Friday, July 4, 2008

World Series Preview

San Francisco Giants 107-55 v. Baltimore Orioles 117-45

This is the 1st World Series for San Francisco and the 5th for 4-time winner and defedning champ Baltimore. Baltimore had another ridiculous season racking up 117 and finishing 10 games better than San Francisco. However, the Giants boast a very strong pitching staff that could pose problems for the Baltimore bats that scored 1100 runs this year. Here is the preview:

OFFENSE:

Baltimore: 1110 Runs Scored - 1st in Majors
.293 Batting Average - 5th in Majors
.367 OBP - 2nd in Majors
.513 Slugging Percentage -2nd in Majors

Key Hitters: SS Sammy Alexander - 47 HR, 130 RBI in 122 games
OF Ron McCallum - .317 Avg., 47 HR, 148 RBI, 128 RS, 136 games
LF Felix Irabu - 50 HR, 114 RBI, 133 RS
RF Lenny Wigginton - .329 Avg., 42 HR, 146 RBI, 134 games

San Francisco: 973 Runs Scored - 13th in Majors
.290 Batting Average -Tied for 7th in Majors
.352 OBP -12th in Majors
.470 Slugging Percentage - 11th in Majors

Key Hitters: 1B Edgardo Padilla - .357 Avg., 51 HR, 159 RBI, 132 RS
SS Ignacio Andujar -.300 Avg., .371 OBP, 25 HR, 106 RBI, 107 RS
OF Matty Henderson - .317 Avg., .394 OBP, 25 HR, 86 RBI, 92 RS, 110 games
LF Mendy Kelly - .305 Avg., .370 OBP, .559 Slugging, 138 games

Advantage - Heavily to Baltimore

PITCHING:

Baltimore: 682 Runs Allowed - 3rd in Majors
.249 Batting Avg. Allowed - 3rd in Majors
.309 OBP Allowed - 3rd in Majors
.390 Slugging Allowed -3rd in Majors
1.26 WHIP Allowed - 3rd in Majors
58 Saves - 1st in Majors

Key Pitchers: CL Antonio Springer 41-44 Saves, .165 Avg. Allowed, .074 WHIP, 3ER All Season
SP Sidney Griffin - 17-6, 2.86 ERA, 1.10 WHIP
SP Corey Foulke - 17-5, 3.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP
SP Rob Flanagan - 18-4, 3.95 ERA, 1.32 WHIP

San Francisco: 645 Runs Allowed - 2nd in Majors
.244 Batting Avg. Allowed - 2nd in Majors
.308 OBP Allowed - 2nd in Majors
.380 Slugging Percentage Allowed - Tied for 1st in Majors
1.25 WHIP Allowed - 2nd in Majors
51 Saves - 4th in Majors

Key Pitchers: SP Vince Blank - 14-7, 2.81 ERA, 1.07 WHIP
SP Joshua Parrish - 17-4, 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
RP Tony Ortiz - 8-2, 2 SV, 81 IP, 2.52 ERA, 1.10 WHIP
SP Corey Little - 15-8, 3.57 ERA, 1.25 WHIP

Advantage: Slightly to San Francisco

Prediction: Parrish and Blank will have to find a way to shut down that vaunted Baltimore lineup. If they can pitch 6 of the 7 games of the series, SF may have a shot to upset the heavily favored Orioles. However, Balimore's staff is no pushover as they finished just behind San Francisco in most of the pitching categories even though they were in the DH laden American League. San Francisco's pitchers keep it close, but Springer saves 4 games and Baltimore wins its 5th title and 2nd in a row in 6 games.

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