ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Pitching matchups have been set for the first four games of the World Series, and they're exactly what we expected.
Game 1: LHP Cole Hamels (14-10, 3.09) vs. LHP Scott Kazmir (12-8, 3.49)
Game 2: RHP Brett Myers (10-13, 4.55) vs. RHP James Shields (14-8, 3.56)
Game 3: LHP Jamie Moyer (16-7, 3.71) vs. RHP Matt Garza (11-9, 3.70)
Game 4: RHP Joe Blanton (4-0, 4.20) vs. RHP Andy Sonnanstine (13-9, 4.38)
Also, Charlie Manuel hasn't announced his decision on a Game 1 designated hitter, but he indicated he'd likely use a right-handed hitter against Kazmir, a lefty. To me, that means one of two things:
a) Chris Coste will DH.
b) Pat Burrell will DH, and So Taguchi or Eric Bruntlett will play left field.
A few notes on those options:
-Coste was 3-for-32 after Aug. 29 and has had one postseason at-bat.
-Burrell hates being a DH, and it shows. He's a .153 hitter with one homer and seven RBIs as a DH in his career.
-Taguchi batted .289 in his 12 starts this season, although 11 of those starts came before June 1.
So, you be the manager. Who would you DH tomorrow night?
***Finally, the Backstreet Boys will sing the National Anthem tomorrow night. Got any Backstreet Boys fans out there.
4 comments:
I'd DH coste. Using Bruntlett or Taguchi, whether as a DH or not, is effectively using them as a DH. Coste can at least hit lefties pretty well. Stairs might even be a valid option. His platoon split is mild compared to other power lefties and he still hits lefties nearly as well as Coste does anyway.
Does Burrell really hate DHing? Has he said this, or he just does it poorly historically?
Matt S.: Burrell really doesn't like DHing. He's on the record with that. I think I've written it a few times over the past few years during inter-league play. He doesn't like sitting around between at-bats. Believe it or not, he'd rather be in the field, involved in the game. Kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it, how he'll react if an American League team makes him a big free-agent offer to be its DH?
Why not use Taguchi. He has a history of being good in the postseason. Why not give him a shot in the 9 hole. He can't be any worse or better then Coste or Bruntlett.
He's a ballplayer - he'll take the $$$
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