Braves/Astros NLDS Thread

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Game 1: Pettitte vs. Hudson

Game 2: Clemens vs. Smoltz

Game 3: Oswalt vs. Sosa

 

The Astros seem to be the chic pick for the NL, and I really think they're reaching. Last year's series went five games. This year the Astros lost Beltran, Kent and Bagwell from the lineup, and gained Pettitte. The Astros have a great pitching staff, but the Braves are not exactly producing scrubs. The Braves have the clear advantage in hitting. I'm not making picks this year, but I think the Braves are clear favorites.

[devo 0]

I agree. The Braves' starters will probably be able to match the Astros' pitch for pitch, and the Braves' pitchers will have a pretty good offense to back them up to boot. The only clear-cut advantage I think the Astros have is their bullpen. Seeing as how the Astros have arguably the worst offense in the playoffs (challenged only by the Angels), they'll be hard-pressed to get a lead for their bullpen in their first place.

 

I know this isn't the prediction thread, but I'll make one anyway. Braves in four.

[Guest Smues]

I'll miss games one and two because of classes sadly. Huzzah for recording the games on TV and XM radio. Double huzzah for XM radio having the home and away feeds of all playoff games (at least they said they would) so I can listen to that and not Berman if he does the game on ESPN.

[bob_barron 0]

Braves postseason roster had a few surprises.

 

Cox is only carrying two catchers, Brian Jordan and Kelly Johnson made the roster over Hollandsworth.

 

Blaine Boyer has some stiffness in his arm, so Cox picked Joey Devine.

 

Dan Kolb and Kyle Davies did not make the roster. Horacio Ramirez and John Thompson did, and one of them will start Game 4.

[bob_barron 0]

And while I'm glad to see AL picking the Braves, their bullpen still worries me. Joey Devine????

 

Well at least Kolb didn't make the roster, and hopefully Farnsworth can continue to play well.

[Precious Roy 0]

I really favor the Astros here, not to be chic, but when I look at everything I just see an Astros win. Obviously there's a 50-50 chance I'm wrong, but that's my gut.

 

I think tonights game will decide the series

[bob_barron 0]

The Braves have never lost a divisional series after winning Game 1.

 

The Braves have never won a divisional series after losing Game 1.

[Slayer 0]

1999: Atlanta lost their first game to Houston in the DS, then won three straight

[Guest Smues]

Braves postseason roster had a few surprises.

 

Cox is only carrying two catchers, Brian Jordan and Kelly Johnson made the roster over Hollandsworth.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's not a surprise. Hollandsworth did absolutely nothing after being traded to Atlanta.

[ISportsFan 0]

Double huzzah for XM radio having the home and away feeds of all playoff games (at least they said they would) so I can listen to that and not Berman if he does the game on ESPN.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Berman has the Sox/Sox series, so he will not be in Atlanta.

 

Jason

[Guest Smues]

Double huzzah for XM radio having the home and away feeds of all playoff games (at least they said they would) so I can listen to that and not Berman if he does the game on ESPN.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Berman has the Sox/Sox series, so he will not be in Atlanta.

 

Jason

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Huzzah.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Double huzzah for XM radio having the home and away feeds of all playoff games (at least they said they would) so I can listen to that and not Berman if he does the game on ESPN.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Berman has the Sox/Sox series, so he will not be in Atlanta.

 

Jason

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What's worse: "back, back, back back back backbackbackbackbkbkbkGONE!" or "you can put it on the booooooooooooooooaaaard....YES!"

 

I really can't decide.

[CanadianChris 0]

Double huzzah for XM radio having the home and away feeds of all playoff games (at least they said they would) so I can listen to that and not Berman if he does the game on ESPN.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Berman has the Sox/Sox series, so he will not be in Atlanta.

 

Jason

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What's worse: "back, back, back back back backbackbackbackbkbkbkGONE!" or "you can put it on the booooooooooooooooaaaard....YES!"

 

I really can't decide.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Berman >>>>>>> Hawk

[Vern Gagne 0]

Hawk's capable when he feels like it. Berman loves the sound of his own voice.

[devo 0]

Astros take a quick 1-0 lead on an Ensberg single.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Hawk's capable when he feels like it.

i'm waiting

 

 

Berman is irritating, but at least he calls the game. Hawk just gets up and ostensibly takes a shit for like the 7th and 8th, and leaves Darrin Jackson to fly solo. Remember the scene in Wayne's World where Wayne gets fired mid-show for holding up the "<---this man has no penis" sign in front of Noah Vanderhoff, and Garth has to do the show alone? That's DJ calling a game by himself.

[The Czech Republic 0]

OH SWEET JESUS CHRIST THEY'RE WEARING RED

 

 

 

there goes my TV

[bob_barron 0]

Forgot about 1999.

 

Missed the top of the 1st, and see it's already 1-0.

 

Great.

[devo 0]

Chipper Solo HR. 1-1.

[Precious Roy 0]

great hit by chipper

[bob_barron 0]

Home Run by Chipper Jones.

 

Chipper's been playing really well recently, and I believe has an OBP about .400.

 

Adam LaRoche really needs to step up and get some hits, to force pitchers to pitch to the Jones'.

[sfaJack 0]

God, there's this obnoxious ass here at work who just screamed "GAME OVER BABY!!!!! PETTITTE AIN'T GIVIN' UP NUTHING!!!!!" after Ensberg drove in the run.

 

Thank you, Chipper. Thank you.

[bob_barron 0]

Yahoo! Sports is asking whether the Astros can repeat their upset from last year.

 

Okay then.

[The Czech Republic 0]

God, there's this obnoxious ass here at work who just screamed "GAME OVER BABY!!!!!  PETTITTE AIN'T GIVIN' UP NUTHING!!!!!" after Ensberg drove in the run. 

I've never been to Houston, but I can only imagine that they have some of the most annoying fans in baseball.

[Precious Roy 0]

God, there's this obnoxious ass here at work who just screamed "GAME OVER BABY!!!!!  PETTITTE AIN'T GIVIN' UP NUTHING!!!!!" after Ensberg drove in the run. 

I've never been to Houston, but I can only imagine that they have some of the most annoying fans in baseball.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

YEAH UH!

[devo 0]

Yes, Steve Phillips, Bobby Cox deserves credit for Julio Franco being old.

[Angel_Grace_Blue 0]

Of course. He keeps him in a vat of brine during the off-season.

[sfaJack 0]

I've never been to Houston, but I can only imagine that they have some of the most annoying fans in baseball.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, yes, you are right. The worst part about this particular dipshit though is that he was "finished" with the Astros this season as recently as about a month ago. The whole town has been that way--everybody was ignoring the Astros for the most part until these last two weeks.

 

And now they're all wearing their "Back to Back Wild Card CHAMPIONS" t-shirts and asking how much Carlos is enjoying New York.

[devo 0]

I immediately soured on Houston's fans when they booed Beltran the entire time the Mets were playing there. Once or twice a game I can forgive, but every time the ball even approached Beltran, everyone in attendance began to boo.

 

Like anyone there would turn down seventeen million dollars a year.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Hawk's capable when he feels like it.

i'm waiting

 

 

Berman is irritating, but at least he calls the game. Hawk just gets up and ostensibly takes a shit for like the 7th and 8th, and leaves Darrin Jackson to fly solo. Remember the scene in Wayne's World where Wayne gets fired mid-show for holding up the "<---this man has no penis" sign in front of Noah Vanderhoff, and Garth has to do the show alone? That's DJ calling a game by himself.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If you dislike Hawk so much, him leaving should be a good thing.