yagsy
10-03-2006, 11:45 AM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061003/news_lz1x3matchup.html
How the teams match up
By Tom Krasovic
STAFF WRITER
October 3, 2006
Hitting
EDGE
PADRES
Cardinals star Albert Pujols is the best hitter in this series, but because regulars Jim Edmonds and David Eckstein are fighting injuries, San Diego's offense is the deeper, more balanced attack. Padres pitcher Woody Williams laughed yesterday when reminded of the double Pujols hit off him last October in the only playoff game at Petco Park. “That pitch was three inches off the outside corner,” Williams said. Pujols, a right-hander, pounded it off the wall in right-center – the most extraordinary hit at Petco all year. San Diego's catching tandem of Mike Piazza and Josh Bard was far more productive at the plate than the St. Louis tandem of Yadier Molina and Gary Bennett. On paper, Molina's .274 on-base percentage makes him the biggest liability in either lineup. Padres hitters say Petco Park deceptively skews their overall numbers. A better measure: performance on the road, where the Padres averaged 5.14 runs (fourth of 16 NL teams) and the Cardinals averaged 4.72 (seventh).
Starting pitchers
EDGE
PADRES
The San Diego rotation led the NL in ERA (4.10) and is so deep that Clay Hensley is moving to the bullpen for this series. Hensley would start in the first round for some playoff clubs. Padres pitchers aren't Petco wonders. Their 3.99 road ERA led the NL. On the road, Cardinals starters ranked 14th with a 5.19 ERA; overall, they ranked 12th with a 4.79 ERA. It appears the Cardinals need ace Chris Carpenter to have a huge series. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner failed to hold a 5-2 lead against the Padres on Sept. 26, losing to Williams, who might not even crack the San Diego rotation in this series. Several Padres have enjoyed a lot of success against Jeff Suppan, who had a 2.09 ERA after the All-Star break until the Padres scored five runs off him in 32/3 innings on Sept. 25.
Bullpen
EDGE
PADRES
The San Diego bullpen posted a 3.42 ERA, second in the NL to the Mets. The Cardinals finished seventh with a 4.06 ERA and are without veteran closer Jason Isringhausen, who required season-ending hip surgery. Rookie Adam Wainwright, a 6-foot-7 right-hander, is the closer. He has three saves and two blown saves to go with a 3.12 ERA in 75 innings. Sinkerballer Hensley, who had a 1.99 ERA down the stretch, joins a bullpen led by closer Trevor Hoffman, eighth-inning specialist Scott Linebrink and sidewinder Cla Meredith.
Bench
EDGE
PADRES
The Cardinals' reserve corps could be further stretched by injuries to center fielder Edmonds and shortstop Eckstein. Neither is at full speed. John Rodriguez, a left-hander, led the team in pinch hits with 11, including two home runs. The Padres won't announce their roster until today, but the bench is likely to include Ryan Klesko, a left-hander who has reached in five of six plate appearances since his season debut Sept. 20. Other probable reserves include Terrmel Sledge, whose left-handed bat has provided some of the season's biggest hits, and versatile Rob Bowen, the No. 3 catcher. Assuming shortstop Khalil Greene is on the roster, the final spot could be between infielders Mark Bellhorn and Manny Alexander.
Defense
EDGE
PADRES
Edmonds has appeared less instinctual since missing a month because of postconcussion syndrome. He also is slowed by an injured left foot. Eckstein, the shortstop, is hindered by hamstring and oblique injuries. As a result, the Padres have a potentially huge advantage at two premium spots, with center fielder Mike Cameron and shortstop Greene showing good defensive form. However, Greene could be on the bench because of hitting rust related to a finger injury. San Diego led the majors at converting balls in play into outs; St. Louis ranked ninth. Padres catcher Mike Piazza threw out only 9 percent of base-stealers, but St. Louis has a supbar running game that ranks 14th of 16 in stolen bases and stolen-base percentage (60.2). The Padres are tied for fourth in stolen bases and second in stolen-base percent (79.9).
Manager
EDGE
EVEN
Bruce Bochy's 1996 and 2005 clubs were swept by the Cardinals of Tony La Russa. Both managers have World Series experience. During the season, Bochy is more apt to entrust an entire inning to a reliever than is La Russa, who is more partial to divvying up a late inning between left-and right-handed specialists. La Russa loves the squeeze bunt, which has produced critical runs against the Padres in years past.
How the teams match up
By Tom Krasovic
STAFF WRITER
October 3, 2006
Hitting
EDGE
PADRES
Cardinals star Albert Pujols is the best hitter in this series, but because regulars Jim Edmonds and David Eckstein are fighting injuries, San Diego's offense is the deeper, more balanced attack. Padres pitcher Woody Williams laughed yesterday when reminded of the double Pujols hit off him last October in the only playoff game at Petco Park. “That pitch was three inches off the outside corner,” Williams said. Pujols, a right-hander, pounded it off the wall in right-center – the most extraordinary hit at Petco all year. San Diego's catching tandem of Mike Piazza and Josh Bard was far more productive at the plate than the St. Louis tandem of Yadier Molina and Gary Bennett. On paper, Molina's .274 on-base percentage makes him the biggest liability in either lineup. Padres hitters say Petco Park deceptively skews their overall numbers. A better measure: performance on the road, where the Padres averaged 5.14 runs (fourth of 16 NL teams) and the Cardinals averaged 4.72 (seventh).
Starting pitchers
EDGE
PADRES
The San Diego rotation led the NL in ERA (4.10) and is so deep that Clay Hensley is moving to the bullpen for this series. Hensley would start in the first round for some playoff clubs. Padres pitchers aren't Petco wonders. Their 3.99 road ERA led the NL. On the road, Cardinals starters ranked 14th with a 5.19 ERA; overall, they ranked 12th with a 4.79 ERA. It appears the Cardinals need ace Chris Carpenter to have a huge series. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner failed to hold a 5-2 lead against the Padres on Sept. 26, losing to Williams, who might not even crack the San Diego rotation in this series. Several Padres have enjoyed a lot of success against Jeff Suppan, who had a 2.09 ERA after the All-Star break until the Padres scored five runs off him in 32/3 innings on Sept. 25.
Bullpen
EDGE
PADRES
The San Diego bullpen posted a 3.42 ERA, second in the NL to the Mets. The Cardinals finished seventh with a 4.06 ERA and are without veteran closer Jason Isringhausen, who required season-ending hip surgery. Rookie Adam Wainwright, a 6-foot-7 right-hander, is the closer. He has three saves and two blown saves to go with a 3.12 ERA in 75 innings. Sinkerballer Hensley, who had a 1.99 ERA down the stretch, joins a bullpen led by closer Trevor Hoffman, eighth-inning specialist Scott Linebrink and sidewinder Cla Meredith.
Bench
EDGE
PADRES
The Cardinals' reserve corps could be further stretched by injuries to center fielder Edmonds and shortstop Eckstein. Neither is at full speed. John Rodriguez, a left-hander, led the team in pinch hits with 11, including two home runs. The Padres won't announce their roster until today, but the bench is likely to include Ryan Klesko, a left-hander who has reached in five of six plate appearances since his season debut Sept. 20. Other probable reserves include Terrmel Sledge, whose left-handed bat has provided some of the season's biggest hits, and versatile Rob Bowen, the No. 3 catcher. Assuming shortstop Khalil Greene is on the roster, the final spot could be between infielders Mark Bellhorn and Manny Alexander.
Defense
EDGE
PADRES
Edmonds has appeared less instinctual since missing a month because of postconcussion syndrome. He also is slowed by an injured left foot. Eckstein, the shortstop, is hindered by hamstring and oblique injuries. As a result, the Padres have a potentially huge advantage at two premium spots, with center fielder Mike Cameron and shortstop Greene showing good defensive form. However, Greene could be on the bench because of hitting rust related to a finger injury. San Diego led the majors at converting balls in play into outs; St. Louis ranked ninth. Padres catcher Mike Piazza threw out only 9 percent of base-stealers, but St. Louis has a supbar running game that ranks 14th of 16 in stolen bases and stolen-base percentage (60.2). The Padres are tied for fourth in stolen bases and second in stolen-base percent (79.9).
Manager
EDGE
EVEN
Bruce Bochy's 1996 and 2005 clubs were swept by the Cardinals of Tony La Russa. Both managers have World Series experience. During the season, Bochy is more apt to entrust an entire inning to a reliever than is La Russa, who is more partial to divvying up a late inning between left-and right-handed specialists. La Russa loves the squeeze bunt, which has produced critical runs against the Padres in years past.