Mr October....Cliff Lee 7-2 post season, 2.13 ERA....80 K's

[tedzan]

If statistics are any indication (and, I think they do matter in post-season play), Lee has an amazing 1.44 ERA
with an even more amazing....54 K's/6 BB's ratio.


TED Z

[barrysloate]

I know...playoffs are quirky and if you add a rainout or two, starters can pitch three times. And although Sabathia is scheduled to pitch games one and five, if the Yanks were down 3 games to none, you have to assume Burnett would not pitch game 4. So anything can happen. No question that Lee is a powerhouse...as well as Halladay, Lincecum, and a few others. This post season will be dominated by starting pitching.

[M's_Fan]

I still can't believe some of the infield gaffes that allowed two runs to score in last night's game.

In the first inning, Andrus singles and steals second. Josh Hamilton then hits an infield grounder, and Andrus scores all the way from second base after first baseman Carlos Pena tosses the ball to Price to get the out at first.

HELLO, THERE IS ONE OUT BOYS, YOU GOT TO HOLD THAT RUNNER AT THIRD! Pena should have at least stared Andrus down and pump-faked, the delay might cost the Rays the out at first but you can't allow the run to score! Unbelievable.

In the sixth inning, Price cuts late to first base and than argues with the umpire over the call instead of throwing out Guererro at home. Vlad wasn't (and can't) run that fast and this cost the Rays another run.

Just like the Braves/Giants series, infield fundamentals of defense was the deciding factor in the series.

Does it seem like modern players lack some of the fundamentals to play heads up baseball? I remember Rob Neyer writing an ariticle earlier this year making this argument, that modern players are more talented than ever, but lack the knowledge of some of the fundamentals of the game.

[mybuddyinc]

Yes, Lee's been great, and some of the "possible" match-ups are interesting....

BUT ..... come on ...... This Saturday:

Halladay / Lincecum

I foresee a possible repeat of either the Cadore / Oeschger or Vaughn / Toney "affairs."

[prewarsports]

In response to M's Fans comments, you are absolutely right about the fundamentals and I believe it is for the following reason.

In the old days kids would play actual baseball games all day long and have thousands and thousands of game situation moments logged under their belts before playing at any level of professional baseball.

Now, (especially in Latin American Countries) players are drilled for hours and hours a day on skills that impress scouts and many of them get drafted to play professional baseball with only a few actual innings of real baseball "games" where they can learn situational instincts. Americans also play far fewer games of baseball than they used to as they divide their time between other sports. I am a coach and other than the 15-20 games the kids play in organized ball a year, they dont get together and play baseball with their friends ever so that is it, 15 games a year!

If you do the math, some of these Professional Baseball player in the Minor Leagues have played less than 100 actual games of baseball at any level before becoming professional.

You can teach all the skills in the world but if the instincts are not there, you cant make up for it when the kid is 19 and in the minor leagues. It will never be natural to the player. I am not a Derek Jeter fan but instrincts like he has are a throwback, always in the right place at the right time. Back in the day, most players had that.

I would take a smart .280 hitter over a dumb .320 hitter any day!

Rhys