Heres the playoff matchups.

[Burn531]

A's in 4
NYM in 5
STL in 5
DET in 4

[RogerIsEatingASandwich]

minnesota in 4
yankees in 4
la in 5
san diego in 5

[shelshor]

Cards over Padres in 4
Mets over Dodgers in 3

Twins over A's in 4
Yankees over Tigers in 4

[MajorMike]

I said the likely Game 3 starter had no post-season wins

The Pads Game 1 starter has no post season wins.

[FromWayDowntown]

You guys keep talking about the starting pitching, but the bullpens tend to make the most difference in playoff baseball, particularly in the National League where managers are frequently forced to lift pitchers for offense. I don't think you can count on Carpenter and Suppan pitching 9 innings in each start. The pens are going to make a difference in this series. It might just be me, but I'll take the Padres pen over the Cardinals pen everyday of the week.

Trevor Hoffman vs. Adam Wainwright?

Check please.

[MajorMike]

Pads have the best pen in the League, no doubt if you are talking CLOSING a game. If the Pads are down, Hoffman doesn't pitch. The key is to use your offense to be ahead and not let Hoffman in the game. Easier said than done, but simple concept.

All in all, the Cards hit Hoffman for .333 this year.
They hit Peavy for .391.
Woody for .387.

Dessert tray?

[leemajors]

card middle relief leaves something to be desired. looper is great but he can't pitch every inning every game.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

If you want to go that route....Cardinals pitching vs. Padres (technically, Padres BA against Cards pitching)

Suppan - .349
Carpenter - .387
Looper - .500
Wainwright - .429

Weaver pitched once (and had a quality start) against the Padres (when he was with the Angels). His line:
6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R (all earned), 9K

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

The Pads Game 1 starter has no post season wins.

Wasn't Peavy pitching that game with cracked or broken ribs?

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Game 1 Probable Lineups vs. Opponent

Cards:

1. Eckstein - .417, 1 K, 2 BB, 2 RBI
2. Duncan - .154, 5 K, 1 HR, 1 RBI
3. Pujols - .333, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K, 1 SB
4. Encarnacion - .158, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
5. Rolen - .240, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 K
6. Edmonds - .231, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K
7. Belliard - .333, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K
8. Molina - .200, 1 RBI, 2 K
9. Carpenter - .000

Padres:

1. Roberts - .381, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 5 SB
2. Giles - .400, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K
3. Gonzales - .412, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 1 K
4. Piazza - .308, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
5. Branyan - .333, 2 K, 2 BB
6. Cameron - .320, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 SB
7. Blum - .250, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K
8. Barfield - .278, 1 RBI, 5 K
9. Peavy - .000

[FromWayDowntown]

I'm not in love with the Padres offense. But i have to say that if they hang close with the Cardinals through 5-6 innings, they have a monsterous advantage in late game situations. And I'm not sold that the Cardinals offense will beat around the Padres' pitching in the early innings.

Wasn't Peavy pitching that game with cracked or broken ribs?

He either had already cracked the rib before Game 1 of last year's NLDS, or he broke it during the game. He certainly didn't pitch well; how much of that was attributable to an injury will be seen (in part) in Game 1 of this year's NLDS. At least for his sake he knows he won't have to face Reggie Sanders.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the Padres are going to win by touchdowns and sweep the series, I'm just saying that people who honestly believe that the Cardinals can flip a switch and revert from the past month are mistaken.

[MajorMike]

Pads have the best pen in the League, no doubt if you are talking CLOSING a game. If the Pads are down, Hoffman doesn't pitch. The key is to use your offense to be ahead and not let Hoffman in the game. Easier said than done, but simple concept.

All in all, the Cards hit Hoffman for .333 this year.
They hit Peavy for .391.
Woody for .387.

Dessert tray?

You paying?

[FromWayDowntown]

You paying?

You're right. After one game, I'm pretty sure that the Cardinals are not only winning this series, but also the NLCS and the World Series.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

You're right. After one game, I'm pretty sure that the Cardinals are not only winning this series, but also the NLCS and the World Series.

Why are we even talking about it? I gave T Park the WS trophy already...these are simply exhibition games.

[T Park]

Just wondered what FWD thought about that Cardinal bully after today....

4 innings, 2 hits, about 5 or 6 strikeouts.

That Wainwright guy is ok I guess......

[MajorMike]

You're right. After one game, I'm pretty sure that the Cardinals are not only winning this series, but also the NLCS and the World Series.

Actually... if you take the time to read the thread and where the quotes came from... Blaze and I were dicussing pitching and closing. Please realize what you are talking about before trying to chunk spears.

Once again, Hoffman may be the best pitcher on either staff, but if he dont pitch his value is nil.

And it's 2 games now.

[resistanze]

Twins Sweep
Yanks in 5
Mets in 4
STL in 4

I meant A's.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Pads should tee off on Carpenter again. Chris Young will shut down as usual. Look for this to go at least 4, possibly 5.

I'd like to see Peavy again for game 4, or possibly Hensley and then Peavy for game 5. Can't figure out what's been wrong with Jake this year.

[T Park]

Pads should tee off on Carpenter again. Chris Young will shut down as usual. Look for this to go at least 4, possibly 5

first off, Suppan pitches tommorow, and again, he had 1 bad game VS the Padres.

Best National league pitcher ERA after the all star break.

back to back Cy Young Carpenter going in game 4 if it goes that far.

Prob time for Young to have his bad start for the year too.

Gotta love how all of Padredom has given zippo credit to the Cardinals.

Peavy and others have practically said its a "We lost it they didnt win it"

[leemajors]

first off, Suppan pitches tommorow, and again, he had 1 bad game VS the Padres.

Best National league pitcher ERA after the all star break.

back to back Cy Young Carpenter going in game 4 if it goes that far.

Prob time for Young to have his bad start for the year too.

Gotta love how all of Padredom has given zippo credit to the Cardinals.

Peavy and others have practically said its a "We lost it they didnt win it"

so padres fans aren't allowed to be blindly optimistic about their chances?

[TheSanityAnnex]

Peavy and others have practically said its a "We lost it they didnt win it"

Is it not true?

Who played better down the stretch of the season?

You speak as if the Cards have "crushed" the Padres.
Hardly.

The Padres simply haven't scored runs, something they do at Petco all the time.

I don't think the chances of the Pads advancing are very great, but don't count them out yet.

[T Park]

You speak as if the Cards have "crushed" the Padres.
Hardly

Cardinals 7 runs, Padres 1.

Thats pretty crushing.

The Padres simply haven't scored runs, something they do at Petco all the time

Cardinal pitching had nothing to do with it Im sure

so padres fans aren't allowed to be blindly optimistic about their chances?

Link to where I said that please?


MR Body was right, this place rivals SPursreport now on the asshole level.

[leemajors]

Cardinals 7 runs, Padres 1.

Thats pretty crushing.



Cardinal pitching had nothing to do with it Im sure




Link to where I said that please?


MR Body was right, this place rivals SPursreport now on the asshole level.

mr body is never right. i was just asking why you are picking on someone doing what you always do, being optimistic at every oppurtunity about their team.

[TheSanityAnnex]

I don't think the chances of the Pads advancing are very great, but don't count them out yet.

Should have been a blowout today. Oh well. A win is a win.
Get ready to see Peavy of old and make the trip back to Petco Mr. Park.