Four wins is all these teams need to do to raise the ultimate trophy

By Kyle Soppe

Setting: The upstart Cardinals will benefit from home field advantage for the first time in this postseason, thanks in large part to Prince Fielder’s All Star game HR. Both teams have used hot bats to make it here, but the pitching consistency should determine this year’s World Series Champion.

Plot: CJ Wilson will battle Chris Carpenter in game one, under the arches in Saint Louis. Wilson was the Rangers ace over the 162 game season (16-7 2.94), but in the postseason (0-2 8.04), he has been a liability. In his three postseason starts, he has watched six balls leave the park and opposing teams hit .318 against him. Carpenter (2-0 3.71) on the other hand, has excelled when his team has needed him most. The staff ace pitched a gem against Doc Halladay in game five of the first round, but this line up is superior compared to the ones he has shut down thus far. Carpenter is one of the better pitchers in the game that doesn’t have a good nickname, thoughts or ideas?

Neither manager has showed their hand as far as starting pitchers go. The Cardinals rely heavily on a bullpen that may be overworked, as none of their starters last more than 5 innings in the NLCS. Lance Lynn, Arthur Rhodes, and Jason Motte have made a combined 17 postseason appearances (15 innings pitched), and have yet to surrender a run. Texas boosts a similar trio (Scoot Feldman, Mike Gonzalez, and Yoshinori Tateyama) that has a scoreless streak of 10.2 innings this postseason. The Cardinals and Rangers pitching staffs have allowed opponents to hit an identical .241 in the 2011 postseason.

When it comes to swinging the lumber, both teams excel. The redbirds have hit for a much higher average this postseason (.288 compared to the Rangers .259), but the runs per game is just about even. The Rangers have used Nelson Cruz in the 7 hole to make their lineup well balanced from top to bottom, but they are expected to move him up in the order to ensure he gets more at bats. While Cruz has garnered all of the attention, and rightfully so with six homers in six games against the Tigers, the Rangers are as deep a lineup as there is in the MLB. With burner Elvis Andrus at the top of the order, and power 2-7 in the forms of Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Mike Napoli, Mike Young, and Nelson Cruz, Texas plans punish the Cardinal starters. The big bats have struggled with strikeouts from time to time, a strength of the Cardinals bullpen. As for the when Saint Louis takes their cracks, the attack begins with Albert Pujols. The best hitter in the game dictates how pitchers approach this powerful lineup, and has been well protected by a healthy Matt Holliday. Lance Berkman, the NL Comeback Player of the Year, has struggled this postseason (.237 batting average with only two extra base hits) and needs to step it up if these games are as high scoring as projected. The Cardinals, not to be outdone by the Rangers game plan, have had David Freese producing at the bottom third of their lineup. This postseason has seen Freese hit .425 with more than half of his hits going for extra bases. Expect runs early in these games, and the team that is leading after six innings most often to win the series.

Final Word: The Cardinals are 28-12 in their last 40 games. For the regular season, the Cardinals and Rangers struck out fewer than any other team in the league. The Rangers, however, have relied on striking batters out this postseason, with five pitchers registering more K’s than innings pitched. Hard to imagine that the Cardinals K rate increases much, so the Rangers will have to find a new way out of jams.

Soppe Score: Vegas put the Cardinals at long shots (+1800) to win the worlds series, and they figure to be an underdog for the third straight series. Some may argue that the Cards have beaten two teams (Phillies and Brewers) that have more total talent than the Rangers. I’ll ride the hot Cardinals who seem to be on a mission. Attempting to outslug Fat Albert and company is a risky proposition, and I think Dave Duncan and the Cardinals pitching staff can tip toe around Rangers bats. Champagne shower for the visitors: I’ve got the Cardinals in five.

Potential playoff preview in August

By Kyle Soppe

Setting: Two of the better teams in the MLB face off in what could be a preview of the ALCS. This 4-game series could distance the Rangers from the second place Angels, who continue to hang around with their superior pitching. The Red Sox and Rangers are known for their big name bats (Ellsbury, Youkilis, Ortiz, Kinsler, Hamilton, Cruz, etc), and they have produced in a big way. They both rank in the top 3 in the MLB in team batting, runs scored, home runs, extra base hits, and OPS. The runs scored draw attention and grab headlines, but the depth of their pitching rotations will be what makes them tough to beat in October. The Red Sox have 3 pitchers with at least 10 wins (Lester, Lackey, and Beckett) while the Rangers have 5 (Ogando, Wilson, Holland, Lewis, Harrison). These pitchers eat up innings and keep the game close until their explosive offenses can put some runs on the board.

Plot: The newly acquired Erik Bedard (4-8 3.44) will face off with Ranger ace C.J. Wilson (12-5 3.20) in the series opener Monday night. Bedard is winless as a member of the Red Sox, but that isn’t indicative of how he is pitching. In 16 August innings, he has given up 6 earned runs and only 1 homer. Limiting the long ball will be crucial against Texas because the Rangers would rather hit the long ball than produce and manufacture runs. He is opposing Wilson, who has had great success versus the BoSox in his career. With a 1.69 ERA in 37.1 innings, he has stepped up when called on against the AL favorites. Wilson is coming off of 3 consecutive quality starts, all of which he stuck out at least 6 batters. He has embraced being the staff ace, and seems to want the ball in the big game.

Tuesday’s game will feature John Lackey (11-9 6.02) squaring off against Colby Lewis (11-8 3.83). Both pitchers have 11 wins, but as you can see from their ERA’s, have gotten there in very different fashions. Lackey has won 8 games in which he has surrendered at least 3 earned runs. He has given up 17 long balls on the year and gives up 1.55 base runners per inning. Lackey will need to be better in Arlington on Tuesday night, as the Rangers are too talented and too patient to not take advantage of Lackey’s smoke and mirrors routine. Lewis, on the other hand, has produced 2 of his better starts all season in the last 8 days. Over his last 13.1 innings, the righty has only given up 1 earned run in addition to striking out 15 batters. It would be asking a lot for him to limit the powerful Red Sox to that little production, but when pitching against Lackey, a quality start should be good enough for the W.

Wednesday is the first pitching matchup that appears friendly for the Sox on paper, when Josh Beckett (10-5 2.46) battles with Matt Harrison (10-8 3.28). Beckett strikes out 3.5 batters for every 1 he walks, which has been a key when he gets in a jam. When he struggles, it is with the home run. He has given up 8 homers over his past 6 starts, as compared to only 7 prior to that. If he can avoid the big mistake to the middle of this Rangers lineup, Beckett will give his Red Sox a chance to win this one. Harrison is a strong bottom end of the rotation option, as his 3.28 ERA would indicate. He has 16 quality starts, but is most effective when he finds a way to pitch at least 7 innings. Of his 10 wins this year, he has gone 7+ innings in 9 of them. The odds are stacked against him due to the patience of the Red Sox lineup. Ellsbury has been wreaking havoc at the top of the lineup, and Boston’s power hitters are the most selective in the league. Look for Harrison’s pitch count to swell a bit, and even if he is effective, I doubt he can make it past the 6^th.

In the series finale, knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (6-5 4.97) will make his fifth attempt at win number 200 against an outfielder turned reliever turned starter in Alexi Ogando (12-5 3.30). This game would appear to be Texas’s to lose, with Wakefield’s struggles combined with the hitting prowess of the Rangers. The 45-year-old righty has allowed 3 or more earned runs in 13 of his last 14 starts. The knuckleball can dance at times, but these Rangers figure to run into more than their fair share of them. Ogando is a lanky righty who took the league by storm earlier this season. Teams are starting to catch on a bit, but he is still an effective pitcher. WARNING. Left-handed hitters are hitting 50 points higher off Ogando than righties, and the Red Sox offer up primarily lefties in their all-star-laden lineup.

Final Number: 112. That’s the number of stolen bases for the Rangers, as well as the number of stolen bases given up by the Red Sox. For Texas, that is 5^th most in the league, and for Boston, that is the 2^nd most allowed in the league. The ability to turn singles/walks into scoring opportunities will be huge in this series, and provides the Rangers with an advantage.

Soppe Score: The Red Sox are the better team, but not by much. With Lester not being slated to pitch in this series, the Rangers get the slight edge. Their order is just as relentless as that of Boston, and the depth of their pitching works well in this 4-game set. Closer Neftali Feliz seems to have righted the ship in the 9^th inning, and is ready to close out this series. Rangers take 3 of 4 in this one, and take a strangle hold on the AL West.

Joey Votto

By Paul Casey Gotham

Anatomy of a big inning

Monday night saw Washington Nationals’ rookie-phenom, Stephen Strasburg, face his biggest test to date: the NL East leading Atlanta Braves. During and after the game commentators and analysts described Strasbgurg’s performance as being less than his usual outstanding level. They used descriptions such us “laboring,” “not having his best stuff,” etc. Nonetheless after six innings, Atlanta looked ready for a bar mitzvah with nothing but bagels pasted on the board. In the seventh, Atlanta hung a crooked number on the big screen at Turner Field. Atlanta did what good teams do. They manufactured runs. Without ANY extra-base hits Atlanta plated five. The Braves scored five on four base hits and the ball left the infield just four times. Of course, the Nats had a hand in the Braves runs – an error on a double play ball (yeah, you can’t assume a double play – somehow that ruled was contrived with the Nats infield in mind) and a missed cut-off. Still, the Braves used two walks, a bunt single, an infield single, two sacrifice flies and a Chipper Jones sashay to help along the booted ball at short to create the five count.

Value of a coach

Speaking of Strasburg – much has been made of (as it should be) of the rookie’s composure and respect for the game. He showed little, if any, dissatisfaction with his teammates’ struggles the other night. After taken out of the game, Strasburg left the dugout only to get a change of shirt and quickly return to the bench. In an era of self-absorbed stars, Strasburg’s attitude is refreshing. ESPN analyst, Rick Sutcliffe made mention  of Tony Gwynn’s role in Strasburg’s development. The hall-of-famer and ambassador of the game coached Strasburg at San Diego State. It can’t be overlooked that Gwynn showed Strasburg how to respect the game. Yes, Gwynn only spent a few short years with Strasburg and obviously the kid wasa prepared to listen. Give credit to Gwynn for preaching the message. It is great that Gwynn, who must have enough money to retire and do nothing other work in the press box, has chosen to pass on his wisdom to the next generation.

Speaking of Strasburg

How about these young guns? Strasburg, Jimenez and Kershaw (Who did I miss?). These guys make Grienke, Lincecum and Lester look old.  If this keeps up, MLB will have to consider lowering the mound again because we all know “chicks did the long ball.”

What in the name of beezlbub is going on here!

MASH

Trying to imagine the post-game interviews for the Red Sox if Colonel Sherman Potter had to explain the recent rash of Boston injuries.

Beckett goes to the DL: “To me, that’s a tiptoe through the tulips.”

On Pedroia’s broken foot: “Scuttlebug is as common as cooties in your skivvies.”

Bucholz hyperextends his knee running out a ground ball: “What in the name of Marco BLESSED Polo!”

Martinez breaks his thumb: “Jumping Jeosephat!”

Varitek breaks his foot: “Never insult seven men when all you have is a six shooter.”

Of  all these injuries, Martinez has to have Francona scratching his head. A catcher broke his thumb catching a ball. I know signs can get crossed, but the irony is too much here. As for Pedroia, give him two weeks, and he will be back. In the off-season he walks on shards of glass to avoid blisters during the season. Is there any rumor to the truth that he flosses with machine screws?

Who are these guys?

The team, outside of the A.L. East, with the best record in baseball is…drum roll please: the Texas Rangers. Wow! That rolls off the tongue. It really should come as no surprise that these guys can hit the ball. They added Vladdy Guerrero to a lineup with Josh Hamilton and Michael Young. Now, Ian Kinsler has emerged. But the Rangers are fifth in the A.L. in team pitching. Yeah, the Rangers trail Tampa, Minnesota, Seattle and Oakland. Colby Lewis, C.J. Wilson, Darren O’Day and Neftali Feliz – can these guys pitch at this level in September?

Psst…The Reds are in first

Don’t confuse them for the Big Red Machine, but Cincy is in first and it is July. It’s been a while since those words have been uttered. Add Mike Leake to the list of aforementioned young guns. The Reds have quietly assembled a decent lineup: Orlando Cabrera at short, Scott Rolen at third, Joey Votto at first and Brandon Phillips at second. The reds are in this for the long haul. They win at home (27-19). They win on the road 19-16). And Dusty Baker is getting vindication.

Swooning in June

Tampa went 11-14 in the month of June. This after sprinting to a 34-18 record at the end of May.

All-Star Ballots

Who did you vote for?

Got any MLB splinters? Share them here.

Happy 4th!

A bitter, often belligerent past, like that of the Yankees and Red Sox. Short distances causing territorial conflict, like the eight miles separating the campuses of Duke and North Carolina. Desire to claim oneself as the best-of-the-best, like the many championships and Heisman winners between Ohio State and Michigan. And many times it just comes down to tradition, like Harvard and Yale or Army-Navy. We can always expect superhuman efforts from these games and assured overflowing crowds that create an atmosphere unlike any other.

Until you’ve watched a derby game, you truly haven’t given soccer a fair shot. Here’s a rundown of some of the greatest derbies in the UK in hopes you’ll try and catch one this premier league season:

Merseyside Derby
Everton vs. Liverpool
There’s two types of people in Liverpool, England: a blue (Everton) and a red (Liverpool) – two teams separated by ten city blocks and roots deeper than any red oak in California. Many stories surround how these two clubs came to be, but here’s my favorite: Everton was the original club in Liverpool, but after a dispute over the stadium, Everton players bolted across town for a fresh start. Those who stayed began the Liverpool Football Club.

North London Derby
Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur
The only two clubs in the north of London and perhaps the most heated London derby. Tottenham defeated the Gunners last year 5-1 for the first time since the 1999 campaign. Spurs fans hold on to fewer and much older accolades than their neighbors, Arsenal, but this rivalry could be rejuvenated after last year’s result along with Tottenham’s many summer signings.

North-West Derby
Manchester United vs. Liverpool
The two most successful clubs in England have a right to have their own derby, even if they are separated by more land than any of these others.

Tyne-Wear Derby
Newcastle United vs. Sunderland
From the Northwest derby to one in the Northeast of England. Two cities in the same region only ten miles apart. Many factors play into this derby and some run as deep as those supportive of the English Parliament and those supportive of the Royalists.

London Borough Derby
Chelsea vs. Fulham
It’s a treat any time two London clubs get together. This one parallels the small farm school against the big city school. Chelsea is known worldwide and consistently signs top players and enjoys the riches of international success, while Fulham stays humble in a much smaller stadium yet loyal fan base. The allure of this rivalry is the day Fulham can pull of the monstrous upset at their home park, similar to Milan beating Muncie Central, or Hickory defeating South Bend for you movie buffs.

Lancashire Derby (Manchester)
Manchester United vs. Manchester City
The Lancashire region of Northwest England has many derby games, like the battle for Manchester. Usually dominated by United, this derby gained some validity last year when City took the first match against the defending and eventual champions.

Old Firm Derby
Celtic vs. Rangers
This derby comes form the Scottish Premier League and is my personal favorite for several reasons. Both have dominated Scottish soccer, winning a combined 127 Scottish titles. In the late 1880’s when Catholics wanted to play football in Glasgow, the Protestant affiliated Rangers were not very welcoming. So naturally, the Catholics started their own club in 1888 and called it the Celtic Football Club. Nothing more bitter than religious strife! This derby has been a whirlwind, but the mid 1900’s brought change that saw Catholics play for Rangers and Protestants play for Celtic, originally brought about with international signings. The people of Glasgow haven’t forgotten about history and continue to support the club originally allied with their church. My grandfather is a native Protestant of Glasgow and when I asked him if he went to games as a child, he answered with conviction, “I went to Ibrox to support Rangers.” To this day, fans of the away side need police escort to enter the stadium before the game and if you’re an outsider, you’d better know how to dress and not get caught wearing Protestant orange at Celtic Park or green at Ibrox Stadium.