The MLB playoffs came into October with more drama and coverage than ever in recent memory. There was a race until the last day of the season for both wildcard spots and a close division race in four of the six divisions.
Now coming into the World Series, baseball has another exciting storyline. On one side are the young and exciting Texas Rangers, a team that has been there before and looks to cement their club as one of the majors’ elite by winning their first championship.
On the other side are the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals were not even expected to make the playoffs and had to rally from 10.5 games back in the wildcard standings during the final weeks of the regular season just to do so.
Despite the seemingly vast differences in regular season success (the Rangers won 96 to the Cardinals’ 90 games), the teams match up extremely well.
Batting
If there were one word to describe the Texas offense, it would be explosive. They scored 178 runs more than they surrendered in the regular season, and ranked in the top three in batting average, runs scored and home runs.
Those bats have not cooled off in the postseason either, averaging over five runs per game and coming off an impressive 15-5 demolition of the Detroit Tigers to win the American League.
The Cardinals obviously must be careful when pitching to American League MVP Nelson Cruz, who had eight hits in the series, six of which were homers, and 13 RBI. The most incredible thing about the Rangers, however, is that Cruz only bats seventh.
Above him are mashers Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler, who have batted in a combined 22 runs these playoffs. If long time designated hitter Michael Young could find his stroke (he is batting only .209 with one homer), the Rangers could be even more powerful.
The Cardinals, however, are no slouches themselves, scoring the most runs in the National League this season. St. Louis is led by long time great Albert Pujols, batting over .400 with 10 RBI, and postseason sensation David Freese.
Freese has been on fire these playoffs, especially in the NLCS. Named the series MVP, Freese hit three homers and batted in nine runs while batting nearly .460. If he can keep his hot streak going, he will be hard for the Rangers to stop.
Veterans Lance Berkman (the comeback player of the year in the NL) and Matt Holliday are also dangerous players for the Cardinals, combining to bat in 11 runs. If outfielder/hitting machine Skip Schumaker can come back from an injury, the St. Louis offense will be even more potent.
Advantage: Texas
Pitching
Truth be told, neither team has excellent starting pitching.
Rangers ace C.J. Wilson has had a poor outing these playoffs, going 0-2 with a troubling ERA over eight. And while the other three Texas starters have a combined record of 3-1, none of them have an ERA below four, and none of them have pitched more than six innings in a game.
The Texas bullpen, on the other hand, has been very effective when called on, which has been frequently. Rangers relievers are 4-0, highlighted by fantastic work from Alexi Ogando and Scott Feldman, who have pitched a combined 18.3 innings with a combined ERA below one.
The Cardinals starters have basically the same story as their counterparts, with one exception: Ace Chris Carpenter has been huge. Carpenter pitched a complete game shutout to beat the Phillies in round one and picked up another win against the Brewers last series.
Other than Carpenter, the rotation has been shaky. Kyle Lohse and Jaime Garcia are both 0-2 with a combined ERA over seven, and while Edwin Jackson is 1-0, he has given up four homers in 12 innings.
While the rotation may have its shortcomings, the St. Louis bullpen makes up for it. They have been lights-out these entire playoffs, with five relievers having ERAs below two. Closer and overall clutch reliever Jason Motte, who through eight innings has only given up one hit, headlines the group that has been celebrated has the reason behind the Cardinals’ surprising
run.
Advantage: St. Louis
A version of this article appeared in the Oct 19 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 1 Comment Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
These are both good teams and either one can win this thing, but....
St. Louis has the edge. The stat advantage the Rangers have is an illusion inflated by being an American League team and their ballpark which is much more of a launching pad than Bush Stadium. Also, for most of the season, the Cardinals biggest guns had a number of injuries that limited them. They are healthy now and a much stronger team after eliminating several weak spots in the late season trades. They have much more of an AL type line up than most NL teams, and they have Pujols and he really is the best player in all of baseball right now.
Home field advantage and an underdog mentality add to those strengths.
The Rangers do have a great team as well. This will be a good matchup that either team could win. Anybody from either fan base who is bragging and trash talking is just plain stupid. Neither team is miles above the other, but when you deeper into the stats you have to give the Cardinals the nod.
Addi
Reply to this Top