MLB 2012 Playoffs LD: "Who's it gonna be?"

[The Crock]

Kyle Lohse was terrible for the Cards. On the flip side, Matt Cain has been pretty spectacular for the Giants. I don't want to predict a Giants victory, especially since the Cardinals are pretty damn good at pulling crazy comebacks, but the Giants are well on their way to an easy win.

 

[Harthan]

Kyle Lohse was terrible for the Cards. On the flip side, Matt Cain has been pretty spectacular for the Giants. I don't want to predict a Giants victory, especially since the Cardinals are pretty damn good at pulling crazy comebacks, but the Giants are well on their way to an easy win.

It's hard to pitch on the road in San Fran in this environment. I don't think the value of homefield advantage can be underrated in this series. The fans of San Francisco are a huge part of the victory in this series.

 

[The Crock]

It's hard to pitch on the road in San Fran in this environment. I don't think the value of homefield advantage can be underrated in this series. The fans of San Francisco are a huge part of the victory in this series.

I'm sure. Lohse looked totally rattled. He would have been far more composed at home.

 

[Megatron]

Oh God this is getting so nervewracking. Can't wait for this series to finally get going.

 

[Harthan]

BEYOND STOKED.

I think that Pence should petition to have his official nickname become "He Of The Thrice Hit Ball". It'd be pretty badass, and let's be honest, barring something incredible for the rest of his career, the only thing anyone's gonna remember especially about Hunter Pence.

Also, is it just me, or is Marco Scutaro celebrating in the rain already an iconic image of the playoffs, in all time sense? I mean, I don't know if I'm likely to forget that anytime soon...or ever.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Glad I finally got a World Series matchup prediction right.

 

[Harthan]

Glad I finally got a World Series matchup prediction right.

I had Phillies/Yankees.

Yep.

 

[Harthan]

What a redemption story this could be for Barry Zito. I mean, he'll never be good enough to earn anything close to the money they paid him, but if he can continue to be as good as he's been this postseason, and come through in these clutch starts, well, it could take a little sting off of it.

 

[klunderbunker]

There's something very cool about the game being played in daylight. I'm not sure what it is but that's cool.

 

[Harthan]

Yep, sure didn't see that start coming. Best pitcher on the planet, first inning? Sure, why not a home run.

An 0-2 home run, at that.

 

[Slyfox696]

I can't be the only person who hears "Pablo Sandoval" and thinks "Pablo Sanchez".

 

[Megatron]

Naturally the Tigers are sucking against a soft tossing lefty. What else is new?

 

[Harthan]

Little bit of luck on the Giants side in that sequence, but hey, it's not the first time the baseball gods have smiled on them. Double off the bag isn't exactly routine. No surprise though that Scutaro knocked him in. Gotta start on that case to be World Series MVP, after all.

Verlander doesn't look like he's got all of it tonight. I said before how hard it is to pitch in San Francisco on the road, and yeah, you're seeing it here.

EDIT: PABLO FUCKING SANDOVAL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

Marco's gonna have to work a lot harder if he wants to have a shot at World Series MVP after that one.

 

[Megatron]

Pablo Sandoval can fuck off.

 

[Harthan]

At least you can count on Pence to chase a lot of really shitty pitches to end this inning. Probably.

 

[Megatron]

This game's over. Tigers couldn't get 5 on a soft tossing lefty if their lives depended on it. Fister better pitch a gem tomorrow because they can't go back down 0-2.

 

[Nate DaMac]

God damn. 3 HRs?

 

[The Brain]

And it's only the 5th inning

 

[Megatron]

Pablo Sandoval can fuck off.

^^^^^

 

[Nate DaMac]

His hair is ridiculous.

 

[Harthan]

If Pence continues to bat fifth in this lineup, it will reflect an extreme deficiency in Bochy's lineup construction process.

 

[justinsayne]

Big Pandas > Tigers

 

[Harthan]

So how about these Giants, huh?

I mean, the Tigers don't look awful. Not like the Yankees or anything. The Giants just look like top to bottom the best team in the world right now. How do you beat these guys?

Maybe my favorite thing this series has been seeing defense make a real difference. Seeing Prince Fielder get thrown out at the plate was great - not that I'm so much rooting for the Tigers to fail, or anything, but I love seeing Gregor Blanco shine for his stellar defense. He's not gonna impress anyone with his bat, but honestly, he deserves to play everyday in the outfield for his arm and glove alone.

EDIT: To be fair, they relayed it to the plate. But Blanco was a big part of getting it there.

 

[klunderbunker]

Pretty much yeah. Last night, Sandoval had Verlander's number and tonight was a very close game where the Giants barely won. If the Tigers win Saturday and get Verlander back at home on Sunday, this could very easily be 2-2. Granted it could also very easily be over Sunday. That makes for an interesting series.

 

[Slyfox696]

I have not watched even a half-inning of the World Series yet. But the Giants just did what they were supposed to do, win at home. Let's see what happens when the series shifts.