MLB Playoffs: NLDS

Back to baseball! It's finally time for the playoffs so I'm going to do at a glance how each team matches up/predictions. I'll group both NL teams in this one post because I know less about them.

Cincinnati vs Philly

Catcher: Ramon Hernandez vs. Carlos Ruiz. Advantage: Even. What a boring star to this! They're both average hitters with little power. Defensively, maybe Ruiz but in this case it's even enough.
First Base: Joey Votto vs. Ryan Howard. Advantage: Reds. Doesn't get much closer than this, but Votto walks more, strikes out less, and stole 16 bases as a first baseman. Just look at the OBP: .423 to .353. Votto doesn't make an our 42% of the time, Howard 35%. But it's close
Second Base: Brandon Phillips vs. Chase Utley. Advantage: Phillies. Another good match up but Utley is as good as they come. Last year he proved his success in October
Short Stop: Orlando Cabrera vs. Jimmy Rollins. Advantage: Phillies. This is kind of a crappy match up. Rollins is so much better if he's healthy, but this year neither guy did particularly well.
Left Field: Johnny Gomes vs. Raul Ibanez. Advantage: Phillies. Raul is better, but Gomes isn't too bad.
Center Field: Drew Stubbs vs. Shane Victorino. Advantage: Even. Look at the stats. OBP is even. Homers, RsBI, Walks, Average, Stolen bases.....all really close
Right Field: Jay Bruce vs. Jason Werth. Advantage: Phillies. Like in left, Phils have a guy out there who is just a bit better.
Starting Pitching. Advantage: Phillies. Reds do have a nice rotation but they don't meet up with Roy, Roy, and Cole.
Bullpen. Advantage: Even. Both have pretty solid pens.
Closer: Francisco Cordero vs. Brad Lidge. Advantage: Reds. Lidge had a nice year, but his track record hurts him in comparison to Cordero. Close match up up though.
Bench. Advantage: Even. Not the best benches. It's really Laynce Nix vs. Ross Gload

Overall Advantage: Phillies. Phillies in 4


Atlanta vs. San Francisco (Drink every time TBS compares Posey to Heyward!)

Catcher: Brian McCann vs. Buster Posey. Advantage: Braves. Brian McCann is top 3 catchers in the game. Good rookie year Buster, but you're not Brian McCann
First Base: Derrek Lee/Troy Glaus vs. Aubrey Huff. Advantage: Giants. The over the hill 1B in San Fran is better than the 2 over the hill ones in Atlanta.
Second Base: Martin Prado vs. Freddy Sanchez. Advantage: Even. They're both decent average second basemen with no power. Not worth looking at it closely.
Third Base: Chipper Jones vs. Pablo Sandoval. Advantage: Braves. About even in the stats, Chipper has the experience and a better OBP so why not.
Short Stop: Alex Gonzalez vs. Jaun Uribe. Advantage: Giants. Uribe has power.
Left Field: Omar Infante vs. Pat Burrell. Advantage: Giants. Turns out Pat the Bat IS still alive, and I refuse to acknowledge Infante in any positive way.
Center Field: Melky Cabrera vs. Aaron Rowand. Advantage: Wash. Not even. Wash. Both suck.
Right Field: Jason Heyward vs. Nate Scheirholtz. Advantage: Braves. He's pretty good for a rookie, stats show that.
Starting Pitching. Advantage: Giants. It's close, and I hate to give credit to any group that has Barry Zito, but Cain and Lincecum make up for it. Watch the Braves for the experience though.
Bullpen. Advantage: Braves. Both teams have good pens but I like the Braves a bit more.
Closer: Billy Wagner vs. Brian Wilson. Advantage: Braves. Wagner has a WHIP under 1. That's really damn good.
Bench. Advantage: Braves. Close strength in the benches, but the Braves have an over the hill first baseman on the bench each day AND Eric Hinske who has played in three straight World Series. Coincidence?

Overall Advantage: Braves. Braves in 5. Should be a good series.