Postseason Notebook–The Debut Edition

Hey, I’m just like the rest of you. I really have no defense for Lou Piniella’s decision to remove Carlos Zambrano after only six innings and 85 pitches. Piniella’s explanation that he wanted to limit Zambrano’s pitches in order to bring him back in the series on short rest runs counter to the way that he has previously managed in the postseason. "Sweet Lou" has almost always managed all-out to win each playoff game—and that’s the right way to do it. I also don’t buy the argument about Carlos Marmol, who had a terrific second half for the Cubs, being as strong an option as Zambrano. When your starting pitcher is mowing down the opposition and showing no signs of fatigue, there is simply no reasonable defense to remove him from the game…

While the Cubs are down one game to none, I’m sticking with them as my pick to win the series—and the entire National League pennant. To me, they’re still a better selection than the youthful Diamondbacks. I just can’t see a team featuring Tony "The Tiger" Clark as it cleanup hitter being the favorite to represent the NL in the World Series. But then again, I picked the Phillies to beat the Rockies, so I could be very wrong…

In the American League, I’m ready to jump on the Josh Beckett Bandwagon that now proclaims him the best starting pitcher in the game. His curveball is arguably the best in baseball, his fastball is deadly above the belt, and the strength of his lower body allows him to retain the sharpness of his pitches well into the late innings. The leverage that Beckett creates with his legs, giving his delivery balance and strength, also helps make him the No. 1 pitching weapon in the postseason…

That said, I’ll have to stick with my original pick of the Angels (I can’t bail after only one game), whom I expect will face the Indians in the Championship Series. The Yankees just have too much recent history of not hitting in the postseason, especially when they face quality pitching the caliber of C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona. And the Yankees will need to have at least one or two big offensive games to have a chance of winning this series. The Yankees, however, did do a good job in constructing their postseason roster. They were smart to include unprovens like Ross Ohlendorf and Jose Veras, who recorded some huge outs down stretch, and bypass Ron Villone, who is mediocre against left-handed batters. Another smart addition was minor league outfielder Bronson Sardinha, who gives the Pinstripes a legitimate pinch-runner to replace Miguel Cairo. With slow boats like Jorge Posada and Jason Giambi, a pinch-running option could become a necessity in the late innings.