. Also had to laugh at the discussion of who SF would start in Game Four, like there was any question in the world that it would be Lincecum if they were down 2-1, and Bumgarner now that they're up 2-1.
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Yeah, I would put my money on doing it so late to avoid the tabloids today. (havent seen either paper on line yet today) Sadly, I was having problems getting WFAN in down here today, so for now I've missed what Mike and Mad Dog has said about this.