ALCS: Breaking down the arms race
by Mark Rothstein
Article courtesy of BetUS.com.
With so much media attention being given to the collapse of the New York Yankees and its subsequent fallout you might forget that there are still a couple of American League teams alive in the postseason. The Detroit Tigers and the Oakland Athletics will begin the 2006 American League Championship Series out in California at 8pm ET Tuesday.
Yankee-slaying Detroit rode a strong pitching performance from Jeremy Bonderman to a series-clinching victory in Game 4 on Saturday afternoon. Bonderman will likely get two starts against the Athletics in the ALCS, with Jim Leyland expected to keep his four-man rotation intact. Here?s a look at what the Tigers will send to the mound vs. Oakland:
Nate Robertson
Robertson was roughed up for seven runs on 12 hits over 5 2-3 innings in Game 1 vs. the Yankees. He faced the A?s twice in the regular season, allowing five runs on seven hits in seven innings in July, and four runs on five hits in seven innings later that month.
Justin Verlander
Verlander started Game 2 against New York, allowing three runs on seven hits over 5 1-3 innings. The rookie faced Oakland three times during the regular season, giving up three runs in seven innings, one run over seven innings, and one run over six innings.
Kenny Rogers
Rogers pitched twice against Oakland during the regular season, allowing three runs on three hits over 7 1-3 innings in April, and four runs on eight hits over 5 2-3 innings in July. Against New York on Friday, Rogers tossed 7 2-3 scoreless innings and fanned eight.
Jeremy Bonderman
Bonderman went seven solid innings against the Athletics back in late April, allowing three earned runs on five hits, walking two and striking out one. Against New York on Saturday, Bonderman allowed just two runs on five hits over 8 1-3 innings, fanning four.
Oakland has been waiting around for their ALCS opponent since dispatching the Minnesota Twins last week. Here?s a look at Oakland?s four-man postseason rotation:
Barry Zito
Zito outduelled Johan Santana in Game 1 of the ALDS, allowing just one run on four hits over eight innings. The lefthander faced Detroit just once during the regular season, giving up a single earned run on only three hits over seven innings of work back in April.
Esteban Loaiza
Loaiza pitched Game 2 of the ALDS versus the Twins, surrendering two runs on eight hits over five innings. Loaiza faced Detroit twice during the season, giving up three runs over six innings in April, and eight runs (only five earned) over three innings in late July.
Dan Haren
Haren also faced Detroit twice in the regular season, giving up one run on four hits over seven innings in early July, but seven runs on nine hits over six innings later that month. In Game 3 against Minnesota Haren allowed just two runs on nine hits over six innings.
Rich Harden
Harden was scheduled to start Game 4 of the ALDS versus the Twins, but his services weren?t required. The righthander didn?t start any games against the Tigers this season.
Overall the Tigers went 5-4 against the Athletics during the regular season, with Rogers (twice), Robertson, Verlander, and Bonderman starting those five contests. Detroit won two of those three games in April, while the teams split their six meetings in the month of July. The Tigers were 2-1 against Oakland at home, and 3-3 on the road. Five of the nine contests saw the combined score go OVER the posted total, including the last four.
ALCS Schedule - Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics
Game 1 - Tuesday, October 10 - Detroit at Oakland, 8:00pm ET
Game 2 - Wednesday, October 11 - Detroit at Oakland, TBD
Game 3 - Friday, October 13 - Oakland at Detroit, 8:00pm ET
Game 4 - Saturday, October 14 - Oakland at Detroit, 7:30pm ET
Game 5 - Sunday, October 15 - Oakland at Detroit, 4:00pm ET
Game 6 - Tuesday, October 17 - Detroit at Oakland, 8:00pm ET
Game 7 - Wednesday, October 18 - Detroit at Oakland, 8:00pm ET
The National League Championship Series gets underway on Wednesday, with the St. Louis Cardinals visiting the New York Mets. Game 1 of the ?06 World Series is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 21 at 7:30pm ET.
by Mark Rothstein
Article courtesy of BetUS.com.
With so much media attention being given to the collapse of the New York Yankees and its subsequent fallout you might forget that there are still a couple of American League teams alive in the postseason. The Detroit Tigers and the Oakland Athletics will begin the 2006 American League Championship Series out in California at 8pm ET Tuesday.
Yankee-slaying Detroit rode a strong pitching performance from Jeremy Bonderman to a series-clinching victory in Game 4 on Saturday afternoon. Bonderman will likely get two starts against the Athletics in the ALCS, with Jim Leyland expected to keep his four-man rotation intact. Here?s a look at what the Tigers will send to the mound vs. Oakland:
Nate Robertson
Robertson was roughed up for seven runs on 12 hits over 5 2-3 innings in Game 1 vs. the Yankees. He faced the A?s twice in the regular season, allowing five runs on seven hits in seven innings in July, and four runs on five hits in seven innings later that month.
Justin Verlander
Verlander started Game 2 against New York, allowing three runs on seven hits over 5 1-3 innings. The rookie faced Oakland three times during the regular season, giving up three runs in seven innings, one run over seven innings, and one run over six innings.
Kenny Rogers
Rogers pitched twice against Oakland during the regular season, allowing three runs on three hits over 7 1-3 innings in April, and four runs on eight hits over 5 2-3 innings in July. Against New York on Friday, Rogers tossed 7 2-3 scoreless innings and fanned eight.
Jeremy Bonderman
Bonderman went seven solid innings against the Athletics back in late April, allowing three earned runs on five hits, walking two and striking out one. Against New York on Saturday, Bonderman allowed just two runs on five hits over 8 1-3 innings, fanning four.
Oakland has been waiting around for their ALCS opponent since dispatching the Minnesota Twins last week. Here?s a look at Oakland?s four-man postseason rotation:
Barry Zito
Zito outduelled Johan Santana in Game 1 of the ALDS, allowing just one run on four hits over eight innings. The lefthander faced Detroit just once during the regular season, giving up a single earned run on only three hits over seven innings of work back in April.
Esteban Loaiza
Loaiza pitched Game 2 of the ALDS versus the Twins, surrendering two runs on eight hits over five innings. Loaiza faced Detroit twice during the season, giving up three runs over six innings in April, and eight runs (only five earned) over three innings in late July.
Dan Haren
Haren also faced Detroit twice in the regular season, giving up one run on four hits over seven innings in early July, but seven runs on nine hits over six innings later that month. In Game 3 against Minnesota Haren allowed just two runs on nine hits over six innings.
Rich Harden
Harden was scheduled to start Game 4 of the ALDS versus the Twins, but his services weren?t required. The righthander didn?t start any games against the Tigers this season.
Overall the Tigers went 5-4 against the Athletics during the regular season, with Rogers (twice), Robertson, Verlander, and Bonderman starting those five contests. Detroit won two of those three games in April, while the teams split their six meetings in the month of July. The Tigers were 2-1 against Oakland at home, and 3-3 on the road. Five of the nine contests saw the combined score go OVER the posted total, including the last four.
ALCS Schedule - Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics
Game 1 - Tuesday, October 10 - Detroit at Oakland, 8:00pm ET
Game 2 - Wednesday, October 11 - Detroit at Oakland, TBD
Game 3 - Friday, October 13 - Oakland at Detroit, 8:00pm ET
Game 4 - Saturday, October 14 - Oakland at Detroit, 7:30pm ET
Game 5 - Sunday, October 15 - Oakland at Detroit, 4:00pm ET
Game 6 - Tuesday, October 17 - Detroit at Oakland, 8:00pm ET
Game 7 - Wednesday, October 18 - Detroit at Oakland, 8:00pm ET
The National League Championship Series gets underway on Wednesday, with the St. Louis Cardinals visiting the New York Mets. Game 1 of the ?06 World Series is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 21 at 7:30pm ET.
