Here is his latest post.
Nice debate over who will win the Series.
http://90feettofirst.com/2012/10/24/...ncisco-giants/
WSB: Unfortunately for the Giants, any notion that Verlander’s All-Star game start is a sign of things to come should be disregarded. Verlander labored in his start because he came out trying to throw 105 miles per hour, just like every All-Star game starter tries to do. Though Verlander did not retire any of the three Giants he faced, Melky Cabrera no longer plays for the Giants and Buster Posey walked. Pablo Sandoval mashed a triple, but there is no rhyme or reason to Sandoval’s success against specific pitchers. Pablo is a “see ball–hit ball” type of player. Verlander’s elite right now, and the Giants best hope is to rally against an awful Tigers bullpen.
90 Feet:Couldn’t agree more. Verlander is better when he starts off soft (relatively speaking), and when he finds his groove he lights up the radar gun late in games. He said that he went in to the All-Star Game throwing as hard as he can because that’s what people wanted to see. Verlander is a professional and knows what he needs to do. Specifically Sandoval, a notorious free-swinger, the Panda can expect a steady diet of off-speed pitches.
Tigers ace Justin Verlander toes the rubber for Game 1 tonight
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Both teams play in parks that are considered pitcher-friendly. How will this affect the offense?
90 Feet: The park factor can definitely help the Giants, especially in that home run eating cavern they call AT&T Park. The Tigers aren’t the best at manufacturing runs; they prefer their longball. Cabrera and Fielder aren’t going to be able to swing for McCovey Cove and expect success. The Tigers need Austin Jackson to have a good series, getting on to lead off inning, stealing bases and getting into scoring position. The Giants on the other hand play to their ballpark better than any other team in baseball, and won’t be adversely affected by the heavy bay air.
WSB: In reality, a big ballpark doesn’t affect superstars like Miguel Cabrera or Prince Fielder. If either of those players gets ahold of one, it’s leaving the yard. The Giants pitchers get an edge here because a Delmon Young (18 HRs) or Austin Jackson (16 HRs) might hit crucial fly-outs instead of crucial homeruns. The Giants are not built around their power, so Comerica Park won’t phase them. They won the NLCS behind the bats of Pablo Sandoval and Marco Scutaro, and expect their contribution levels to stay the same in the World Series.
The Giants passed on the opportunity to reinstate All-Star Game MVP Melky Cabrera to the postseason roster after he served his 50 game suspension. Does this hurt them?
Melky Cabrera will not be playing in the World Series. Mistake?
Getty Images
WSB: Credit General Manager Brian Sabean and Manager Bruce Bochy for leaving Melky off the roster. A lot of teams might have looked at Melky’s .346 batting average and given in, but thanks to Buster Posey, the Giants fared just fine without him. Melky has not taken a Major League at-bat in 2 months, and who knows if he’s the same player without PEDs? Furthermore, this is a franchise trying to create a change in the clubhouse culture. The steroid stigma continues to haunt the Giants, and Melky’s suspension embarrassed the organization. Melky forfeited his rights to play in the postseason and the Giants made the right move.
P.S. –Don’t mention Guillermo Mota
90 Feet: I agree that Melky may not be game ready but is your alternative really that much better? To say that Gregor Blanco has been bad this postseason is an understatement- a .182 batting average? Really? Melky has not earned the right to play in the World Series, as you mentioned. He may even be dependent on PEDs to be even an adequate Major League hitter. But I can’t buy the argument that your team is better with Blanco than Cabrera. Cabrera was the first-half MVP of the National League! The Tigers have the superior offense, and if I’m the Giants I try to counter that in any way possible. Even if it means swallowing my pride and calling a cheater. He won’t be what he was, but half of Melky is better than all of Blanco.
P.S. –If you get to say that, then don’t mention Jose Valverde. In any context. Ever.
The Giants don’t have a true Designated Hitter and the Tigers’ pitchers don’t hit. How will this affect the Series?
90 Feet: American League teams playing in National League parks and vice-versa plays a huge role. Verlander for example, has 35 plate appearances in his career (including the 2006 World Series) and has a hit in a grand total of 0 of them. He does however, have 9 sacrifice bunts. Nobody expects the Tigers’ pitchers to hit, but it is imperative that they bunt the ball, and bunt it well. It won’t be an issue for the Giants’ staff, who has done it all year. When the series flips to Comerica, the Tigers return Delmon Young to his DH spot and put a better defender in left field, whether that be Berry or Dirks. The Giants do not have a typical DH, and as most NL teams do, pick the best player off their bench and insert him toward the bottom. Playing DH is not easy; it is tough to ask a baseball player to only hit. Aubrey Huff has experience in that role, and I personally think he is their best option, especially against Detroit’s right-handed exclusive pitching staff.
WSB: Oh Justin, Giants fans would be sick to their stomach to see Aubrey Huff in the DH role. Bruce Bochy uses Huff as a pinch-hitter early in the game, simply to ensure that Bochy isn’t faced with the decision of playing Huff late in the game. The Giants should use Hector Sanchez in the DH spot. Sanchez has ridiculous splits when he is ahead in the count, but he is most impressive when hitting the first pitch (.452 average in 31 ABs). If Sanchez struggles, insert Joaquin Arias into the lineup at third base and use Sandoval as the designated hitter. Many National League teams are ill-equipped to deal with the Designated Hitter, but I think the Giants can use it to their advantage and put a great defense on the field as well.
Kerry Crowley (left), author of West Side Bias and Justin Emerson (right), author of 90 Feet To First
And finally, who wins and in how many games?
WSB: Giants in 7. We’re in for a great series regardless of who wins, but I find it impossible to pick against the Giants. This team is 6-0 when facing elimination and they cannot be counted out until a Tigers pitcher closes out the series. The Tigers have great starting pitching, but so do the Giants. The Tigers have a solid offense, and the Giants do too. The difference is the bullpens. Bruce Bochy can play match-ups from the 5th inning on and as great as Jim Leyland is, he doesn’t have this luxury. That’s why the Giants win their second World Series in three years.
90 Feet: Game 4 will be the swing game. Unless one of the teams is up 3-0, the winner of Game 4 wins it all. The Series has all the makings of a classic, and it’ll need to be to live up to last year’s. Austin Jackson is the ignitor to the offense, and Phil Coke has become the de-facto closer. Both will need to have big series in order for the Tigers to win. Jim Leyland works a bench better than anyone I’ve seen, and Berry, Kelly, Dirks, Laird, Worth, everyone will need to be ready. Verlander wins the MVP, winning Game 1, Game 5, and out of the bullpen in Game 7, Tigers in 7.