Thursday, October 19, 2006
This ain't exactly Lolich vs. Gibson
Which injury-riddled NL squad will win the right to be trounced by Detroit? That question will be answered tonight in New York, and while all seventh games have a special air about them, this one figures to be a war of attrition.
Expect visits to the bullpen early and often. This is all that you need to know about the pitching matchup: The team that DOESN'T have Jeff Suppan starting probably wishes that they did. That thought has to make Blue Jay fans just a little wistful, as both the Mets and Cardinals would probably have killed for a healthy Gustavo Chacin in this series.
The Jays would have matched up well against either of these teams with a front three of Halladay, Burnett and Lilly. Add in the beaten-up lineups on both sides, what with Cliff Floyd, Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and David Eckstein and it's enough to apply for a transfer to the NL.
As a fan with no deep rooting interest in either team, you hope that Game Seven isn't a blowout. Each one is, after all, a chance for the next great moment in baseball history. Look for New York to win, as St. Louis will regret not wrapping up the series in Game six with their ace on the mound. One key hit for Carlos Delgado and he'll be an easy choice for NLCS MVP. Not bad for a guy that Toronto writers chided for a lack of competitive spirit.
Oh, and a question for Tony LaRussa and his anemic offense: do you think So Taguchi has earned a start yet? Maybe drop the guy with the 2.750 slugging percentage into the lineup for a game. Just a thought. ¶ posted by Chris C. at 5:09 PM
Expect visits to the bullpen early and often. This is all that you need to know about the pitching matchup: The team that DOESN'T have Jeff Suppan starting probably wishes that they did. That thought has to make Blue Jay fans just a little wistful, as both the Mets and Cardinals would probably have killed for a healthy Gustavo Chacin in this series.
The Jays would have matched up well against either of these teams with a front three of Halladay, Burnett and Lilly. Add in the beaten-up lineups on both sides, what with Cliff Floyd, Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and David Eckstein and it's enough to apply for a transfer to the NL.
As a fan with no deep rooting interest in either team, you hope that Game Seven isn't a blowout. Each one is, after all, a chance for the next great moment in baseball history. Look for New York to win, as St. Louis will regret not wrapping up the series in Game six with their ace on the mound. One key hit for Carlos Delgado and he'll be an easy choice for NLCS MVP. Not bad for a guy that Toronto writers chided for a lack of competitive spirit.
Oh, and a question for Tony LaRussa and his anemic offense: do you think So Taguchi has earned a start yet? Maybe drop the guy with the 2.750 slugging percentage into the lineup for a game. Just a thought. ¶ posted by Chris C. at 5:09 PM
