Mets vs. Dodgers: The Maine Man?
This is going to be interesting. The Mets spent the entire season looking like the only good team in the National League, but as the NLDS begins, their best-known pitcher is unavailable, the guy who was going to replace him as the game one starter is also hurt, and their ubervaluable centerfielder has a very sore thigh and is not 100%. The Dodgers finished the season very strong, emerging from the pack of wild card contenders looking strong, but they'll be starting a rookie with a 1-5 record in game four.
The two least known starters on each staff could hold the keys. John Maine will take over as the game one (and game five, if needed) starter. Maine made 15 starts for the Mets this year, allowing only 69 hits in 90 innings while striking out 71. He did allow 15 homers; however, the Dodgers help minimize this, as they hit the second fewest homers in the league this year. If the ball stays in the park, Maine is very effective, and could be a big surprise.
The Mets will need him to be, because after Tom Glavine starts game two, they are pretty screwed. Steve Trachsel, who was 15-8 this year despite being frankly terrible (185 hits allowed, 78-79 BB-K ratio in 164 2/3 innings, 4.97 ERA) will pitch game three. For game four, they are reaching all the way down to Oliver Perez, 3-13, 6.55 split between the Pirates and Mets. Without looking, I can't think of a pitcher with a worse record ever starting a postseason game.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, will start rookie Hong-Chih Kuo in game four. Kuo was 1-5, 4.22 and has some control issues, but he struck out 71 in 59 2/3 innings. More importantly, he's a lefthander, and the Mets struggle a lot against lefties. If the Mets can't win two of the first three games, Kuo might slam the door in their faces.
Both teams have very strong bullpens, although the Dodgers suffered a blow this morning when lefthander Joe Beimel cut his hand badly on broken glass in his hotel room and will be out for the series. With the Mets' troubles with lefthanders, that's a big loss.
The Mets clearly were the class of the league from April through September. But they are up against it right now. If they don't win both games at home to start the series, they're going to facing a long winter.
The two least known starters on each staff could hold the keys. John Maine will take over as the game one (and game five, if needed) starter. Maine made 15 starts for the Mets this year, allowing only 69 hits in 90 innings while striking out 71. He did allow 15 homers; however, the Dodgers help minimize this, as they hit the second fewest homers in the league this year. If the ball stays in the park, Maine is very effective, and could be a big surprise.
The Mets will need him to be, because after Tom Glavine starts game two, they are pretty screwed. Steve Trachsel, who was 15-8 this year despite being frankly terrible (185 hits allowed, 78-79 BB-K ratio in 164 2/3 innings, 4.97 ERA) will pitch game three. For game four, they are reaching all the way down to Oliver Perez, 3-13, 6.55 split between the Pirates and Mets. Without looking, I can't think of a pitcher with a worse record ever starting a postseason game.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, will start rookie Hong-Chih Kuo in game four. Kuo was 1-5, 4.22 and has some control issues, but he struck out 71 in 59 2/3 innings. More importantly, he's a lefthander, and the Mets struggle a lot against lefties. If the Mets can't win two of the first three games, Kuo might slam the door in their faces.
Both teams have very strong bullpens, although the Dodgers suffered a blow this morning when lefthander Joe Beimel cut his hand badly on broken glass in his hotel room and will be out for the series. With the Mets' troubles with lefthanders, that's a big loss.
The Mets clearly were the class of the league from April through September. But they are up against it right now. If they don't win both games at home to start the series, they're going to facing a long winter.
posted by Jim at
2:03 PM
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