10-25-2001, 01:33 AM
Not that these are deciding factors for the series, but just to expose two "myths" I have been hearing:
1. The other DBacks starters are toast.
First off contrary to what is often thought, Brian Anderson will get a start, not Albie Lopez. Anderson pitched well in relief during the playoffs and has been in the playoffs before with Cleveland. This is an important point because one has to look at four games for the Yankees. They are 7-3 overall, but only 2-2 in games started by a lefty. Mulder and Moyer shut them down in the two wins, keeping them off balance and ineffective even with men on base. The two wins were a 1-0 win over Zito when they got all of 2 hits and the clincher against Mulder where the A's defense let him down almost as much as the pitching. Most scouts have said that the best way to beat the Yanks is to send out a lefty and with Anderson the DBacks might have a chance at a "bonus" win.
2. The pens will make a huge difference in this series.
I don't really think its that big of an issue. Yes there is no doubt the Yanks pen is superior, but I don't buy that this will be a deciding factor in the series. I don't need to speak about the Yanks pen because it speaks for itself, but the DBacks pen hasn't been the disaster that they are made out to be at least not so far in the playoffs. If you throw out their one bad game (game 2 NLCS - they started out down 3-1), they have an ERA of 2.12, not exactly a disaster. Further they have 3 saves and haven't lost any games for the team and their stellar performance in game 4 of the NLCS (6 inn, 2 runs) was the key game of the series where they flat outpitched a Braves pen that was supposed to be superior as well. I think this means at most one game will be decided by the pen, otherwise the team that gives the pen the ball with the lead will finish the game with the lead. Not exactly the type of edge that the pundits are making this out to be and that one game that is changed while the pens are being used could very well be a DBacks win.
1. The other DBacks starters are toast.
First off contrary to what is often thought, Brian Anderson will get a start, not Albie Lopez. Anderson pitched well in relief during the playoffs and has been in the playoffs before with Cleveland. This is an important point because one has to look at four games for the Yankees. They are 7-3 overall, but only 2-2 in games started by a lefty. Mulder and Moyer shut them down in the two wins, keeping them off balance and ineffective even with men on base. The two wins were a 1-0 win over Zito when they got all of 2 hits and the clincher against Mulder where the A's defense let him down almost as much as the pitching. Most scouts have said that the best way to beat the Yanks is to send out a lefty and with Anderson the DBacks might have a chance at a "bonus" win.
2. The pens will make a huge difference in this series.
I don't really think its that big of an issue. Yes there is no doubt the Yanks pen is superior, but I don't buy that this will be a deciding factor in the series. I don't need to speak about the Yanks pen because it speaks for itself, but the DBacks pen hasn't been the disaster that they are made out to be at least not so far in the playoffs. If you throw out their one bad game (game 2 NLCS - they started out down 3-1), they have an ERA of 2.12, not exactly a disaster. Further they have 3 saves and haven't lost any games for the team and their stellar performance in game 4 of the NLCS (6 inn, 2 runs) was the key game of the series where they flat outpitched a Braves pen that was supposed to be superior as well. I think this means at most one game will be decided by the pen, otherwise the team that gives the pen the ball with the lead will finish the game with the lead. Not exactly the type of edge that the pundits are making this out to be and that one game that is changed while the pens are being used could very well be a DBacks win.