The Birds are 4 wins away from their 12th title and 3rd in the last 8 years. They have Yadier Molina the best catcher in the game and the most dangerous October force in Carlos Beltran. The Birds batted an unheard of .330 with runners in scoring position during the regular season.
THE PITCHING
The Birds posted the 2nd best rotation ERA in 2013 and come at you with a pitching staff rich in young live arms from starter Michael Wacha to closer Trevor Rosenthal.
Staff leader Adam Wainwright comes into game 1 as the tone setter with 8 days rest and a 1.57 Postseason ERA. Wainwright opened and closed the NLDS with wins over the Pirates. Wainwright has allowed 4 earned runs on 17 hits and 1 walk in 23 innings this postseason. He has struck out 20!
NLCS MVP Michael Wacha in his past 4 starts beginning with that near no hitter is 4-0 with a 0.30 ERA allowing 1 earned run in 29 2/3 innings with 9 hits, 6 walks and 31 strikeouts. In Game 4 of the NLDS vs Pirates with the Birds facing elimination Wacha didn't allow a hit until the 8th inning. Twice Wacha matched up vs Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw the presumptive NL Cy Young Award winner and holding the NL West champs scoreless over 13 2/3 innings, with 7 hits and 2 walks against 13 strikeouts in those 2 games.
THE DIFFERENCE
The return of clean up man Allen Craig who took another round of live batting practice Sunday and pronounced himself ready to go. He is not expected to play in the field, but he will be the perfect guy to serve as DH. Now the addition of the DH in the AL park probably suits the Birds as well as any NL team ever in the World Series. Craig hit 13 homers and had 97 RBI this season before going down with a ligament injury in his left foot on Sept. 4.
“He's been the No. 4 hitter for us all season,” Birds manager Mike Matheny said. “This guy can drive in runs. He's another force for us.”
Catcher Yadier Molina called the addition of Craig “huge. Adding that bat to the lineup, he could be the difference.”
The Birds are 4 wins away from their 12th title and 3rd in the last 8 years. They have Yadier Molina the best catcher in the game and the most dangerous October force in Carlos Beltran. The Birds batted an unheard of .330 with runners in scoring position during the regular season.
THE PITCHING
The Birds posted the 2nd best rotation ERA in 2013 and come at you with a pitching staff rich in young live arms from starter Michael Wacha to closer Trevor Rosenthal.
Staff leader Adam Wainwright comes into game 1 as the tone setter with 8 days rest and a 1.57 Postseason ERA. Wainwright opened and closed the NLDS with wins over the Pirates. Wainwright has allowed 4 earned runs on 17 hits and 1 walk in 23 innings this postseason. He has struck out 20!
NLCS MVP Michael Wacha in his past 4 starts beginning with that near no hitter is 4-0 with a 0.30 ERA allowing 1 earned run in 29 2/3 innings with 9 hits, 6 walks and 31 strikeouts. In Game 4 of the NLDS vs Pirates with the Birds facing elimination Wacha didn't allow a hit until the 8th inning. Twice Wacha matched up vs Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw the presumptive NL Cy Young Award winner and holding the NL West champs scoreless over 13 2/3 innings, with 7 hits and 2 walks against 13 strikeouts in those 2 games.
THE DIFFERENCE
The return of clean up man Allen Craig who took another round of live batting practice Sunday and pronounced himself ready to go. He is not expected to play in the field, but he will be the perfect guy to serve as DH. Now the addition of the DH in the AL park probably suits the Birds as well as any NL team ever in the World Series. Craig hit 13 homers and had 97 RBI this season before going down with a ligament injury in his left foot on Sept. 4.
“He's been the No. 4 hitter for us all season,” Birds manager Mike Matheny said. “This guy can drive in runs. He's another force for us.”
Catcher Yadier Molina called the addition of Craig “huge. Adding that bat to the lineup, he could be the difference.”
PlayersOnly.ag. When I looked yesterday it was at +125 then last night I checked it went up to +130 and I punched it then. Now it's back down to +125. lol
PlayersOnly.ag. When I looked yesterday it was at +125 then last night I checked it went up to +130 and I punched it then. Now it's back down to +125. lol
CJM and Frank The Bank, Thanks for the compliments on my write up
Treefiddy, Sleeper08, Houston Sports and Doc
49erlittle why did you post a "Z" in my fkn thread?
CJM I hope we are right too. Craig hit over 400 with runners in scoring position. Waino opened and closed the NLDS. I hope he does the same in this series. I would love to see Wacha throw a no hitter in Boston. If he throws a no hit game through the 7th inning start pounding the book for World Series MVP. LOL
I am not a Manager but I have opinions and I questioned myself to why he would start Wacha in game 2. I would say if they win game 1 which I hope they do that they start Joe Kelly in Game 2 and save Wacha for Game 3 in St. Louis.
I say that because he was the best young pitcher on the road for the Cardinals in the regular season going 5-1 with a 1.34 ERA. On the other hand if they were to lose Game 1 then you def want Wacha to start. I like the fresh young arms to give Sox hell in this series. Remember before Sox finally scored on dirty Sanchez in the ALCS they come into the game hitting .133 as a team that was the lowest batting average as a team in ALCS history.
CJM and Frank The Bank, Thanks for the compliments on my write up
Treefiddy, Sleeper08, Houston Sports and Doc
49erlittle why did you post a "Z" in my fkn thread?
CJM I hope we are right too. Craig hit over 400 with runners in scoring position. Waino opened and closed the NLDS. I hope he does the same in this series. I would love to see Wacha throw a no hitter in Boston. If he throws a no hit game through the 7th inning start pounding the book for World Series MVP. LOL
I am not a Manager but I have opinions and I questioned myself to why he would start Wacha in game 2. I would say if they win game 1 which I hope they do that they start Joe Kelly in Game 2 and save Wacha for Game 3 in St. Louis.
I say that because he was the best young pitcher on the road for the Cardinals in the regular season going 5-1 with a 1.34 ERA. On the other hand if they were to lose Game 1 then you def want Wacha to start. I like the fresh young arms to give Sox hell in this series. Remember before Sox finally scored on dirty Sanchez in the ALCS they come into the game hitting .133 as a team that was the lowest batting average as a team in ALCS history.
Seems like you might be discarding what Boston has done this year. They have home field advantage but I guess that doesn't matter either?
Seems like you might be discarding what St. Louis has done this year.
They have the same record right? Maybe they should call ole Bud and get him to tell them they need to play a 1 game playoff for a record breaking tie for home field. LOL
Home field doesn't mean chit for the kind of experience Waino has in the postseason as a closer, reliever and a starter. The best catcher in baseball Molina is behind the plate.
Don't want to be the Sox having to deal with Carlos Beltran and Allen Craig who hit over .400 with runners in scoring position. This is not the Tigers bullpen. Birds have 4+ relievers coming out of that pen throwing 100+ mph. Wait until they give Rosenthal the ball. Better watch out!
I am really interested in Game 2. Wacha beat the NL Cy Young winner 2 times in a row in the NLCS with 0.00 ERA. You may get no hit infront of your fans. LOL
Seems like you might be discarding what Boston has done this year. They have home field advantage but I guess that doesn't matter either?
Seems like you might be discarding what St. Louis has done this year.
They have the same record right? Maybe they should call ole Bud and get him to tell them they need to play a 1 game playoff for a record breaking tie for home field. LOL
Home field doesn't mean chit for the kind of experience Waino has in the postseason as a closer, reliever and a starter. The best catcher in baseball Molina is behind the plate.
Don't want to be the Sox having to deal with Carlos Beltran and Allen Craig who hit over .400 with runners in scoring position. This is not the Tigers bullpen. Birds have 4+ relievers coming out of that pen throwing 100+ mph. Wait until they give Rosenthal the ball. Better watch out!
I am really interested in Game 2. Wacha beat the NL Cy Young winner 2 times in a row in the NLCS with 0.00 ERA. You may get no hit infront of your fans. LOL
Couldn't agree more with your write-up. I think the addition of Craig is huge and Boston will be hurting when the series shifts to St. Louis and they lose Papi or Napoli in their line-up.
Couldn't agree more with your write-up. I think the addition of Craig is huge and Boston will be hurting when the series shifts to St. Louis and they lose Papi or Napoli in their line-up.
Couldn't agree more with your write-up. I think the addition of Craig is huge and Boston will be hurting when the series shifts to St. Louis and they lose Papi or Napoli in their line-up.
Couldn't agree more with your write-up. I think the addition of Craig is huge and Boston will be hurting when the series shifts to St. Louis and they lose Papi or Napoli in their line-up.
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