Astros v. Braves

[atlfan25]

What are your thoughts on this series?

I, being biased as a Braves fan, think the Braves will prevail.

There will be some good pitching matchups.

Game 1 Smoltz/Hudson v. Pet e

Game 2 Smoltz/Hudson v. Clemens

Game 3 Sosa v. Oswalt

Smoltz is a postseason veteran. He knows how to win, especially in the playoffs. Therefore I have to favor him in any matchup. I know Pet e is as well, but Smoltz is as clutch as they get.

Game 3 seems like a definite advantage for Houston, but Sosa has been wrecking all year on the mound, and should be tough.

The Braves have the advantage at the plate. Furcal and Giles set the table well with the Jones' boys backing them up. Francoeur is a definite X factor offensively and could make a big impact, or could shrivel up. How well the rookies play for the Braves will be crucial.

The pen seems evenly matched. At the end of the games it is Farnsworth and Lidge. Lidge is one sick son of a on the mound, and Farnsworth has been as well since the trade. We'll see how he does in the postseason.

[TexasAggie2005]

Andy's been incredible the second half of the season. I don't know how you could give anyone the edge over him, even Smoltz. And then we've got Clemens in Game 2. I don't think I really even need to comment about him. Oswalt worries me a little, but at least he has a less talented Braves pitcher to go up against. And comparing your closer to Lidge is ridiculous. Brad Lidge is incredible. Plus the Astros bullpen (middle relief) is top-notch.

On the other hand, your hitting is leaps and bounds ahead of ours. Houston's offense just disappears for large stretches. I think it'll be a good series. Astros in four, maybe five.

[atlfan25]

Farnsworth has been as dominant as can be as the Braves closer(10/10), if he doesn't become a headcase, it is not ridiculous. His stuff is outright ridiculous and he's harnessed it thus far. Could it be cuz of leo?

Sosa is a wildcard for the Braves, he has pitched excellent as a starter. 13-3 2.55 era for the season. You just have to wonder if he will keep being able to get out of jams like he's been doing all year.

[Jimcs50]

Astros are very lucky that they did not have playoff on Maonday, as they would have had Backe for that game, and also they are lucky that they have Tuesday of too. Otherwise they would have had to start Rodriguez or Astacio in Game 1.

Now they will have Pet te, Clemens and Roy O all lined up for 1st 3 games, then have Backe in Game 4 and back to Pet te for game 5.

[Sense]

Astros have a better pitching IMO.

They should be able to beat ATL....


We'll see though.

[Horry For 3!]

Game 1 Smoltz v. Pet te

Game 2 Hudson v. Clemens

Game 3 Sosa v. Oswalt

Pitching defintely favors the Astros in this match-up. Smoltz hasn't been so great as a SP this year. Hudson is pretty good but not lights out like Clemens. It is safe to say Oswalt OWNS Sosa.

[TexasAggie2005]

Plus Houston has the real NL rookie of the year, Willy Taveras. Not that poser Francouer.

[atlfan25]

Pitching defintely favors the Astros in this match-up. Smoltz hasn't been so great as a SP this year. Hudson is pretty good but not lights out like Clemens. It is safe to say Oswalt OWNS Sosa.

I don't know that a guy with 230 innings and an era of 3.06 and whip of 1.15 is not so great a starting pitcher.

Oswalt could own Sosa, but you aren't saying that cuz the way Sosa has pitched this year. Just that he hasn't established himself over a long period.

[Sense]

I don't know that a guy with 230 innings and an era of 3.06 and whip of 1.15 is not so great a starting pitcher.

Oswalt could own Sosa, but you aren't saying that cuz the way Sosa has pitched this year. Just that he hasn't established himself over a long period.

I've seen both of the pitchers throughout the season.. had them both in my leagues.


Oswalt is by far better than Sosa.

And Smoltz could beat Pet e.....IMO.

[TexasAggie2005]

Game 1 Smoltz v. Pet te

Game 2 Hudson v. Clemens

Game 3 Sosa v. Oswalt

Pitching defintely favors the Astros in this match-up. Smoltz hasn't been so great as a SP this year. Hudson is pretty good but not lights out like Clemens. It is safe to say Oswalt OWNS Sosa.

Where did you get this?

MLB.com has Hudson going game one and Smoltz game two.

[atlfan25]

http://www.ajc.com/sunday/content/ep...1d13300c4.html


The Braves will decide after today's bullpen session whether John Smoltz (shoulder) starts Game 1 or Game 2 of the NLDS.


Hadn't heard the results of the pen. But apparently Mlb.com and ESPN are confliction the game 1 starter.

[Hook Dem]

What are your thoughts on this series?

I, being biased as a Braves fan, think the Braves will prevail.

There will be some good pitching matchups.

Game 1 Smoltz/Hudson v. Pet e

Game 2 Smoltz/Hudson v. Clemens

Game 3 Sosa v. Oswalt

Smoltz is a postseason veteran. He knows how to win, especially in the playoffs. Therefore I have to favor him in any matchup. I know Pet e is as well, but Smoltz is as clutch as they get.

Game 3 seems like a definite advantage for Houston, but Sosa has been wrecking all year on the mound, and should be tough.

The Braves have the advantage at the plate. Furcal and Giles set the table well with the Jones' boys backing them up. Francoeur is a definite X factor offensively and could make a big impact, or could shrivel up. How well the rookies play for the Braves will be crucial.

The pen seems evenly matched. At the end of the games it is Farnsworth and Lidge. Lidge is one sick son of a on the mound, and Farnsworth has been as well since the trade. We'll see how he does in the postseason.

Equals = "I think the Braves will triumph", and I don't blame you since you're a Braves fan. We will just have to wait and see.

[Spurminator]

Smoltz is supposedly not 100%... Normally I hate going against the Braves in the first round, but I think we might have the advantage this year. While the Braves lineup scares me (especially Furcal because he kills us) the Astros always seem to get the timely hits.

I'm going into the series with cautiously low expectations... , I think it's amazing that the Astros even made the Playoffs considering their cir stances this year.

[GrandeDavid]

Not only do I think the Astros will win this series, but I think they´ll get it done in four this year. The Astros have too strong of pitching and have worked too much magic in just making the playoffs to let it fizzle out just yet.

[GrandeDavid]

ESPN´s entire baseball analyst crew picks the Astros to win that series.

Gammons: 3-2

Miller: 3-2

Crasnick: 3-1

Neel: 3-2

Neyer: 3-2

[samikeyp]

Go...

[Horry For 3!]

Where did you get this?

MLB.com has Hudson going game one and Smoltz game two.

Yahoo Sports has it Smoltz vs Pet te game one.

[TexasAggie2005]

Braves to go with Hudson, not Smoltz in Game 1

article

[Silver21_Black20]

I'm a huge Braves fan for about 8 years now so I say Braves win 3-2. Offense is killer with The Jones'. They've struggled the last couple of playoff series' so this is the year they prevail.

[2pac]

I, being biased as a Braves fan, think the Braves will prevail.

Make that ultra-homer Braves fan.

Smoltz is a postseason veteran. He knows how to win, especially in the playoffs. Therefore I have to favor him in any matchup. I know Pet e is as well, but Smoltz is as clutch as they get.

Pet te is hotter than any pitcher in baseball.
The first advantage Pet te has over Smoltz is that he is healthy. The second is he has the second best ERA in the NL.

Game 3 seems like a definite advantage for Houston, but Sosa has been wrecking all year on the mound, and should be tough.

Name every player in baseball to win 20 games in each of the last two seasons:
Roy Oswalt

You dont even bother trying to talk about Hudson vs Clemens. Not much to say about the Rocket - who had an ERA almost 1 run LOWER than the next closest non-astro. This is a man who has been there.

The pen seems evenly matched. At the end of the games it is Farnsworth and Lidge. Lidge is one sick son of a on the mound, and Farnsworth has been as well since the trade. We'll see how he does in the postseason.

No one is even close to the Astro's bullpen.
Lidge is absolutely brilliant. In 135 innings in the last two years he has 260 strikeouts. Name another pitcher to have a 2k/inning ratio. Only 43 pitchers had more strikeouts in the last two seasons - all of which were starters, all of which had much more than 135 innings.

On May 24 the Astros were 15-30. Since that date they are 73-42 - the best record in baseball. That is the date that Pet te got healthy and Lance Berkman found his grove after coming back from tearing his ACL.

[Horry For 3!]

Alright well it is Pet te vs Hudson....Pet te will still win.

[atlfan25]

I just love homers like pac

[Sense]

I just love homers like pac

I actually agree with 2pac.


Except that Pet e will easily win against Smoltz..



Besides that matchup.... Astros should get it.

[atlfan25]

I know what the deal is with the Braves. Smoltz will be no problem.

Its damn time the started.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

The Astros need to have someone get hot like beltran did last year, if they can get some run support they are easily good enough to make it to the world series.