thought this might be relevant, got it from espn.....
If the key to this series is how the Braves' starters pitch, then the key to that -- at least judging by of their previous postseason experiences -- could be the size of the strike zone.
Greg Maddux pitched well in his last start, in a game worked by a pitcher's umpire (Wally Bell). But before that, Maddux had a 5.19 ERA in September -- only the second month since June 1990 (66 months) in which he had an ERA over 5.00.
Tom Glavine needs those corners even more than Maddux. And John Burkett is a cross between the two of them.
"Their starting pitching isn't as imposing as it used to be," said a scout. "If you face Arizona, you say, 'Oh no, we've gotta face Schilling and Johnson.' But you don't feel that way about the Braves' staff anymore.
"Glavine, especially, has to nibble to be effective. So a big thing will be the plate ump. If he's going to give these guys the corners, they'll be tough. If you've got a guy with a tight strike zone, they could be in trouble."
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Maddux would draw Bruce Froemming (a hitter's umpire) in Game 1 and Brian Gorman (pitcher's umpire) in Game 4. Glavine would get Chuck Meriwether (pitcher's ump) in Game 2 and Jim Joyce (middle of the road) in Game 5. Burkett, who is scheduled to start Game 3, draws Mike Winters (middle of the road).
If the key to this series is how the Braves' starters pitch, then the key to that -- at least judging by of their previous postseason experiences -- could be the size of the strike zone.
Greg Maddux pitched well in his last start, in a game worked by a pitcher's umpire (Wally Bell). But before that, Maddux had a 5.19 ERA in September -- only the second month since June 1990 (66 months) in which he had an ERA over 5.00.
Tom Glavine needs those corners even more than Maddux. And John Burkett is a cross between the two of them.
"Their starting pitching isn't as imposing as it used to be," said a scout. "If you face Arizona, you say, 'Oh no, we've gotta face Schilling and Johnson.' But you don't feel that way about the Braves' staff anymore.
"Glavine, especially, has to nibble to be effective. So a big thing will be the plate ump. If he's going to give these guys the corners, they'll be tough. If you've got a guy with a tight strike zone, they could be in trouble."
*****************************************
Maddux would draw Bruce Froemming (a hitter's umpire) in Game 1 and Brian Gorman (pitcher's umpire) in Game 4. Glavine would get Chuck Meriwether (pitcher's ump) in Game 2 and Jim Joyce (middle of the road) in Game 5. Burkett, who is scheduled to start Game 3, draws Mike Winters (middle of the road).
