***Official*** Houston-Atlanta NLDS blah blah blah

[Aceshigh7]

I see the Stro's taking this series in 4.

I see alot of Braves fans talking about how we don't have Kent, Beltran, or Bagwell (other than a pinch hitting role.)

But you have to remember that we now have Pettite, who is having what has probably been his best year. Plus the emergence of Morgan Ensberg, who was injured last season and was pretty much a non-factor.

Braves are going down!

[MEbenhoe]

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But you have to remember that we now have Pettite, who is having what has probably been his best year.

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You dont remember him much from his days on the Yankees do you? Losing Pettite was worse for the Yankees than losing Clemens. Pettite = clutch

[brettbrettr]

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ou dont remember him much from his days on the Yankees do you? Losing Pettite was worse for the Yankees than losing Clemens. Pettite = clutch

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They're both clutch. Sigh.

[MEbenhoe]

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ou dont remember him much from his days on the Yankees do you? Losing Pettite was worse for the Yankees than losing Clemens. Pettite = clutch

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They're both clutch. Sigh.

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I never said Clemens wasnt.

[brettbrettr]

My bad....Yeah, with those pitchers, Houston has a good a chance as anyone...

Now is the time of the year I really, really miss Clemens and Pettite and Wells. Wells is also a great playoff pitcher.

[Benholio]

One potential problem for the Astros starting pitchers might be stamina. They have already had 2 intense innings of fellatio from the ESPN announcers.

[MCS]

I don't understand why every commentator on Earth is all over the Astros. I mean, a bunch of people on ESPN.com picked them to win the World Series, which seems insane to me.

I guess they're just the trendy pick.

GO BRAVES.

[kschellenger]

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I don't understand why every commentator on Earth is all over the Astros. I mean, a bunch of people on ESPN.com picked them to win the World Series, which seems insane to me.

I guess they're just the trendy pick.

GO BRAVES.

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I think it's because they have three excellent pitchers and a real good bullpen. Plus the ability to manufacture run(s). And Garner is underrated as a manager. All this makes them perfectly designed for a best of (5 or) 7 series.

[MCS]

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I think it's because they have three excellent pitchers and a real good bullpen.

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Alright, I buy that.

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Plus the ability to manufacture run(s). And Garner is underrated as a manager.

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But I don't buy either of those. I think "manufacturing runs" is an overrated skill, and while Garner may be a good manager, I don't think coaching in baseball matters as much as in other sports.

Mostly I was just saying that while I won't be surprised if the Astros win the series, I can't believe that >90% of the "experts" are picking them. The line was about even.

And I am shocked how many people think they'll beat the Cardinals/Yankees/Red Sox as well. If they're so great, why didn't they win more games?

[kschellenger]

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Plus the ability to manufacture run(s). And Garner is underrated as a manager.

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But I don't buy either of those. I think "manufacturing runs" is an overrated skill, and while Garner may be a good manager, I don't think coaching in baseball matters as much as in other sports.


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I agree that managing over the course of a season in MLB isn't nearly as important as in the NFL. I do think it is significant in the post season. Possibly more so than in the NBA or NHL.

Mfg. runs has to be an important skill. Houston's anemic offense is in the post season. They're not there because they're winning (-1)-0. They're winning 2-1. And they've done so with bunts, sac flies etc. It's not important to the Yanks or Sox or Braves but it is important to teams that rely on pitching.