Sunday, October 22, 2006
World Series Matchups
World Series Matchups
The World Series is here and here at Cleveland Leader we predict that the Tigers will take the series in 5 games against the Cardinals. The difference will be the Tigers pitching. The Cardinals were already lacking starting pitching and the relief pitching is probably too tired to make any sort of difference in the series. Here is how the teams stack up:
First Base:
Detroit: Sean Casey is hurting and but the Tigers are counting on him playing the in the series. The Ex Indian hit .245 with 5 Home Runs and 30 RBI since coming over from the National League in a trade.
St Louis: Albert Pujols is the best hitter in the game right now. He hit .331 with 49 HR's and 137 RBI's in an injury shortened year. The Tigers better beware.
Edge: We think St Louis has at the edge at this posisition (suprise suprise)
Second Base:
Detroit: Placido Polanco has been the Tigers go to guy in the Post Season. He his hitting .471 and has onbase percentage over .500 in October. The Second hitter in the lineup hit .295 with 4HR's.
St Louis: We know Ronnie Belliard well around these parts. His bat hasn't been as potent since coming over to the Cardinals in the midseason trade but I think Belliard is the type of player who could shine in the national limelite.
Edge: EVEN
Shortstop:
Detroit: Carlos Guillen is a leader on the Tigers. Hitting .320 on the year with speed and power he is an offensive force for the Tigers. He will be the Tigers 1st Baseman if Casey is unable to go.
St Louis: David Eckstein is struggling through injuries. The shortstop has World Series experience but his aching body probably will force him to be a liability in this years Fall Classic.
Edge: Detroit
Third Base:
Detroit: Braden Inge is a not hitting this post season. He is a low average power hitting sort of offensive player. Defensive he'll make all the plays.
St Louis: Scott Rolen seems to be one of those players that can hit in the regular season and is a wreck in postseason. It has happened time and time again. He also has bad luck getting robbed of a sure homerun in game 7 against the Mets. His defensive is great. Scott Spezio has subbed in for him of late because he has had the hot hand.
Edge: Even
Left Field:
Detroit: Craig Monroe is another low average big power guy. 28 HR's and 92 RBI make him a real threat.
St Louis: This is left field by committee for the Cards. Preston Wilson hit .263 with 17 HR's and 72 RBI along with 12 Stolen Bases this year. So Taguchi and Scott Spezio will sub in.
Edge: Detroit
Center Field:
Detroit: Curtis Granderson has had a huge postseason. The leadoff hitter for the Tigers looks to continue the success he has had in the World Series. Putting the bat on the ball is the main concern as he struck out 174 during the regular season (not what you want from a leadoff man)
St Louis: Jim Edmonds is a throwback kind of player. Old and gritty and will do anything it takes to catch a ball. He battled injuries this year but look for him to come back strong in the spotlite.
Edge: St Louis
Right Field
Detroit: Magglio Ordonez is the Tigers Albert Pujols. A great hitter who seems to come through in clutch situations. He hit .298 with 24 HR's and 104 RBI this year.
St Louis: Juan Encarnacion is a player that the Cards probably they wish they hadn't signed. He is making 15 Million over 3 years and is doing what any average outfielder can do in the league. He hit .278 with 19 HR's this season.
Edge: Detroit
Bench Play: The Tigers and Cardinals both have classic benches. Probably a reason they got as far as they have this year. The Tigers have the luxury of having great defensive and timely bats. The Cardinals have Scott Spezio who plays in the infield and outfield and So Taguchi who will most likely play a role in the Series. Both benches are good so there is no edge going either way.
Pitching
Detroit: This is where the Tigers will take the World Champonship. They have better Starting and Relief pitching the Cardinals. Kenny Rogers, Jeremy Bonderman, and Justin Verlander make up a great threesome. The Relief Pitching is deadly Todd Jones as closer surrounded by fireballer Joel Zumaya. Look for the Tigers to turn the game into 6 or 7 Innings and close it out in the end. The scary thing for the Cards is that Tigers pitching is well rested. Watch out!
St Louis: Jeff Suppan, Anthony Reyes, and Jeff Weaver are average starting pitchers. Chris Carpenter is last years Cy Young Award Winner but he can't win the whole thing by himself. The Bullpen has been solid but there are no standouts.
The World Series is here and here at Cleveland Leader we predict that the Tigers will take the series in 5 games against the Cardinals. The difference will be the Tigers pitching. The Cardinals were already lacking starting pitching and the relief pitching is probably too tired to make any sort of difference in the series. Here is how the teams stack up:
First Base:
Detroit: Sean Casey is hurting and but the Tigers are counting on him playing the in the series. The Ex Indian hit .245 with 5 Home Runs and 30 RBI since coming over from the National League in a trade.
St Louis: Albert Pujols is the best hitter in the game right now. He hit .331 with 49 HR's and 137 RBI's in an injury shortened year. The Tigers better beware.
Edge: We think St Louis has at the edge at this posisition (suprise suprise)
Second Base:
Detroit: Placido Polanco has been the Tigers go to guy in the Post Season. He his hitting .471 and has onbase percentage over .500 in October. The Second hitter in the lineup hit .295 with 4HR's.
St Louis: We know Ronnie Belliard well around these parts. His bat hasn't been as potent since coming over to the Cardinals in the midseason trade but I think Belliard is the type of player who could shine in the national limelite.
Edge: EVEN
Shortstop:
Detroit: Carlos Guillen is a leader on the Tigers. Hitting .320 on the year with speed and power he is an offensive force for the Tigers. He will be the Tigers 1st Baseman if Casey is unable to go.
St Louis: David Eckstein is struggling through injuries. The shortstop has World Series experience but his aching body probably will force him to be a liability in this years Fall Classic.
Edge: Detroit
Third Base:
Detroit: Braden Inge is a not hitting this post season. He is a low average power hitting sort of offensive player. Defensive he'll make all the plays.
St Louis: Scott Rolen seems to be one of those players that can hit in the regular season and is a wreck in postseason. It has happened time and time again. He also has bad luck getting robbed of a sure homerun in game 7 against the Mets. His defensive is great. Scott Spezio has subbed in for him of late because he has had the hot hand.
Edge: Even
Left Field:
Detroit: Craig Monroe is another low average big power guy. 28 HR's and 92 RBI make him a real threat.
St Louis: This is left field by committee for the Cards. Preston Wilson hit .263 with 17 HR's and 72 RBI along with 12 Stolen Bases this year. So Taguchi and Scott Spezio will sub in.
Edge: Detroit
Center Field:
Detroit: Curtis Granderson has had a huge postseason. The leadoff hitter for the Tigers looks to continue the success he has had in the World Series. Putting the bat on the ball is the main concern as he struck out 174 during the regular season (not what you want from a leadoff man)
St Louis: Jim Edmonds is a throwback kind of player. Old and gritty and will do anything it takes to catch a ball. He battled injuries this year but look for him to come back strong in the spotlite.
Edge: St Louis
Right Field
Detroit: Magglio Ordonez is the Tigers Albert Pujols. A great hitter who seems to come through in clutch situations. He hit .298 with 24 HR's and 104 RBI this year.
St Louis: Juan Encarnacion is a player that the Cards probably they wish they hadn't signed. He is making 15 Million over 3 years and is doing what any average outfielder can do in the league. He hit .278 with 19 HR's this season.
Edge: Detroit
Bench Play: The Tigers and Cardinals both have classic benches. Probably a reason they got as far as they have this year. The Tigers have the luxury of having great defensive and timely bats. The Cardinals have Scott Spezio who plays in the infield and outfield and So Taguchi who will most likely play a role in the Series. Both benches are good so there is no edge going either way.
Pitching
Detroit: This is where the Tigers will take the World Champonship. They have better Starting and Relief pitching the Cardinals. Kenny Rogers, Jeremy Bonderman, and Justin Verlander make up a great threesome. The Relief Pitching is deadly Todd Jones as closer surrounded by fireballer Joel Zumaya. Look for the Tigers to turn the game into 6 or 7 Innings and close it out in the end. The scary thing for the Cards is that Tigers pitching is well rested. Watch out!
St Louis: Jeff Suppan, Anthony Reyes, and Jeff Weaver are average starting pitchers. Chris Carpenter is last years Cy Young Award Winner but he can't win the whole thing by himself. The Bullpen has been solid but there are no standouts.
# posted by MurphyStreet @ 11:20 PM 
