First, heckuva game last night. Anybody out there who thinks one game playoffs are not something you want to be in or are somehow bad for baseball really needed to watch that game. We have seen, time and again, that players are able to summon extraordinary performances from somewhere in do-or-die, one-and-done situations. Maybe MLG should consider expanding the number of teams in the postseason and make the entire tournament one game each! Wouldn't necessarily tell you which team was the best, but the current playoff format doesn't do that anyway. It sure would generate some hella good baseball and a hella lot of interest.
The Giants have their own do-or-die game tonight in Pittsburgh. I promised to post about what I think are the keys to the game so here it is. So how many commentators said yesterdays game was all about the starting pitchers? How many said the key to the game for the Royals was sacrifice bunting more? Baseball!
Keys to the Game:
1. Gregor Blanco and Joe Panik- Giants need to jump ahead, even if by just 1 run in the first inning. Edinson Volquez will be throwing 2-seam FB's in the strike zone to get ahead in the count or force early contact. That is right up Blanco and Paniks's alleys, particularly Panik's. Those guys need to get on to set the table for the middle of the order.
2. Shut Down First Inning for Madison Bumgarner- Bummy has been terrific all season, except in the first innings where he has an ERA of 5.73. If he gets through the first inning unscathed or at least no worse than a tie ballgame, I have to like the Giants chances in this one.
3. Quiet the Crowd- Many of the Giants players have experience playing in front of noisy crowds, especially Bumgarner. I think they can handle it, but it would be nice to jump ahead early and quiet them down a bit.
4. Stay Out of the Double Play- Volquez is a GB pitcher who gets a lot of 'em. Buster Posey is the guy for the Giants who tends to hit into a few. Pabs can get doubled up too. If Buster comes up with a runner on first base, he might want to consider going the other way, which is something he does very well. If it's Blanco, Bochy might consider sending him early, but that also risks an extra out.
5. Bottom of the Lineup- Giants have a huge advantage with Bummy and Brandon Crawford at the bottom of the lineup. Best in the NL, maybe all of baseball, although the AL has the DH. Could definitely be the difference in the game.
What are your Keys to the Game?
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dont make mental errors in the field or the base paths
ReplyDeletebacci
As you said, if Bum starts well, patience and Bochy's hand will be the difference.
ReplyDeleteRichard in Winnipeg
My F@#$ Russell Martin keys to the game:
ReplyDelete#1A+. MadBum get out of the first inning. This is THE key to the game. Giants can't get down early, period. MadBum has got to find his stuff in the pen warmup, not on the mound. IF MadBum gets out of the first inning with a low pitch count, expect him to go 8 strong.
#2. No roll. Keep Pirates hitters from getting on a roll, they like those crooked number innings. It's a young vibe/swagger thing. MadBum, hold runners on. Bochy, quick hooks, mound visits, use everyone in the pen if needed. Don't let them get on a roll.
#3. Great defense. The Giants seem poised right now. I expect they will show the momentum stopping D to keep big innings off the board.
#4. Work Volquez. Good mix of hackers (upset the pitcher's rhythm). LHH, and disciplined hitters. Make the lineup long, keeping pressure on Volquez and getting good approaches and solid contact with every AB. Battle, do not let him get in rhythm. Seeing an HR and 2B from Posey. Pence and Pablo please show up.
#5. F#$% Russell Martin! Martin will not beat the Giants.
I listed them more in order of the game, but yeah, I think Bummy getting out of the first inning unscathed has to be #1 in importance and WAY above everything else.
DeleteHope that Madbum doesn't let the Pirates crowd get to him. I remember Johnny Cueto let the Pirates crowd get to him. He even dropped the ball on the mound and the next pitch went for a dinger. Then again Volquez has to prove that he can pitch well in a pressure game too.
ReplyDeleteLG
Failed to reference that Cueto did this in the 2013 wild card game
DeleteLG
Bummy has a lot of big game experience, so I would hope he wouldn't be bothered by the crowd, but I've seen crowd noise make a difference even with veteran pitchers(I'm thinking all the way back to the Twins in the Metrodome).
DeleteBrown made the roster. I'm hoping that is meaningful. They could have taken Dominquez (sp?) knowing he plays both OF/IF (or frankly him in lieu of Duvall) but didn't. I'd like to see Brown get a shot as the 4th/5th OF next year. Nice to see Strickland over Kontos (I think Kontos will be off the roster next year and Cordier probably takes the last roster spot in the Pen, with Timmy getting No. 11 and being the long guy).
ReplyDeleteYeah, I also just saw Brown made the roster and came over to share my surprise. Now they seem to be treating him like a first rounder by seasoning him with the playoff clubhouse atmosphere. Or maybe they plan to pinch run him - which scares the bejeesus out of me. But all the same I'm glad to see him there. Maybe there was some little leg injury that kept him on the bench. Maybe Pence demanded his bongo make the roster.
DeleteTimmy probably sealed his playoff spot with his 2 wins and scoreless outings his last bullpen appearances. I think Timmy, Petit, and some free-agent fodder will battle for spots 4,5, and long man in the setup next year.
"Maybe Pence demanded his bongo make the roster." LOL It's as good an explanation as any.
Delete"Maybe Pence demanded his bongo make the roster." - Awesome
DeleteTravis Ishikawa - avoiding butchery in the outfield and coming up with a big AB or two.
ReplyDeleteWho knew that Sabes omission of adding outfield depth at the trade deadline/s would become the key to the one game playoff?
Brown on the roster as a defensive replacement and designated pinch runner. Hope he enjoys this game because , once the Giants win, he will be removed from the roster for the NLDS games against the Nationals.
ReplyDeleteThis is the biggest stage possible and a chance for him to shine.
DeleteGiants Lineup...thoughts
ReplyDelete1. Gregor Blanco (L) CF
2. Joe Panik (L) 2B
3. Buster Posey (R) C
4. Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
5. Hunter Pence (R) RF
6. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
7. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
8. Travis Ishikawa (L) LF
9. Madison Bumgarner (R) P (18-10, 2.98 ERA)
Like it! Got the LHHers in for Volquez. I think Belt/Craw/Ishi at the backend will make the lineup long and battle Volquez for every AB.
Hunter Pence has a horrid BA against Volquez, to go with his horrid BA in September... BUT... 3 Dongs.
DeleteSandoval going to bring his A game or is he making weak contact?
Six lefties stacked (Sando S/H). Let's see how it goes. I like Panik, hope that Blanco doesn't screw up on the basepaths in front of him.
The lineup will probably look like that but these days I am not sure Pablo should be batting fourth. This has definitely been a sub par year for him. I would almost say switch spots with Belt because Belt has been hitting good as of late. In the playoffs it is all about who is hot. I would modify the lineup with that in mind.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, but who gets hot in the playoffs may not have to do with who has been hot to finish the season.
DeleteI wasn't expecting Moss's 2 homers last night.
I think it's a new season now.
Key question is...Does MadBum hit a dinger to win it?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I really don't like the idea of a team's postseason existence depending on one game after a 162 game season. Here is an idea for a new postseason scheme. I really just thought of it now, so I'm sure there are flaws, but just an idea to toss out there:
ReplyDelete1. Shorten the regular season (back to 154 games?)
2. 3 division winners in both leagues get automatic postseason berth, seeded 1 through 3 based on regular season record
3. Next 3 best records also make postseason, seeded 4 through 6 based on regular season record
4. Head to head records used to determine seeding in cases of ties
5. One game sudden death playoffs used to determine seeding in cases of ties when head to head records are also even
6. Seeds 1 and 2 get first round Bye And get to start at home in each playoff round they play in. Seed 1 gets to start at home if they eventually play Seed 2
7. In the first playoff round, Seed 3 plays Seed 6; Seed 4 plays Seed 5 in a three game playoff
8. Seed 1 plays winner of 4 vs 5; Seed 2 plays winner of 3 vs 6 in the second round, a five game playoff
9. League champion is the winner of the third round, a seven game series. As mentioned earlier, Seed 1 would automatically start at home in any series. If Seed 1 not involved in final series, higher seed starts at home.
10. World Series will be a seven game series. Team with better head to head record in interleague play starts at home. If the two World Series competitors did not meet in interleague play the team that starts at home will be determined by the better record in interleague play, taking strenghth of schedule into play.
Since most teams have a three man postseason pitching rotation, I think the three game series is a better determinant of the better team. The later round playoff, with five and seven game series would in theory be won by the team with the better overall team depth. I don't like the idea of a one game sudden death game, and prefer they be used for tie breaks as detailed above.
no owner will ok a shortened season
Deleteand teams should be penalized for being the wc
the play in stays
bacci
Speaking of which, Bacci…..What happened to one and done?
DeleteGreat game. I would also say that Bacci needs to be reminded that he is a Giants fan and to consider showing more optimism in the team.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what it is, but I am still amazed by what this team does in the post-season. Throw all the stats out because the post-season is a different game. I am sure that few predicted that Renteria, Ross, Burrell, or Huff could have done the things that they did in winning years past.
Also curious about who are your four starters for the playoffs-- two are obvious, the next two probably not as much so.
I would go with Bummy, Peavy, Huddy and Vogey. Put Petit in the bullpen. I know this is not a popular opinion, but I would leave Timmy off the roster.
Delete