Playoff Preview: Pittsburgh (95-67) vs San Francisco (105-57)

[Porter]

Season Series: Pittsburgh won series 4-2 (one of only three teams to win a season series vs SF. FLA and HOU were the other 2)

How they got here: San Francisco won its 3rd straight NL West title. Pittsburgh won the hard fought NL Central for the 1st time since 2023.

Probable Matchups: (on Projection)
Game 1: John Pascua (14-7, 3.73) vs Michael McCullough (24-8, 2.60)
Game 2: Lance Uppercut (17-10, 4.27) vs Wayne Hage (19-8, 3.66)
Game 3: Robbie Olsen (9-10, 4.95) vs Darnell Keifer (25-6, 3.44)
Game 4: John Pascua vs Michael McCullough
Game 5: Lance Uppercut vs Wayne Hage

Position Matchup

Catcher: Isidoro Romero (PIT) vs Bryant Greene (SF)
Bryant Greene was more than solid this season (.310, 25, 108) for the Giants. Romero didn't have Greene's power numbers but got on base more often (.333, 13, 77). Both players OPS's numbers are almost identical and their defensive numbers are about the same. Edge: Even: Green helps bring in runs, Romero creates runs.

1st Base: Rocky Carroll (PIT) vs Clemente Ramos (SF)
Once again this is very similar to the catcher matchup. Both players help in different ways. Ramos has more isolated power than Carroll and is the better defender. Edge: San Fran. Ramos is better right now but Carroll will be better in a year or two.

2nd Base: Isidoro Alfaro (PIT) vs Chad Miller (SF)
Ultimate mismatch. All I can say is Barbosa is still going to beat out Miller for MVP. Edge: San Fran. Alfaro isn't even in the universe.

3rd Base: Tim LaChance (PIT) vs Randy Jacob (SF)
LaChance would still be in ARI, If i could afford him. He's that good at 37. Having an awesome season (.338, 28, 106, 120 R, .983 OPS). Randy Jacob is entering his prime and had a breakthrough season (.303, 15, 88, 129 R, 70/78 SB). Edge: Even: Barbosa might be the engine that makes the Pirates go, but LaChance is the heart and soul of the Pirates offense. Jacob could be the the next dynamic leadoff man, if twinsfan decided him to be.

Shortstop: Chris McMaster (PIT) vs Wesley Chalmers (SF)
While neither of these two are the stars of their offenses. They are basically role players in the grand scheme of things. Chalmers has speed but gets caught stealing a lot. McMaster was 29 for 29 in stolen bases. Edge: Pittsburgh, At least McMaster can hit a double once in a while.

Left Field: Jose Bemudez (PIT) vs Jose Erazo/Billy Mots (SF)
Like Chad Miller vs Alfaro. Even worse. Edge: Pittsburgh period.

Center Field: Javier "MVP" Barbosa (PIT) vs Joseph Holmes (SF)
Normally Joseph Holmes would win this matchup vs the other two playoff teams in PHI and ARI. But lets face it he has 20 less HRs, 30 less RBIs, 96 points less on the OPS, and 58 less stolen bases than Barbosa. Edge: Pittsburgh, I'm waiting for an argument from someone.

Right Field: Fred Luera (PIT) vs TBA (SF)
(EDIT) Kelly was out since JULY. Edge: Pittsburgh. Luera is better than any of their replacements

Rotation: San Fran. They have the three best pitchers in a postseason rotation, in the last couple of years.

Middle Relief: Pittsburgh. They are deeper. Their offense has to get to Keifer, McC and Hage early.

Closer: Pittsburgh. Sure Yamaguchi has more saves but JM Jr has the better numbers. Add this to your useless info bank. JM Jr. has 19 career postseason saves. Yamaguchi has 0 innings pitched in the postseason.

Outlook: I really like Pittsbugh's offense in the way it matches up against SFs pitching. All the Pirates have to do is get to them early, and pray their starters can keep it close. I like the Pirates in 5.

[Kingdom]

kelly has been out for the year, mntwins doesn't exactly pay much attention to his rosters

[Porter]

I know that. But its his listed starter. I thought you would go with Destefano in game 3.

[Kingdom]

Kelly hasn't played since late July.

[Porter]

I fixed it.

[DiamondDave]

Go Bucs

[mntwinsfan]

Koz

Don't worry about Kelly. Changes have been made and I will win the series! Your not Florida who always beats me. I dont think you will win period. How are you going to hit the best 3 man rotation in the league?

Giants in 4 games.

[Porter]

Koz

Don't worry about Kelly. Changes have been made and I will win the series! Your not Florida who always beats me. I dont think you will win period. How are you going to hit the best 3 man rotation in the league?

Giants in 4 games.

You might want to be a little concerned about that bullpen.

[Kingdom]

I beat you in the playoffs multiple times before and well, I did it again without breaking a sweat. Your pen sucks, you rarely pay attention to your team, and you bank on winning it all on three players. You're never making the world series.

Sincerely,
Jason Michaels Jr.



P.S. Hage can't beat me like he can't beat Mission. That is all.

[mntwinsfan]

Ha, I did not need my pen to much this season. My top three had like 68 wins. I moved a sp to the pen. I am not worried whatsoever. Back to back seasons with the most wins. My team is good enough to get it done. Koz when have you beat me in the playoffs?? I have played Mission the past three season round 1. So get your comments correct.

[bipster]

mntwinsfan-

In fairness, 3 out of the 5 teams in your division would have finished in last place in the other 2 National League divisions. That could have lead to the best record in the league as anything. And just so you know, yes I do realize that 2 of the teams in my division didn't break 60 wins....but if I had the best record in the American League (which I do...tied) I am a realist and understand that my team is not that good.

[bipster]

After further review:

your records vs the divisions:
58-18 (.763 win %) vs NL West
20-16 (.556 win %) vs NL Central
15-17 (.469 win %) vs NL East
6-12 (.333 win %) vs Interleague

While only a small number of games vs the other divisions, these stats would indicate to me that you would not be good enough to win it all, and not even good enough to win other divisions if you had the same team playing in them.

[mntwinsfan]

F'ing amazing I did not win one game in the playoffs. Since this is another year of "I can't win in the playoffs" I am going to rebuild.

Fire Sale in San Francisco.

[Porter]

Its great that the two youngest teams in the NL are facing off in the LCS