September 26, 2008 – 10:24 am
Here’s the probable starters for the last three games of the season with their ERA+ beside them. Remember anything over 100 is above average and vice versa.
Friday 9/26
R. Dempster (CHC) 151 @ J. Suppan (MIL) 86
C. Volstad (FLA) 135 @ M. Pelfrey (NYM) 112
C. Balester (WAS) 89 @ J. Blanton (PHI) 101
Saturday 9/27
T. Lilly (CHC) 108 @ D. Bush (MIL) 102
R. Nolasco (FLA) 118 @ TBA (NYM)
J. Lannan (WAS) 111 @ J. Moyer (PHI) 118
Sunday 9/28
J. Marquis (CHC) 102 @ CC Sabathia (MIL) 245
S. Olsen (FLA) 99 @ J. Santana (NYM) 157
O. Perez (WAS) 101 @ C. Hamels (PHI) 145
First of all, I am going on Sunday which means that I get to see CC Sabathia’s last two regular season starts as a Brewer. That’s pretty exciting. The Phillies are clearly in the best position as they face the weakest lineup and have better pitchers going everyday. The only worry for them might be Cole Hamels who is at a career high in innings right now and hasn’t looked as great lately, but still 2/3 probably gets them in as they’re up a game.
Right behind them has to be the Brewers because juding by the lineup and relievers they used last night the Cubs are on cruise control til the playoffs start. The Cubs might be a better team than the Brewers, but the Cubs without Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Wood, Marmol, Soto and Derosa? I would hope so. Then again, think of what the atmosphere might be like this weekend with all the Cubs fans coming north? Will that have an effect?
I find it interesting the Mets don’t know who is starting on Saturday they went with J. Niese (58) in that slot last time, but recently activated J. Maine (99) off the DL so we’ll see who goes in that slot. I’d imagine it has to be Maine though. The Mets are looking like their going to “collapse” again because of all the contenders playing they are playing the best team, with the best lineup and the best pitching matchups, but really anything could happen at this point. Like a ton of rain.
Should be a fun weekend.
September 25, 2008 – 10:29 pm
That was pretty awesome. Braun killed that ball and he knew it. In the post game he said something like “I don’t think a lack of confidence will ever be a problem for me” and it’s like I always say it’s not cocky if it’s true (although in my case it mostly isn’t). Unfortunately the Mets also won so they just maintained the tie, but it’s wins like that one that motivate a team to play better the next day. I’m the biggest stats guy there is, but the power of streaks is real and with the Cubs B-team coming to play the next three days it’s a good time to be on one.
Brewers. Playoffs. Get your tickets.
September 25, 2008 – 10:33 am
Well it wasn’t how I imagined it happening with Zambrano leading the Cubs to victory, but the Cubs did end up winning and Sabathia got back to being Sabathia after two starts where he looked almost human so the National League Wild Card race is all tied up. I have to admit looking at the scoreboard and seeing 5-1 Mets I didn’t think about the game again until I went into the Fridays and saw things all tied in the ninth. I wish the Mets were in first all year long only to choke it away in the last two weeks of the season every year.
The crowd at the game was completely disappointing. Everything between 126 and 131 was empty with NO ONE sitting in 131 most of the game. We were in the bleachers to start in 201 where there was a total of maybe 20 people in our entire section. We ended up going to sit by friends of ours as there was plenty of room all around them (and there was a terrible smell in our seats from beer spilled the night before, gross). I ended up not getting the free tickets and scored my tickets in 201 for just $9/ea (face was $18) and there were a lot more even cheaper. Hell, there are tickets on stubhub for tonight’s game under five bucks. It just doesn’t make any sense to me. This team hasn’t made the playoffs since 1982. The best pitcher in baseball is pitching. A win and a loss by another team has you tied for the playoff spot. It’s a Wednesday in September. What else do you got to do? Tonight their giving away a free ticket to a 2009 game and if I didn’t spend so much damn money on alcohol last night I might have gone. Actually, I still might. Afterall, what else I got to do?
September 24, 2008 – 9:50 am
Last night’s ending to the Brewers games was pretty awesome. We can talk all day about Pytahgorean records, OPS, FIP and everything else, but it’s endings like that one that make people want to talk about that stuff in the first place. The Mets are probably a better team than the Brewers overall, but in this last week of games it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that the Brewers have the better record (or even the same to force a playoff) than the Mets. Tonight could be step one towards that as the Cubs send Zambrano (ERA+ 120) to the mound to face Oliver Perez (ERA+ 100) while the Brewers send out CC Sabathia (ERA+ 240(!)) against a Pittsburgh pitcher (second worst team ERA in majors). Tonight the stars are clearly in their favor to go into tomorrow with a tie for the Wild card, it’s just a matter of getting it done.