Talking Chop

While we can't root for our beloved Atlanta Braves once again this post-season, that doesn't mean hardcore fans of baseball like us just go into a closet all winter and hide. As Fox and TBS have so often reminded us, "anything can happen in October," and when was Bon Jovi ever wrong? (You could also just laugh at the irony that the TBS commercial that shows Bon Jovi singing "I Love This Town" was shot in New York's Central Park... and there are no NY teams in the post-season this year... oh, what joy.)

Any-hoo, I figured I'd throw up some open threads until we get tired of them. Feel free to stop by and make fun of Chip Caray or slander Tim McCarver. You could talk about the possibility of an all-Los Angeles World Series, or an all-Chicago World Series. Put some predictions up and then watch them bet blown away, because as we all know, anything can happen in October.

Here are 10-points about each of the National League series that start today via Billy Ball:

PHILADELPHIA VS MILWAUKEE

1. The Phils were 5-1 against Milwaukee this season.
2. The Phillies bullpen led the NL with a 3.22 ERA.
3. The Phils were 27-23 in one run games. The Brewers were 28-17 in one run games.
4. Dale Sveum has a 7-5 record…in regular season play.
5. It has been 9,478 days since the Brewers lost Game 7 of the 1982 World Series, their last post-season appearance.
6. The Phillies scored 799 runs and allowed 680 runs. The Brewers scored 750 runs and allowed 689 runs.
7. Phillies pinch-hitters hit .253 second in the NL to Atlanta. The Brewers pinch-hitters hit .211.
8. The Phils stole 136 bases. The Brewers stole 108.
9. The Phils led the NL with 214 homers. The Brewers slammed 198.
10. In case you’ve forgotten, the Milwaukee Brewers were once the Seattle Pilots.

CHICAGO VS LOS ANGELES

1. The Cubs were 5-2 against the Dodgers this season.
2. The Chicago Cubs led the NL in runs scored, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
3. Lou Piniella's teams have one World Championship (the Reds in 1990). They have lost twice in the DS (1997 ALDS with the Mariners and 2007 NLDS with the Cubs) and in the ALCS three times with the Mariners (1995, 2000, 2001). Joe Torre has 76 post-season wins, the most of any manager in MLB history. He also has four rings.
4. The Cubs were 24-22 in one run games. The Dodgers were 19-24 in one run games.
5. The Dodgers led the NL with a 3.68 ERA. The Cubs ERA was 3.87.
6. The Cubs pitchers posted the lowest Batting Average Against in the NL at .242. The Dodgers were next at .251.
7. The Cubs scored 855 runs and allowed 671 runs. The Dodgers scored 700 runs and allowed 648 runs.
8. The Cubs led the NL with 329 doubles. The Dodgers doubled 271 times.
9. The Cubs led the NL in walks with 636. The Dodgers walked 543 times.
10. The Dodgers tied for NL Lead (with Washington) by grounding into 153 double plays. The Cubs grounded into 134.

 

I believe I will be rooting for the Brewers and the Cubs... but I'm not sure yet.