The Task Ahead for the Cincinnati Reds: Sweep Hamels, Halladay, and Oswalt
by David S. Cohen on Oct 10, 2010 12:04 AM EDT
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PrintDown 2 games to 0, the task ahead for the Cincinnati Reds is a monumental one: they have to sweep the next three games. Ordinarily, that's a difficult task, one that has happened only four times in an LDS in the Wild Card era (and never by an NL team).
But the Reds have to sweep the next three games against Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, and Roy Oswalt.
Not only did this combination of starters produce an absurd combined pitching line this year, but losing back-to-back-to-back games started by these three starters is something the Phillies never did once the three-headed monster was brought together.
The worst the Phillies did with those three starters' starts is lose two of them in a row. Even that they did only twice all season, once in the infamous Houston four-game sweep and once in Oswalt and Hamels' last two starts of the season (and that's only if you count Hamels' last start as a start, given that it was a two-inning tuneup on the last day of the season).
On the other hand, from September 1 through September 22, the Phillies won 13 Halladay/Hamels/Oswalt starts in a row.
In other words, not only are the odds stacked against the Reds, but they're going to have to do something that would be a first all season long - sweep the big three.
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agreed...
We’re in control and hunting Bronx pinstripes. W.S. Title #3 is on the way…
by 92-74-99-96 on Oct 10, 2010 6:31 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Charlie said...
"It can happen. It ain’t goin’ to happen, but it can happen."
Source: AP article at Yahoo.
by essman on Oct 10, 2010 6:59 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Charlie is right. If the 2001 Yankees could advance after being down 0-2, it can happen again. Do not count your chickens before they hatch!
On that note: I saw on the ESPN crawl yesterday that the city of New York was planning a World Series parade for the Yankees (before they had even won their ALDS series). Their sense of entitlement makes me nauseous.
Blame Hizzoner Mayor Bloomberg, who, by the way, isn’t really a Yankees fan.
by WanderingMoses on Oct 10, 2010 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I honestly think the Rangers have a good shot(assuming they take care of business today and don’t let the series go back to Tampa). The Rangers have been getting good pitching, including from Cliff Lee and their offense is deadly. The offense is particularly important because don’t let the Minnesota Puppies fool you: The Yankees staff has been less then bulletproof.
I’d pick the Rangers over the Yankees in 6 and it’d be a joy to see(and something to hate). The Lee-VS Halladay games will spam the entire fourm and all with stupid junk about keeping Lee and whatever. Even now, we still get Lee junk.
Frankly, I’m comfortable with Roy Oswalt. He can just as easily beat the guys in the pinstripes.
by LeQuan Glover on Oct 10, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
game 4 TX vs TAMPA...
Rays dominating 5-0 and TX keep in mind has never won a post season playoff series
Mr. Mayor, we're talking real wrath of God type stuff... Fire & brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers & seas boiling! 40 years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes. .The dead rising from the grave...Human sacrifice, dogs cats living together.... Mass Hysteria!
game 5 back at tampa
Mr. Mayor, we're talking real wrath of God type stuff... Fire & brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers & seas boiling! 40 years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes. .The dead rising from the grave...Human sacrifice, dogs cats living together.... Mass Hysteria!
Good question. The 2001 Yankees-A’s division series was the same as the Tampa-Texas series through four games, but the Yankees won at home in game 5. Because of the late start to the playoffs that year there was only one day off in that five-game series.
by phillyinportland on Oct 10, 2010 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I imagine it’s less about entitlement and more about the complexity of planning a parade in New York City.
by Spoilt Victorian Child on Oct 10, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s still entitlement, even if they get to the Fall Classic, Howard isn’t going to have a historical slump again. And even if he does(big if), the big 3 can hold their own in close games.
by LeQuan Glover on Oct 10, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s certainly true, but it strikes me as the sort of thing that should go on behind the scenes, rather than being flaunted.
by PhillyFriar on Oct 10, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
This is a biased take on it. You (and the entire world) are making a story out of literally nothing. Trust me, the City of Philadelphia is planning the parade too. It’s good sense. It’s not like Bloomberg is running around in a NYY World Series 2010 hat. He is saying they have it planned. OH NO!
English instructor’s note: Yes, it’s a biased view; all views are biased, insofar as they are making arguments. Recognized biases — and I am one million percent sure that PF understands where his biases lie — aren’t sins against reason. They’re actually necessary if we want to have arguments.
That said, yes, all cities are planning their parades, but the fact that New York announced it and that it shows up on the ESPN crawl speaks to a certain pomposity that rubs most baseball fans the wrong way. He’s not saying they won it, no, but saying they planned the parade is a pretty knowing wink/nod situation.
same
If lovin' Chooch is wrong...I don't wanna be right!
by DirtyWaters on Oct 10, 2010 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I feel...
An offensive explosion gettin ready to happen!
If lovin' Chooch is wrong...I don't wanna be right!
Charges against Tyson Gillies were dropped.
by youaretheman26 on Oct 10, 2010 12:17 PM EDT reply actions
would anyone be stupid enough to get in to a police car for a ride with a bag of cocain? i hope Gillies isnt
by BobbyDucati on Oct 10, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
pretty Obvious that either 1) the cop(s) PLANTED the evidence or
2) someone had a small bag of cocaine that fell out of their pockets into the cao car…. but there is no way to prove who since the Bag was by the cop’s own admission was discovered a few hours AFTER he gave Giles the ride
Mr. Mayor, we're talking real wrath of God type stuff... Fire & brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers & seas boiling! 40 years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes. .The dead rising from the grave...Human sacrifice, dogs cats living together.... Mass Hysteria!
I think Cole comes out and slams to door tonight. He’s pitched well against the Reds and has been fantastic for the 2nd half of ’10.
7 innings, 4 H, 1 ER, 7 K, and the only stat that matters, 1 W.
Ex post facto
The line he cited would still probably have earned a win, although it would have required some bullpen help. I’m glad it turned out the way it did. :)
by phillyinportland on Oct 11, 2010 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions
IF
If the reds come back and beat H2O in 3 straight games then my friends,THEY HAVE EARNED IT! That being said,its not going to happen.GO PHILLIES!!
Theeee jay Resh
Braves Gaints series being tied 1-1 is GREAT news for phillies
NO? It means that since game 3 and 4 are back in ATL …. the Giants might have to use wither Linicum or Cain on short rest if we see them in the NLCS
Mr. Mayor, we're talking real wrath of God type stuff... Fire & brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers & seas boiling! 40 years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes. .The dead rising from the grave...Human sacrifice, dogs cats living together.... Mass Hysteria!
Can’t believe I’ve read some Reds’ fans with conspiracy theory that the Phillies change the angle of the OF lights whenever Reds’ OFers are in the field. Are you freaking kidding me?
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
If they are I like it, need laser beams in the WS.
I wasn't even a year old but I stayed up to be outside the Vet with my Dad and Mom when the Phillies won the World Series 1980.
by Christopher A on Oct 10, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
The fangraphs blog is a really terrible website. Bleacher report for sabr charlatans.
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.
Eh, they have good writers and bad ones. Unfortunately the worst ones (like Cistulli) way outproduce the good ones. Eno Sarris, the guy assigned to do the Phillies’ game reviews, is okay.
by Spoilt Victorian Child on Oct 10, 2010 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
the is only a good writer in that blog
Dave Cameron
#6org
You aren’t serious, are you? Cameron is quite possibly the worst sabermetric writer out there.
I tend to like Eric Seidman.
Is this making a mountain out of the proverbial mole hill? Perhaps, except for two things: (a) I, personally, haven’t ever seen a manager make comments of this nature precisely, and (b) because this is the playoffs, all such comments are necessarily magnified.
Funny, I’ve seen it plenty of times, such as with the NYY in last years’ WS.
Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
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