World Series Thoughts, Predictions, etc.

Originally posted by BuzzBuzzard
If anything, you are going to find more Yankee fans in the Phoenix area since many retirees go there. Lord knows I'd like to. Dry heat and all that golf.

I'm actually moving back there next week for the first time in 16 years. Who wants to join me for a round of 18 next July when it's oh, say, 119 F in the shade?

BTW, everyone probably saw this already but Brenly announced his rotation and he's got B. Anderson going in game 3.

So what are they going to do if it gets to game 7? Schilling on 2 days rest? Anderson again (unlikely, unless he throws a gem in game 3, which would make a game 7 even more unlikely)? Schilling on 3 days rest in both game 4 and 7?

--Dave B.

[NetShrine]

Looks like Schilling in 1, 4, and 7
Johnson in 2 and 5, Anderson in 3 and Batista (?) in 6.

Schilling would get 3 days rest on 4 and 7.
Johnson gets 4 days on 5.

If you are Arizona, and it's down to Games 6 and 7 - - do you really want Batista and a tired Schilling as your last line of defense?

[NetShrine]

Looking at some possible match-ups - - there could be some great ones:

Game 1 - Mussina v. Schilling
Game 2 - Pettitte v. Johnson
Game 5 - Johnson v. Mussina
Game 7 - Clemens v. Schilling

The miss-matches might be:

Game 3 - Anderson v. Clemens
Game 4 - Schilling v. Duque
Game 6 - Pettitte v. Batista.

Prediction!
After 4, series is tied at 2-2. Yankees win it in six.

Originally posted by NetShrine
Looks like Schilling in 1, 4, and 7
Johnson in 2 and 5, Anderson in 3 and Batista (?) in 6.

Schilling would get 3 days rest on 4 and 7.
Johnson gets 4 days on 5.

If you are Arizona, and it's down to Games 6 and 7 - - do you really want Batista and a tired Schilling as your last line of defense?

IMHO, the D-Backs are better served by having Johnson and Schilling pitch at 100% in 4 games rather than having either pitch at less than 100% in 5. However, if the Yankees take either game 1 or 2, I could possibly change my mind. Given that Batista has been named as the game 4 starter, this could be what Brenly is thinking.

[Duque]

Both Schilling and Johnson have thrown a lot of high-pitch innings of late, but considering they're both older guys with healthier arms, and considering that they won't have to pitch at all after this Series, it's justifiable starting one of them in 3 games.

[CubFan7125]

The D-Backs are the youngest Franchise to make the World Series. The Marlins previously held the record, Florida broke the record that was held by the "Amazing's".

Originally posted by Duque
Both Schilling and Johnson have thrown a lot of high-pitch innings of late, but considering they're both older guys with healthier arms, and considering that they won't have to pitch at all after this Series, it's justifiable starting one of them in 3 games.

Here's my thinking: If Schilling is going to go twice on short rest, the bullpen would likely be involved in both games. Beyond B. Kim, the D-Back bullpen is terrible. Given the trouble that they're having scoring runs, this is a huge problem. So, I think their best chance in the series is to hope for 4 complete or nearly-complete games out of Schilling and Johnson and go 4-0 in those games. If they drop one of those games and have go to a game 7, then they could start Batista/Anderson with Schilling and/or Johnson available for short work out of the bullpen and just hope for the best. I just have zero faith in the other starters and the bullpen and only a little more than that in the offense (of late).

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by Dave B.
Given that Batista has been named as the game 4 starter, this could be what Brenly is thinking.

If he's number 4, then Schilling only gets two starts, no?

Smart move.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by Duque
Both Schilling and Johnson have thrown a lot of high-pitch innings of late, but considering they're both older guys with healthier arms, and considering that they won't have to pitch at all after this Series, it's justifiable starting one of them in 3 games.

Pitch counts have never applied to Randy. He's a freak of nature. You will see him and Curt go until the tank is empty in every start, for sure.

Originally posted by BuzzBuzzard
It was Gonzo yesterday, Big Unit today, D'Backs emblem in line for tomorrow. Just covering all the bases.

So it was Gonzo. Now you're playing visual games with me, as if I don't have enough problems to deal with. Oh, two can play the changing avatars deal, you know.

Yo, Net, find this guy a Curt avatar also. Buzz, would you like to buy some rattlesnake oil right before the WS?

[NetShrine]

I got to Game 5 of the ALCS about 3 hours before the 1st pitch - to watch both teams take BP. When I saw Velarde taking throws at 1B, I KNEW something was up!

Velarde Can't Wait to Face Johnson
.c The Associated Press

Most hitters do whatever they can to avoid Randy Johnson.

New York Yankees utilityman Randy Velarde is doing whatever he can to face the Big Unit in Game 2 of the World Series on Sunday night in Arizona.

And with good reason. Velarde is one of the few hitters not overpowered by the dominating Diamondbacks' left-hander. Velarde is 19-for-42 with a .452 career average against Johnson.

``It's really not a secret,'' Velarde said. ``He's got a 100 mph fastball and a 90 mph slider. I just got some hits off him. I certainly don't feel good against him. He's one of the nastiest left-handed pitchers around.''

Velarde spent Wednesday taking groundballs at first base in case manager Joe Torre wants to sit left-hander Tino Martinez against Johnson. Velarde also could play left field or third base, too.

``That's why I took balls there,'' Velarde said. ``I played mini-manager in my mind and went through and saw right-hander here, right-hander here, left-hander there. That's my place.''

Originally posted by NetShrine


If he's number 4, then Schilling only gets two starts, no?

Smart move.

What I'm thinking is that, if the D-Backs win the first 2, then Brenly will stick with Batista in game 4. If they drop one of the first 2, then he would consider bumping up Schilling. It's just a theory.

Yankees in 6!!!!

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by Dave B.
What I'm thinking is that, if the D-Backs win the first 2, then Brenly will stick with Batista in game 4. If they drop one of the first 2, then he would consider bumping up Schilling. It's just a theory.

And one that most would agree with!

My only thoughts are which Randy we'll get? The 2 game winner in NLCS or the one who'd gone 0 for a gazillion before this? Which Roger will we get? Hurt hamstring or the ALCS 2000 man who had 15 whiffs and 1 hit. Obviously somewhere in the middle, but 6 strong innings would be nice, and the opposing runs only 1 or 2. Lastly, which Orlando, the 9-2 October man or someone whose invincibility is in decline.

Sometimes I wonder if I can bear waiting for these games to play, since losing just drives me up the wall to no end.