Baseball Thread Rated X -- Mature Audiences Only

One has more high-pressure innings under his belt than the other.

 

Because I think we all remember the vintage October moments Wang has brought into all of our homes as we've seen the Yankees the past few years. Right up there with all of those Jeter moments, I tell you.

 

Still. Boof Bonser.

 

One point in Yankees' rotation's favor: It won't have to face the Yankees' lineup.

 

The prediction here is that hitting, not starting pitching, will determine the Mets' playoff fate. Losing Pedro is a major blow, but the Mets have been winning without him all season. They actually have a losing record in games he's started, if I'm not mistaken. Their formula all year has been for the starters to keep them in the game for 5 or 6 innings, at which point a very strong bullpen takes it the rest of the way. There's no reason this can't work in the playoffs as well, as long as the offense produces the way it did in the first five months and not like September, when it's been anemic. The Mets don't have a stud in their rotation, but their starters rarely get totally lit up, either. If they hit, they'll win.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Bonser and Wang will both be making their first postseason starts, correct? And those starts were the last seven for both of them, and both of them were in the midst of a pennant race, right?

And they both have silly names.

The only difference is that the Yankees don't have Johan Santana, and will have to start Wang in game one against him instead.

 

While the Yankees certainly have the power edge, the Twins lead the American League in batting average at .288 for the team.

You could look it up.

 

Is Brad Penny hurt? Threw 35 pitches in the first inning as the Rockies roughed him up for three runs in the bottom of the first before the Dodgers retook the lead on a James Loney grand slam in the top of the second. Loney is the eighth hitter, and they pinch hit for Penny with one out and nobody on after the grand slam. What gives? Anybody have the game on TV or radio?

 

Billingsley puts two Rockies on with no outs, then retires Atkins, Holliday and Helton in order. I think I like young Chad out of the pen.

 

Here's the problem: the Twins average is weighted against other teams. What is most important is what happens when these teams meet.

Yankees AVG: .380
Twins AVG: .261

Yankees OPS: .887
Twins OPS: .668

Yankees OBP: .375
Twins OBP: .321

Now, is this really even?

 

Wang started in the ALDS against the Angels last year in Game 2.
He went 6.2 innings, allowing four runs - one earned - no walks and a strikeout. He took the loss 5-3.

 

Just out of curoisity, why is most of the discussion on this thread about the Junior Circuit rather than the National League? The AL playoff picture is much more predictable, and at least the NL is exciting.