Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
October 03, 2003
Playoffs Today

Looks like the games will be politcially split today, with lefties pitching in Florida, and the righties taking the mound in Chicago. Kirk Rueter of the Giants faces Mark Redman of the Marlins. These two teams have the best winning percentages in the majors when lefties start against them:

Team Records when Opposition Lefty Starts.
Team                          W     L      Pct.
Florida Marlins              27    11     0.711
San Francisco Giants         26    11     0.703
New York Yankees             26    11     0.703
Seattle Mariners             33    16     0.673
Atlanta Braves               24    13     0.649

No advantage there for either team.

Rueter is a good example of why pitchers need to strike out batters to be successful. His 2.51 K per 9 was the lowest in the NL and 2nd lowest in the majors (140 IP minimum). With all those balls in play, Kirk allowed 170 hits in 147 innings. To balance that, he doesn't walk many (although he walked six more than he struck out), and he doesn't give up many HR. He also induced 24 double plays, 1.47 per 9, 2nd among all pitchers with 140 IP. However, the Marlins only grounded into 114 DP, 26th in the majors.

Looking at the Marlins against Rueter, it's hard to find someone who doesn't hit him well. Mike Lowell is ready to return, but he has only 2 hits in 12 AB against Rueter. Luis Castillo has three triples against Kirk, the most hit by any player against Rueter.

Mark Redman, on the other hand, does strike out batters, and he's allowed 172 hits in 190 2/3 innings. Mark, like Rueter, walks few and allows few HR. Redman has never faced the Giants, but he's seen a few of their hitters on other teams. Grissom is 2 for 3 against him, but otherwise, no one has hit him well. I'd have to say that this afternoon's matchup favors the Marlins.

The big pitching matchup of the night, however, is in Chicago where former Cub and pitcher of the 1990's Greg Maddux faces current Cub and possible pitcher of the aughties Mark Prior. I don't have enough superlatives for this matchup. Prior with his power vs. Maddux with his guile. The old man vs. the youngster, looking for one last moment of glory.

What it really comes down to, however, is will Maddux gut it out in a close game. If he's finished seven innings with only 80 pitches, will be turn it over to the bullpen or try to finish it himself? I'm hoping for the latter, but I suspect the former will happen.

One matchup I'll be watching for is Sosa vs. Maddux. Greg has pretty much had his way with Sammy over the years. Sosa is 13 for 56 against him with three HR and 12 K. Prior hasn't seen the Braves much, so there's not much you can say about matchups. It should be one for the ages.

Enjoy!


Posted by David Pinto at 12:43 PM | League Division Series | TrackBack (0)