National League Championship Series Preview :: Giants & Phillies

Series At A Glance:

Sunday Oct. 17 :: Game Two: Giants @ Phillies (5:00 First Pitch/FOX) :: Jonathan Sanchez – Roy Oswalt

Tuesday Oct. 19 :: Game Three: Phillies @ Giants (12:57 First Pitch/FOX) :: Matt Cain – Cole Hamels

Wednesday Oct. 20 :: Game Four: Phillies @ Giants (4:57 First Pitch/FOX) :: Madison Bumgarner – Joe Blanton

*Thursday Oct. 21 :: Game Five: Phillies @ Giants (4:57 First Pitch/FOX) :: Tim Lincecum – Roy Halladay

*Saturday Oct. 23 :: Game Six: Giants @ Phillies (12:57 First Pitch/TBS) :: Jonathan Sanchez – Roy Oswalt

*Sunday Oct. 24 :: Game Seven: Giants @ Phillies (4:57 First Pitch/TBS) :: Matt Cain – Cole Hamels

* = If necessary (duh)

Game To Watch:

Well I do apologize for the late series preview because the game to watch would have hands down been tonight’s game. It was a great game but not really because of the pitching. Beyond tonight, I mean the pitching match ups are so great for every series you can’t go wrong with any of the games, so it’d be wrong to pick just one game. I have to say I am most intrigued by Bochy’s choice to move up Sanchez a spot in the rotation so I want to see how this turns out over the series, especially with a big Game 2 tomorrow. Heck, if you win tomorrow you go into three games at home looking to take two of three. First things first, though. As for Cain and Hamels this may be the most competitive starts for the two teams. In my opinion these pitchers are dead even and it’s a coin flip for who wins. I give the edge to Cain just because of experience.

Player(s) To Watch:

Well I was hoping to write tis section about Andres Torres but after tonight and I can’t do that. I do hope for the sake of the team he really lights up over these next few games because a hot lead off hitter more often then not will result in wins. Anyways, instead of being captain obvious and going with Cody Ross, lets all watch Pat the Bat. Seems nice, doesn’t it? The guy spent most of his career in Philly. He was their first overall pick in the draft several years ago and he won a World Series with them in ’08, heck he led off the parade in the very front float by himself, he was Mr. Philly. Burrell had a huge double earlier to drive in Posey from first. So yes, WELCOME BACK PAT!

Notes:

Well ut has been said numerous times and I’m buying right into it, this series may feature the best match ups, the most talent, ever. Every single night in this series is great battle after great battle which leads people to believe because the pitching is so equal it will be battle of the offenses. Tonight, it was battle of the offenses and if the game had gone an inning longer maybe the Phillies win but through 9 innings the Giants pitchers had their number. Speaking of the pitchers, I have a few notes that I hope end up working out this series. For one, don’t bring in Sergio Romo in tight spots. Struggling greatly in his two previous outings, it is essential maybe he comes in in the 7th inning of a 4-5 run game. If he comes in with the game on the line we can all watch the wheels all off together. Second, and most important for me is bring Wilson in at the right time. This is a very broad statement, but bringing Wilson in to get the 6 out save in Game 2 of the NLDS was absolutely the wrong time. Tonight, the 5 out save for the most part was executed spot on. To end the preview I would like to personally thank every major national baseball writer in the universe for not picking the Giants to win the series. You’d REALLY be hard pressed to find ANYONE on the internet who flat out said the Giants will win this NLCS. It’s us against the world Giants fans, and right now we have the advantage.

National League Division Series Preview :: Giants & Braves

Series At A Glance:

Thursday Oct. 7 :: Game One: Braves @ Giants (6:30 First Pitch/TBS) :: Tim Lincecum – Derek Lowe

Friday Oct. 8 :: Game Two: Braves @ Giants (6:30 First Pitch/TBS) :: Matt Cain – Tommy Hanson

Sunday Oct. 10 :: Game Three: Giants @ Braves (1:30 First Pitch/TBS) :: Jonathan Sanchez – Tim Hudson

*Monday Oct. 11 :: Game Four: Giants @ Braves (5:30 First Pitch/TBS) :: TBA (Bumgarner/Lincecum) – TBA (Derek Lowe)

*Wednesday Oct. 13 :: Game Five: Braves @ Braves (6:30 First Pitch/TBS) :: TBA (Matt Cain) – TBA (Tim Hudson/Tommy Hanson)

* = If necessary (duh)

Game To Watch:

Hey, they made it! It’s the freakin’ playoffs! I will personally be attending all possible home games this series for the Giants so I will be there Thursday and Friday. Most intriguing to me are the game one and three match ups. Game one, because game one to any playoff series is HUGE. Game three because of the pitchers, if Sanchez could win that game for the Giants, it’d be the statement game of his career to say the least. I’ll stick with game one, Lincecum and Lowe because I think it has a chance to be an extremely close and competitive game. The big thing for the Giants is I STRONGLY advise they come out on top with the victory. In any best of five series, you win game one and I’ll guarantee you win the series most of the time. Lincecum has faced the Braves twice this year and he is 1-1, giving up 5 runs in 13.1 innings. He for the most part has held the Braves lineup in check, but I’m sure this lineup will be different from others that he’s faced. Lowe on the other hand, has given up 3 earned runs to the Giants in 11.1 innings, he is 1-1 against them. So as I said before, it’s almost dead even.

Player(s) To Watch:

I’m targeting three guys for this series: Buster Posey, Aubrey Huff, Freddy Sanchez. The first guy has a good chance at NL Rookie of the Year and had a slumping September. The playoffs are a different sport almost, and wouldn’t it be fitting for him to put something magical together this postseason? The other two fella’s have never been to the postseason in 20 combined major league seasons between them. I think at least one of them will turn on the jets and carry this team on their back. Huff has more potential for it considering his power, but hey you can’t hit the 3-run home run without your 1 and 2 hitters on base. Keep tabs on both bullpens for this series, as along with the Giants stellar bullpen the Braves sport one of the best in the league too.

Notes:

Predictions throughout the online sports world have the Giants beating the Braves. The AccuScore widget thing on ESPN that runs through the series 10,000 times has the Giants as an ~65% chance of winning the series. I, however will make no such predictions. Both of these clubs have had post season droughts coming into this postseason, the Braves being three years (very small drought) and the Giants is seven years. The Giants however come into this postseason a completely different style of team then in 2003. With a valiant pitching force in these playoffs and a balance through the order verse the formidable rotation and mediocre bull pen  as well as the offensive powerhouse centered around a guy who wore the number 25. I’m excited, you should be excited, the Bay Area should be excited. Make no doubt about it, the Giants are the best in the NL West, probably second best in the National League behind the Phillies, who I wouldn’t be shocked to win the world series with their stunning 1-2-3 punch they have that could possibly pitch every postseason game the Phillies play as scary as that sounds.

25 Man Roster Prediction: Short and Sweet: Drop Zito for DS pick him back up for CS if we make it. Drop Renteria for all series. Drop Velez for all series. Keep Rowand throughout. If one bullpen guy has to go, adios Mr. Runzler.

Series Preview :: Giants & Diamondbacks :: 9/28 – 9/30

Series At a Glance:

September 28 (7:15 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Jonathan Sanchez (11-9) – Rodrigo Lopez (7-14)

September 29 (7:15 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Tim Lincecum (15-10) - Ian Kennedy (9-9)

September 30 (12:45 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Madison Bumgarner (6-6)   – Barry Enright (6-6)

Giants announce they have switched Timmy and MadBum’s spot in rotation to allow Lincecum to pitch a playoff tiebreaker or possibly even pitch on three days rest.

Game To Watch:

All of them because it is a possibility that the Giants could clinch the National League West if the Giants sweep and the Padres get swept. While it may be a longshot the Giants must take advantage of the Diamondbacks while the Cubs hope to do the same to the Padres. Right now we stand a game on top of the NL West and we’re one game up on the Braves in the loss column.

Player To Watch:

I’m feeling some Poser vibes from this series coming up. Just a hunch. But if you couldn’t tell I’m almost giddy with excitement about every game and I have to waste the day away at school thinking about the Giants.

Notes:

It’s not hard to find those complicated tie breaker scenarios where if three teams finish with the same record blah, blah, blah. I touched on it in the first section but I realized it this morning that while it may be a long shot the Giants could clinch the NL West  at the conclusion of the series and if the Braves go on the losing end as well we could be guaranteed a playoff spot sooner. Take it for what it’s worth but ESPN’s Hunt for October standings calculate the Giants an 83.5% chance of making the postseason, the best percentage left in the NL. Get ready because the final six games are staring you right in the face.

Series Preview :: Giants & Cubs :: 9/21 – 9/23

Series At a Glance:

September 16 (5:05 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Matt Cain (12-10) – Carlos Zambrano (9-6)

September 17 (5:05 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Jonathan Sanchez (11-8) – Randy Wells (7-13)

September 18 (4:05 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Madison Bumgarner (5-6) – Ryan Dempster (14-10)

Game To Watch:

At this point with 12 games left in the season you can’t single out any one game thats more important then the other. Pitching matchup wise, I’m intrigued by the opener tomorrow and the finale, more so the finale with Bumgarner looking to rebound and the offense facing a quality pitcher. The opener will be no easy task, in Zambrano’s last seven starts he is 6-0 with a 1.37 ERA, sheesh. As Baggerly said in his notebook today, lets hope the wind at Wrigley is blowing out.

Player To Watch:

Cody Ross/Mike Fontenot/Edgar Renteria/Whoever the hell Bochy wants to put in the leadoff spot. Aside from a nice 4/5 night from Renteria several games ago the leadoff spot has been dead for quite some time, with the last major hit I can remember being Torres leadoff triple at the start of the last San Diego series. Obviously Cody Ross hit a leadoff home run taken back by Ryan Braun but anyway you look at it the leadoff spot has been dead. A Darren Ford spot start? If it’s not tomorrow just to give it a go with 12 games left, then it’s never going to happen.

Notes:

On an extremely happy note today, as I noted in my Twitter yesterday I won the lottery for the Giants postseason ticket opportunity. Thus I was granted early access to buy playoff tickets and I have tickets to all possible home games for the NLDS! But I really don’t want to jump the gun hear, nor should the Giants you must take it from this point on as a game-by-game stand point. No coulda, shoulda, woulda at this point. It happened, there’s no way around it. No saying “well if Jason Werth’s ball had blown 3 inches more and landed foul the Giants would have an extra win and make the postseason.” Can’t look back on previous games you can only look at the days game and where the Giants are, and right now they sit atop the National League West,

Series Preview :: Giants & Dodgers :: 9/14 – 9/16

Series At A Glance:

September 14 (7:15 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Barry Zito (8-12) – Clayton Kershaw (11-10)

[GTW] September 15 (7:15 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Matt Cain (11-10) – Chad Billingsley (11-9)

September 16 (7:15 First PItch/NBC Bay Area) :: Jonathan Sanchez (10-9) – Ted Lilly  (5-2)

Game To Watch:

Watch them all. All of ‘em. For goodness sake their in the middle of the pennant race and you’re relying on me to tell you which one game to watch? If you must choose I’m convinced the middle games of this 3 game series will be quite fascinating. Cain has arguably been the most effective starter all year for the Giants against arguably the Dodgers most effective starter. It seems every series recently with the Dodgers Billingsley one or another found his way into one of the games so the Giants have definitely seen his stuff recently.

Player to Watch:

Aaron Rowand/Cody Ross/Whoever fills inf or Torres. No matter how much of an offensive struggle Andres has gone through recently his loss will be felt at some point unless one of his teammates can pick him up while he’s down and out. I mean wouldn’t that just be the icing on the cake for one of these guys to pick up this team and get hot in the leadoff spot? Sounds good to me.

Notes:

As I’m writing this, the Giants stand .5 game out in the National League West, 1.5 games out of the Wild Card leading Braves. I’ve got to say every game for the Giants seems favorable with the way the pitching has been lately. This is what this team is built off and it when it goes, it sure as hell goes. Can it keep going through the regular season and beyond? They seem well on their way to doing so, being lead by thee ace of the staff, Mr. Lincecum. BEAT LA!

Series Preview :: Giants & Padres :: 9/9 – 9/12

Series At A Glance:

[GTW] September 9 (7:05 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Matt Cain (10-10) – Jon Garland (10-13)

[GTW] September 10 (7:05 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area/MLB Network) :: Jonathan Sanchez (10-8) – Clayton Richard (12-6)

[GTW] September 11 (1:05 First Pitch/FOX) :: Madison Bumgarner (5-4) – Tim Stauffer (3-3)

[GTW] September 12 (1:05 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Tim Lincecum (13-9) – Matt Latos (Nobody-Cares)

Game To Watch:

ALL OF THEM. No questions asked. Biggest series of the year so far. Two of the games are on national TV for those outside of the Giants broadcasting borders.

Player To Watch:

Aubrey Huff/Buster Posey/Pablo Sandoval/Patt Burrell/Jose Guilen/Tim Lincecum/Madison Bumgarner/Jonathan Sanchez/Matt Cain

Got It?

Notes:

I’m probably not the only bummed out about tonights game. Despite F.P. Santangelo’s “this game doesn’t matter” attitude I think it meant the world just like every game from now on does. I said it a few days ago, every loss in September will feel like a punch in the stomach, and it did. Going into the Padres series 2 GB in the West & Wild Card isn’t ideal but it’s not bad. We win the series, we come out of it with a tie atop the NL West.22 Games left this season, the just need to keep their eye on the prize, and these next four days they’ll be staring right at the prize, first place.

LETS GO GIANTS!

Series Preview :: Giants & Diamondbacks :: 9/6 – 9/8

Series At a Glance:

September 6 (1:10 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Madison Bumgarner (5-4) – Ian Kennedy (9-9)

[GTW] September 7 (6:40 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Tim Lincecum (12-9) – Barry Enright (6-2)

September 8 (6:40 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Barry Zito (8-11) – Daniel Hudson (4-1)

Game To Watch:

I’m actually extremely excited to see this start for Lincecum. This may be the start that he can send everyone a message, I’m back. If he does do well in his start you really have to start liking the Giants in the NL West if you were just optimistic about their chances. At this point might I add, every game is a must watch. Every game is huge, and this is the most fun I’ve had watching baseball I’ve had probably ever.

Player To Watch:

This is kind of a half answer from me, but I support it too. I’m looking for Torres to rebound from a rough home stand at the plate for Andres despite his big 8th inning home run. I’m going to say this every series for the rest of the year, but I say watch the all. All of ‘em, all 35ish players that make up this Giants roster right now. It’s meaningful September baseball, it’ll be a wild ride, have no doubt about it.

Thats what I said before this last Dodgers series and I’m holding to it.

Prediction: [Notes Section]

As I said last week, no more predictions from me for the rest of the year. I’m sure if you watched last nights game for 10 minutes you heard the stat “The Padres are tied for the second longest losing streak for any first place team, with the 1932 Pirates.” You know why they have that record? Because no team loses that many games and stays in first place! But thats irrelevant at this point, you have take every game dad by day. It’s also irrelevant because we have the Rally Thong! Thats right, screw you Rally Monkey.

Series Preview :: Giants & Dodgers :: 9/3 – 9/5

Series At a Glance:

September 3 (7:10 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Barry Zito (8-10) – Chad Billingsley (10-8)

[GTW] September 4 (7:10 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Matt Cain (10-10) – Ted Lilly (5-1)

September 5 (5:05 First Pitch/ESPN) :: Jonathan Sanchez (9-8) – Hiroki Kuroda (10-11)

Game To Watch:

Very simple, good reason to watch the middle of the three games in this series, and it’s because it’s one hot pitcher verse another one. Lilly has been almost perfect with the Dodgers and Cain has really been nice his past few starts. I’m also just curious in general to see if the staff can really keep it up in the stretch drive, and this will be the first test.

Player To Watch:

This is kind of a half answer from me, but I support it too. I’m looking for Torres to rebound from a rough home stand at the plate for Andres despite his big 8th inning home run. I’m going to say this every series for the rest of the year, but I say watch the all. All of ‘em, all 35ish players that make up this Giants roster right now. It’s meaningful September baseball, it’ll be a wild ride, have no doubt about it.

Prediction:

I’m as superstitious of a baseball fan as you’ll find. I should just change the title of this section because I’m not going to predict what will happen anymore because most of the time I’ll look bad doing it. So for the time being it’ll be my random notes section. I’ve just got to say, in my entire Giants fan career I’ve never been so excited to come home from school and wait for the Giants to come on. I spent probably way too much time at school thinking about the Giants because right now it’s whats occupying most of my life. (not sure if thats a good thing or bad thing) All I’m saying right here is: Get EXCITED for this club, really, get pumped up for the remaining games because it will be wild.

Series Preview :: Giants & Rockies :: 8/30-9/1

Series At a Glance:

August 30 (7:15 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Jonathan Sanchez (9-8) – Jorge De La Rosa (5-4)

August 31 (7:15 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Madison Bumgarner (5-4) – Esmil Rogers (2-2)

September 1 (7:15 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Tim Lincecum (11-9) – Ubaldo Jiminez (17-5)

Game To Watch:

I really, honestly can’t choose one game that I would really consider worthy of “must watch” status. I’m not going to label the finale the game to watch because the way Linecum’s been going it would be anything but a game to watch. All I’ll say about it is I hope, I really, really hope he can get the Giants started off on the right foot in September, because they need him.

Player To Watch:

Sandoval. Pablo’s been really hot of late, hopefully he can help carry the Giants past the Rockies this week, because like I said, this series is huge. Giants need to win this series to go into their 10 game road trip against the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Padres in that order, which is also, a huge road trip.

Prediction:

N/A

Other Fun Cool Stuff:

Go watch these videos, bring back the good playoff memories and maybe it’ll rub off on the Giants.

Giants Win 1989 NLCS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43FWL_yqETQ

Brian Johnson Home Run Game vs. Dodgers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYC3rQ2wzGI

Giants Win 2002 NLCS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaJLccqgMJ8

Series Preview :: Giants & Diamondbacks :: 8/27-8/29

Series At a Glance:

[GTW] August 27 (7:15 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Tim Lincecum (11-8) – Barry Enright (4-2)

August 28 (6:05 First Pitch/NBC Bay Area) :: Barry Zito(8-9) – Daniel Hudson (3-1)

August 29 (1:05 First Pitch/CSN Bay Area) :: Matt Cain (10-10) – TBA

Game To Watch:

Sooo…ever hear of a back to back Cy Young Award winner lose 4 straight decisions and not get a registered Win in almost a month? Well I haven’t so maybe if you have let me know. On the other hand we have this guy Tim Lincecum, Big Time TimmyJim, The Franchise, The Freak, however you may know him by. He needs to get back on track to keep this Giants train rolling. I’d say the Giants are still riding high on momentum from this Reds series and Lincecum has a relatively “easier” start tomorrow then he has in his past four starts where he’s faced the Cardinals, Padres, Cubs, and Braves. I think just like I said in the first game of the Reds series:

I truly believe that today, Monday August 23rd, is where this club turned the corner and never looked back.

Lincecum is right on with that and he will turn the corner tomorrow and fit right back into this team as their ace and help carry them to October 6th Baseball.

Player To Watch:

Funny story. Last series I said:

Well considering no one on the Giants roster has been fun to watch lately, lets just watch them all. Lets watch them all smash and bash home runs out of AT&T and get hit after hit after hit. Right?

My how things have changed, especially that second sentence. I’m making the same call for this series, just slightly modified. Well considering nearly everyone on the Giants roster has been fun to watch lately, lets just watch them all. Lets watch them all smash and bash home runs out of AT&T and get hit after hit after hit. Right?

Prediction:

Urban said it several times on the radio today, no series is an “easy series, automatic win series, or a soft schedule. Every team is full of major leaguers who are better at baseball then you” The Astros just finished a four game sweep of the Phillies today. Wow. The Diamondbacks beat the Padres 11-5 today. With that being said, lets not be like the Phillies or the Padres today.