Baseball Preview

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

San Francisco @ Florida

1pm ESPN2

Jason Schmidt vs. Dontrell Willis

Marlins lead series 2-1

 

Talk about an inning changing everything. The Giants were a strike away from taking a 2-1 lead, and I-Rod steps up and wins it. So now the Giants need to win two and a row. More importantly, the Marlins don't face Jason Schmidt if the series go to game 5. They've got him here, at home. So now the Marlins are just a win away. Anything can happen at this point, although you have to give the advantage to Schmidt.

 

NY Yankees @ Minnesota

1pm ESPN

Roger Clemens vs. Kyle Lohse

Series tied 1-1

 

Its home field advantage versus talent. No disrespect to Lohse and the Twins, but we're talking about Roger Clemens here. Still, the Metrodome has always been the toughest park for visiting teams to play in. This should be an interesting game in any case.

 

Atlanta @ Chicago

4pm fox

Horacio Ramirez or Russ Ortiz vs. Matt Clement

 

Dusty Baker is doing his best to destroy Mark Prior's arm. Say what you will about endurance. The kid is 22. 22 year olds aren't completely developed. Prior's workload could end in disaster. In any case, the Cubs have a chance to win at home. Matt Clement is spotty, but hopefully he can put it together.

 

Oakland @ Boston

8pm ESPN2

Ted Lilly vs. Derek Lowe

Oakland leads 2-0

 

We've heard all the stories about the A's '01 season and the Sox' '99 season before. Just keep this in mind. In order for the Red Sox to win, they have to win three games in a row, while the A's just need one. I think the series is Oakland's for the taking at this point.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I tend to agree with you about Baker pushing Prior too far. I mean, I know he averaged around that amount of pitches during the regular season, but it may just catch up sooner or later. Of course, he doesn't throw as hard as Kerry Wood does and his mechanics are better, so I doubt he'll go through the same thing that Wood did. I didn't get to see how Prior was pitching from the 3rd to the 8th, but I would've just sent Borowski in there for the save in the 9th. I don't trust their pen, but Joe's been more or less reliable in his role as closer this year.