Diamondbacks Bullpen

shoewizard

Step by step boys...step by step.

Chris24Young · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:12 pm Post subject:

Make it easy on everyone and SWEEP
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TAP · Face of the Franchise Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 7693

Even with Chicago's defeated attitude, this start makes me nervous. Hopefully the Cubs undisciplined approach will lead them to chase Livan's junk. We've seen 23 Cubs K's already through 2 games.

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Arizona Diamondbacks
- 2007 National League West Champions
- 2007 NLDS Winners
- 2008 World Champions

stu · Veteran Presence Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 1799

Who is behind the plate? Can we fly (or airlift) in Eric Gregg?

baldmaga · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:38 pm Post subject:

Greg Gibson.

Last Dbacks game he was behind home for was Owings' gem a week ago in Pittsburgh.

Some trends...

* Home team is 5-1 in Gibson's last 6 games behind home plate vs. Chicago.
* Under is 4-1-1 in Gibson's last 6 games behind home plate vs. Arizona.
* Under is 6-2 in Gibson's last 8 games behind home plate vs. Chicago.
* Home team is 6-2 in Gibson's last 8 games behind home plate vs. Arizona.
* Home team is 11-5 in Gibson's last 16 Saturday games behind home plate.
* Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 games with Gibson behind home plate.

Just to comply with the O/U stats: Current O/U is 9.5

He calls a big strike zone though, with 61% strikes (Game 1's ump Ed Montague was 62% for reference)

whatuwant · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:55 pm Post subject:

I'm not too worried, Livan will be on a miniscule sized hook, i just hope that he can minimize the implosion to <4 runs.
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Eric Byrnes: Admiral of Awesome

FatLeprechaun · Veteran Presence Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 1243

I'm nervous about this game. Livan is arguably the worst pitcher making a start in the playoffs.

If the series gets to 2-1, it can get to 2-2 in a blink of the eye. Then all bets are off for game 5.

Which is why game 3, like the rest of the games in this series, is MUST WIN.

Go D-Backs!

Ozzy · Journeyman Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 293

There are two types of Livans, a mediocre at best one that somehow manages to wiggle off the hook in most of his innings and the terrible one that can't escape and gives up all of those runs.

Please be the mediocre one. 6 innings and 3 runs or less is all I ask for.

Oden · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:12 pm Post subject:

Eric Gregg is dead.

stu · Veteran Presence Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 1799

TAP · Face of the Franchise Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 7693

Derrek Lee might want to give his teammates a pep talk based on his own experience. He was a member of the 2003 Florida Marlins who came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Cubs in a National League Championship Series that's memorable for all the wrong reasons in Chicago.

But Lee acknowledges it will not be easy.

"Give them some credit," he said of the Diamondbacks. "They play good baseball, they put pressure on us with their speed. We see why they have a good team over there. They play well.

Melissa Isaacson / The Chicago Tribune
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Arizona Diamondbacks
- 2007 National League West Champions
- 2007 NLDS Winners
- 2008 World Champions

Robert S. · Hall of Famer Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 2942

This game worries me because Melvin's pattern has been to give Livan a free pass on at least the first handful of runs he allows. Melvin + playoffs + Livan + Cubs team that can hit home runs in bunches = perfect storm for a game to get out of control in a hurry. And that's before thinking about the possibility of the wind blowing out tomorrow.

Livan probably needs a vaseline beard.

TAP · Face of the Franchise Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 7693

Livan is focused...

"A lot of [Cubs are] struggling right now," Hernandez said. "You've got to take advantage and do the same job. I've got to ... see the best way we can [defeat] these guys because you don't know when they will wake up and start hitting."

The Cubs are batting .179 in the playoffs. Their three big sluggers — Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez — are hitting a combined .148 with no RBIs.

.... all the while working his campaign for a fat 2008 free-agent contract ... Wink

"This field is great because the fans here in Chicago are some of the best fans in baseball," he said Friday at Wrigley Field. "It's great when you're in this situation. The stadium is going to be packed and crazy and people screaming. It's great for baseball. I love it."

Dave van Dyck / The Chicago Tribune

Rich Hill will be on the hill for the home nine. On his left arm, in his October debut, rides the fate of the 2007 Cubs.

His worthy opponent will be Livan Hernandez, a right-hander who has been around for so long he might have thrown an inning in that last World Series game at Wrigley Field back in 1945. Livan is rumored to be slightly younger than the ivy.

"Let's see what happens in our home park and go from there," Piniella said after the 3-1 and 8-4 flops in Phoenix, where more than 48,000 fans cheered for their heroes, Chris Who, Stephen What and Doug I Don't Know.

Mike Downey / The Chicago Tribune
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Arizona Diamondbacks
- 2007 National League West Champions
- 2007 NLDS Winners
- 2008 World Champions

B. O. N. D. · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:03 am Post subject:

Sorry guys... this game, Livan shines.

Because, face it... you can't stand my avatar any longer. Cool

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Gorfo57 · Veteran Presence Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 1834

Livo, the disciple of Yoda:

TAP · Face of the Franchise Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 7693

Orlando Thill Hudson · Guest

Good catch, Tap.

I'm off for a long day of tailgating followed by some of the great American game at Clemson's Memorial Stadium tonight. It's time for us to put an end to the national useless lovefest that's been following around Virginia Tech and their bunch of thug Hokies.

In other news, I think Livan brings his best stuff tonight....

And we win 9-8.

Bust the Cubs like they're Frank Beamer's neck bubble.

Go Tigers!

and Go Diamondbacks!

qudjy1 · Hall of Famer Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 4282

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=hernali01

Livo has a 2.92 ERA at wrigley, 4.04 ERA vs cubs in his career.
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Arizona Diamondbacks - 2007 NL West Champions

shoewizard · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:56 am Post subject:

Livan didn't face the Cubs this year at all. He faced them twice in 2006, both while with Washington, and did OK.

13 IP, 1-1, 3.46 ERA, 1.54 WHIP

I like the fact that they have not seen him this year at all.

I think Livan's game plan today should be to try to sneak his "fastball" in early in the count during the first two innings, and just make sure he gets ahead of batters. He'll probably give up a couple of hits that way, but maybe he'll get a double play too. He needs a quick first couple of innings, to give the offense a chance to get out in front and score a couple of runs of Hill.

Then, once the Cubs start to press because they are down, he can go into "nothing but slop" mode and let them chase.

The D backs MUST get to Hill early in this game. If they allow him to settle in, it will give the Cubs hitters the confidence to wait Livan out.

qudjy1 · Hall of Famer Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 4282

shoewizard · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:10 am Post subject:

Some info from Rich Hill's Splits Page

He gave up 24 homers in 642 PA vs. RHB, but besides that, didn't give them much. He is death on Lefty's. Montero better have a good game behind the plate. The odds are stacked against him in the batters box. Drew too.

Vs RHB .247/.316/.416
Vs. LHB .191/.263/.309

Hill did a little better ERA Wise on the road than at home this year

6-2 4.26 Home ERA
5-6 3.66 Road ERA

Most of that ERA difference is probably park effect.....Wrigley played like an extreme hitters park this year, the wind must have been blowing out most of the time. Obviously he was tough to beat in Chicago.

Hill had an up and down September. He was great on September 12th and September 29th, and just OK on September 22, but terrible on Sept 2nd, 7th, and 17th. I owned him in Roto this year. He was very inconsistent. He seemed like one of those "Every other Start" guys. But the bottom line is that he is a very good pitcher, who when he is on, will dominate you.

1.53 ERA in his 11 Wins
8.53 ERA in his 8 losses
3.62 ERA in his 13 no decision.

Last thought:

THIS is the game Spazz needs to step up. He has a Good record vs Hill, with a a double and a homer among his 3 hits in 9 AB. He also has a walk.

So today is the day the board gets to eat crow. Livan is efficient, and works 7 innings, the D Backs get an early lead due to some heroics by Byrnes, and the Cubs go down in flames.

How does that work for optimism?

moviegeekjn · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:11 am Post subject:

shoewizard · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:18 am Post subject:

By the way....Little League game at 2 today, and I won't be home till about 4:30

The game starts 3PM our time here in AZ, 5 PM in Chicago. So I'll be watching on DVR, and I won't be around for the game thread till the end or even after the game. Being it's a playoff game, I might do a bit less fast forwarding.

Goose · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:31 am Post subject:

Add me to the list of people who are a little nervous about today's game. Come on Livan, please don't suck.
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tmar · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 2347