Welcome students as Major League Baseball begins its
postseason. We are going to cover all of the A’s and Giants games until both
teams are either in the World series or eliminated from title contention. So we
open up with the upstart and surprising Oakland Athletics and the tough and
hardened Detroit Tigers squad. Both teams are hot and both come into this
series having basically stolen the division title from the teams that held 1st
place for most of the year. So now lets get down to the grades…
Game #1 – Oakland Athletics
(J.Parker 13-8, 3.47 ERA) at Detroit Tigers (j.Verlander 17-8, 2.64 ERA)
Batting: OAK: B+/DET:
A-: The Bats of the upstart Athletics are hot. They lead the A’s to AL West
title with a little help from Josh Hamilton. But overall Cespedes and the Boys
are going good and if they can keep it up against Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander
in Game 1. They will need all bats to be focused in order to get the job done
but if the bats can keep it close the A’s can pull it out. The Tigers on the
other hand sport the 1st Triple Crown winner since 1967. Miguel
Cabrera has been a consistent all season long and I don’t know if the young
pitchers of the Athletics can handle this lineup. But they cant be to afraid
being they shutdown the Rangers…
Pitching: OAK:
B+/DET: A: The Athletics are going with youth to start this series. Whereas
the Tigers are going with experience. Jerrod Parker has had a great rookie
season. One of many for young A’s pitchers Parker ended the season with 13 wins
and a sub 3.50 ERA. So he gets the nod against a tough Detroit lineup. All he
has to do is hold early and don’t give up a lot of runs and the A’s will have a
chance with their bullpen. The Tigers are putting their best foot forward to
start the series. Justin Verlander has 2 no hit games to his career credit and
a Cy Young award. So the A’s bats are in trouble. If they can get one off of
him that will be good…
Bench: OAK: B/DET:
B+: both teams have deep benches so this should be interesting to see how
both Melvin and Lealand use their benches. Both managers are very frugal. So don’t
expect too much of a chess game in Game 1. But watch this throughout the
series. Guys like Stephen Drew and Johnny Gomes ect. These will be the players
that propel the Athletics to victory in this series…
Final Score: A’s 3,
Tigers 2
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