Enjoying a Metsless Postseason

Now that the post-season has taken my focus off the Mets I find life as a baseball fan so much more peaceful. Truth be told, I actually quite enjoy the playoffs when my team isn't in them.

Perhaps this is a matter of being conditioned that more often than not, the Mets are not playoff bound, but part of it also involves relishing the supreme lack of stress when your team is not in it. Instead of fretting over every pitch, you are a merely a bystander enjoying the game itself. Sure, you pick a surrogate team to root for but it’s all very casual. If they win, that’s nice. If they don’t, they’re not the Mets so it really doesn’t matter. Another perk is that you are not chained to the television for bizarre start times. You also can flip the channel if a game is boring without any guilt.

Yes, there is definitely something to be said for the detachment factor of a Metsless postseason. After a miserable effort in 2009, I can now watch the Yankees and see what kind of team can be built with a large payroll if the people spending the money do so judiciously. I can also proudly claim that Carlos Gomez, the Twins player who had the most impact on Yankees sweeping the A.L.D.S., is a product of the Mets’ farm system; a system where clearly base-running fundamentals are not on the current curriculum.

Or how about taking secret pleasure in the fact that there are other teams out there that can’t find a way to score with the bases loaded and no outs? Similarly, what about teams that head into the 9th inning with a lead only to blow games in the same ridiculous ways that I watched the Mets blow them this whole season?

Yes, fellow Mets fans, thus far the 2009 postseason has been a delight, even if only to make us feel better that at least our team wasn’t committing their heinous baseball crimes on the playoff stage. And with that I salute those players responsible for putting a small wry smile on my face this October. Matt Holliday, Jonathan Papelbon, Huston Street, Carlos Gomez, Joe Nathan and all the rest, a round of applause is in order! Keep up the good work and maybe, just maybe, at some point you’ll come to the Mets where bad fundamentals at exorbitant salaries are part of the culture. Read more!

NLDS: Colorado (92-70) vs. Philadelphia (93-69)

By Chris Pollay

The 2009 National League Division Series will feature two teams that pack a lot of punch at the plate. The Phillies lead the National League with runs scored (820), home runs (224) total bases (2,493) and SLG (.447). The Rockies placed second in the same categories: runs scored (804), home runs (190), total bases (2,378) and SLG (.441).

The Phillies, as usual, relied heavily on the long ball this season. Ryan Howard delivered another monster performance with 45 HRs (3rd best in MLB) and 141 RBIs (which tied Milwaukee's Prince Fielder for the most in MLB).

Also providing power in the Phillies' lineup was Jayson Werth with 36 HRs (ranked 7th in the NL) and 99 RBIs; Raul Ibañez with 34 HRs (ranked 9th in the NL) and 93 RBIs; and Chase Utley with 31 HRs and 93 RBIs. In fact, Philadelphia featured six players with at least 75 RBIs.

The Rockies proved to be potent, too, although they only had four players with that many RBIs: Troy Tulowitzki had 92 RBIs (and a team-high 32 homers); Brad Hawpe and Todd Helton each racked up 86 RBIs; and Clint Barmes tallied in 76.

The edge in the hitting department clearly goes to the Phillies, but the Rockies will be the most dangerous offense they will face in the National League playoffs.

Interestingly enough, the Rockies proved to be masters of patience and small ball, as well. The team lead the National League in two revealing categories: sacrifice flies (60) and base on balls (660).

The team also draws a lot of strength from one of the game's best and purest hitters over the past 13 seasons. During his career, Todd Helton has clipped a cumulative .328 batting average with 2,134 hits and 1,202 total RBIs.

This season, the future Hall-of-Famer batted .325, which was good enough to place 4th overall in the NL. He is the best hitter in the series.

The Phillies proved to be a much more potent baserunning squad with 119 stolen bases in 2009 (ranked 2nd in the NL). Rollins stole 31. Shane Victorino had 25. Utley had 23 and Werth had 20. The Rockies only have two significant basestealing threats: Dexter Fowley (27) and Troy Tulowitzki (20).

In terms of pitching the series is almost even with the Phillies holding the edge in the starting rotation and the Rockies barely boasting a better bullpen (largely because the starting closer position for the defending champs is a big question mark).

Overall, Philadelphia accrued a better team ERA: 4.16 to 4.24. The teams were virtually even in strikeouts (Colorado had 1,154 and Philly had 1,153), but the Phillies gave up 39 less walks and were ranked 2nd in the NL in that category with 489. On the flip side, Colorado gave up 48 less home runs in 2009.

Colorado does feature an impressive batch of starting pitchers: Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 3.47 ERA, 198 strikeouts), Jorge de la Rosa (16-9, 4.38 ERA, 193 strikeouts), Jason Marquis (15-13, 4.04 ERA, 115 strikeouts), Jason Hammel (10-8, 4.33 ERA, 133 strikeouts) and Aaron Cook (11-6, 4.16 ERA, 78 strikeouts).

The Phillies starters have pitched a lot less innings than their Colorado counterparts, but a large reason for that is because Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez were added to the team late in the season.

Regardless, the late additions have settled in nicely and have given the team a formidable "big five" rotation: Joe Blanton (12-8, 4.05 ERA, 163 strikeouts), Cole Hamels (10-11, 4.32 ERA, 168 strikeouts), J.A. Happ (12-4, 2.93 ERA, 119 strikeouts), Cliff Lee (7-4, 3.39 ERA, 94 strikeouts) and Pedro Martinez (5-1, 3.63 ERA, 50 strikeouts).

Forget the numbers, though. The Phillies have a World Series MVP (Hamels) and two former Cy Young winners (Lee and Martinez) on the roster. That makes for a better starting rotation no matter how you slice it.

That leads us to the bullpen, which is the Phillies' biggest weakness. How much will we see of Brad Lidge (7.21 ERA and eleven blown saves) during the series? Only Charlie Manuel knows. If Lidge does pitch, can he rise to the challenge like last season? It's hard to imagine that happening since his confidence has nosedived all season long.

So, the advantage in the closing department clearly goes to Colorado. Huston Street had 35 saves in 2009 (ranked 3rd in the NL) and was consistent with an impressive 3.06 ERA. Also of note, he only had two blown saves this year.

Overall, the Rockies converted 73.8% of their save opportunities, which ranked 3rd in the NL. The Phillies weren't as bad as they seemed. They converted 66.7% of their saves, which ended up 7th in the NL overall.

With the exception of the closing role, however, the Phillies have a more experienced and versatile bullpen which will give Manuel a lot of leeway in tight situations.

Other factors will come into play, as well. The Phillies were only 45-36 at home this season, but the playoffs are a different animal. The home field advantage will come into play, as will defense.

Philadelphia committed only 76 errors this season and held the 2nd best fielding percentage in the NL with .987. They also threw out base stealers 28% of the time while Colorado only threw out 19%.

Expect a much different outcome from the 2007 playoff series between these teams. Colorado may have swept the Phils in three games, but this year they are facing the defending champs and I suspect Philadelphia will wake up and rise to the occasion.

Final Result: Phillies in four games.

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Howard, Hamels Heating Up at the Right Time

By Chris Pollay

In order for the Philadelphia Phillies to advance far in the postseason this year, a lot of players are going to have to play well. However, I am still clinging to a little hope that the team can repeat because the team’s two key players are heating up just as the season is winding down.

Both Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels are capable of lifting the entire team on their shoulders and carrying them for significant stretches.

Of course, Hamels did precisely that for much of the playoff run during the 2008 championship season. He was 4-0 in five starts. Pitching an average of seven innings per start, his ERA was a phenomenal 1.80 for the entire postseason.

While Cole has struggled quite a bit in 2009 (10-9 record with a 4.07 ERA), he has proven to still be the Phillies’ workhorse. So far he has racked up more innings pitched (177) than any other starter on the club. He also leads the teams in strikeouts with 157.

The most exciting statistics, however, are the ones from Hamels' last five starts (since Aug. 26). In that time, he has elevated his game considerably. Not only has he has won three of his last four decisions, he has only given up 6 earned runs in his last 37.2 innings pitched (1.45 ERA).

He is back in control of his pitches and his changeup, in particular, has been downright merciless. As a result, he has been lasting longer in his starts, which is a very good sign. His World Series MVP hangover seems to be over and I believe he’s ready to take the mound as the bonafide ace of the team come next month.

While Hamels leads the team defensively, there is no question who the offensive leader of the team is The Big Man Ryan Howard. He has been a machine throughout his short career. In the past three seasons, he has racked up home runs at a staggering pace: 58 in 2006, 47 in 2007, and 48 in 2008.

So far this season, he has 41, and if the series against the Atlanta Braves this past weekend is any indication, he’s going to end the season on a tear. His three home runs and five RBIs helped the team win two of three crucial games.

Overall this season, Ryan is batting 20 points higher than last season (.271 vs. .251) and his OPS (On Base Plus Slugging Percentage) is higher: .917 vs. .881.

He also has obtained numerous career highs this season, including: most steals (7); most doubles (34); and has tied for most triples (4) even though the Phillies still have 14 more games to play.

With Howard and Hamels peaking at the right time, the team looks to be in pretty good shape. Their magic number is down to six and they’ve won 10 of their last 13 games.

I suppose I could focus more on some of the team’s weaknesses and trouble spots (and the team certainly has its share of both), but I prefer to take the positive approach as the postseason approaches.

And, of course, with Cole Hamels on the mound and Ryan Howard in the batter’s box, there certainly is a lot to feel positive about if you’re a Phillies’ fan.

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