NLDS: Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals

[ian2813]

So how will this matchup turn out?

[Bothrops Atrox]

These series are all close to toss-ups, given the nature of two above average teams playing in a shortened series. If I was forced to do an analysis...

The fact that Strasburg is out and Carp is suddenly "in" out of nowhere makes this one more intriguing that it would have looked a month ago. Therefore, after Gonzales, the Cards might have a better starting staff. I'd take the Card's offense too, of course.

HFA for Washington is almost gone with the first 2 being in St. Louis, and of course WASH has the much better defense and bullpen and Gonzales is the best pitcher in the series...unless Carp and Wainwright go all 2009-2010 on everybody.

Bottom line: Defending champs + 3rd best run differential in baseball + 9 All Stars (none of which are Motte or Craig) + Carp back = an 88 win team that NOBODY wants to play.

My brain knows that it is a statistical toss-up, my heart tells me the Cardinals win this one, but it is hard to separate what you want to happen and what you think will happen. OF course I don't want to be accused as a homer, so...

Nats 3 - Cards 2

[StanTheMan]

Go ahead and accuse me! Cards in just TWO then. Unprecedented!!

[ol' aches and pains]

I'm for the Nats/Expos/Senators, I'm picking them to go all the way.

[ian2813]

Well, it's all tied up. I'm glad the Cardinals got those runs out of their system. Hopefully the Nationals can shut them down in front of the fans in Washington.

[Bulldog19]

Happy Flight!

[StanTheMan]

The Cards played a great game tonight. Big sticks and lots of them, long ball, flashing the leather, excellent Baserunning, and solid bullpen work.

Big advantage for the Nationals though. Next three at their place.... A fully deserved advantage. They had an excellent season, and won a game on the road. I love the 2-3 for that reason. It allows the team that is a better seed to grab one game on the road (which a lot of good teams will be able to do) and enjoy three straight straight at home if needed.

MUCH better than a 2-2-1 in my opinion.

[Bothrops Atrox]

The Nats have the next three at home, but I would take Carp over Jackson and Loshe over Detweiler anyday, I think it will come down to who is better in game 5, Waino or Gio.

[ol' aches and pains]

The Nats have the next three at home, but I would take Carp over Jackson and Loshe over Detweiler anyday, I think it will come down to who is better in game 5, Waino or Gio.

The Nats are going to wish they had Strasburg available before this is over, I'm afraid.

[Evangelion]

Zimmermann got hit hard.

[PlanetZoltan]

The Cards played a great game tonight. Big sticks and lots of them, long ball, flashing the leather, excellent Baserunning, and solid bullpen work.

Big advantage for the Nationals though. Next three at their place.... A fully deserved advantage. They had an excellent season, and won a game on the road. I love the 2-3 for that reason. It allows the team that is a better seed to grab one game on the road (which a lot of good teams will be able to do) and enjoy three straight straight at home if needed.

MUCH better than a 2-2-1 in my opinion.

I agree StanTheMan, its a huge advantage for the higher seed. Look at the Reds, they need to take just one out of three at home to win that series because they won both road games. And it eliminates a travel day. MLB should keep the 2 away- 3 home set up, IMO.

[ian2813]

The Cards played a great game tonight. Big sticks and lots of them, long ball, flashing the leather, excellent Baserunning, and solid bullpen work.

Big advantage for the Nationals though. Next three at their place.... A fully deserved advantage. They had an excellent season, and won a game on the road. I love the 2-3 for that reason. It allows the team that is a better seed to grab one game on the road (which a lot of good teams will be able to do) and enjoy three straight straight at home if needed.

MUCH better than a 2-2-1 in my opinion.

Fans of the Oakland A's might disagree, as they've lost the first two on the road to a lower seed, and now have to win three at home. They could still do it, of course, but if they don't, someone will surely argue that the Tigers got the early momentum from starting the series in their home ballpark. For that reason, I doubt MLB would adopt the 2-3 format permanently.

[StanTheMan]

Because the A's lost two road game?? That will be .000001% of any potential adoption of a playoff format. At least one team each year in a 2-2-1 format or 2-2-1-1-1 seven game format (or even 2-3-2) eliminates the better teams' home field advantage. Reason(s) for a change or permanent adoption of any format will be driven primarily by television or other $ based considerations.

[ian2813]

Because the A's lost two road game?? That will be .000001% of any potential adoption of a playoff format. At least one team each year in a 2-2-1 format or 2-2-1-1-1 seven game format (or even 2-3-2) eliminates the better teams' home field advantage. Reason(s) for a change or permanent adoption of any format will be driven primarily by television or other $ based considerations.

Not specifically because of the A's, but because of the counterargument that it allows the lower seed to get an early lead, which might give them a psychological advantage. If they switched to the 2-3 format, I'm sure a lot of people would make that complaint.

[RaysFan_98]

Harper barley missed a two run shot.