my little sister > Ryan Howard

[dutchj16]

How about give some credit to the Giants Pitching staff. They were awesome in September and have yet to let up. They dominated Howard and the rest of that line up.

Yes the Giants have been pitching well but can we really give them all the credit when the Phillies hitters didn't really hit the Red's pitching staff either. They scored over four runs once in that series (due to 4 Red's errors), so it's not like they were riding a hot streak entering the NLCS. That being said, the Giants pitched extremely well but it certainly helped that the Phillies hadn't hit well for weeks.

 

[ronfromfresno]

How about give some credit to the Giants Pitching staff. They were awesome in September and have yet to let up. They dominated Howard and the rest of that line up.

Yes the Giants have been pitching well but can we really give them all the credit when the Phillies hitters didn't really hit the Red's pitching staff either. They scored over four runs once in that series (due to 4 Red's errors), so it's not like they were riding a hot streak entering the NLCS. That being said, the Giants pitched extremely well but it certainly helped that the Phillies hadn't hit well for weeks.

The game ended as it should have the Giants pitching staff which has been pitching at an almost historically great pace struck out the last batter. Remember the Giants had one of the 5 lowest ERA's in September EVER, they win one run games and in the second half of the season the Giants hit the most HR and won the most games in the NL. They aren't as "lucky" as everyone seems to think they are.

Congratulations San Francisco Giants!

 

[Bob Loblaw]

From hardballtalk.com:

Ryan Howard struck out a ton in the playoffs, including watching a called third strike to end Philadelphia’s season in a spot where just about everyone can agree that he should have swung, but the increasingly repeated notion that he’s primarily to blame for the NLCS loss to the Giants seems to be ignoring one very crucial point:

Ryan Howard had the Phillies’ highest OPS in the playoffs and hit .318 with a .400 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage in the NLCS.

If his hitting .303/.395/.424 in the playoffs supposedly sunk the Phillies, then what about Chase Utley hitting .212/.325/.333 with some ugly defense at second base? Or how about “table-setters” Shane Victorino and Placido Polanco combining to go 14-for-66 (.212) with a .570 OPS so that Howard rarely had anyone on base to actually drive in? Or what about Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez going 14-for-65 (.215) with a .550 OPS behind him?

Howard had a .303 batting average in the playoffs and no one else on the entire team had a batting average above .230. Howard had an .819 OPS in the playoffs and no one else on the entire team had an OPS above .760. Or, put another way: Howard hit .303 overall in the playoffs, including .318 in the NLCS, while the rest of the Phillies’ lineup combined to hit .203 in the playoffs overall and .202 in the NLCS.

Should he have swung at that 3-2 slider from Brian Wilson? Absolutely. Is he primarily responsible for the Phillies missing out on their third straight World Series? Not even close, unless you don’t mind ignoring facts to support your Howard-bashing argument.

 

[lisu]

Again, baseball is a team sport. Always takes more than 1 guy to lose the game for you. Howard had some nice defensive gems during the NLCS also - like his diving catch of Aubrey Huff's line drive.

 

[kdailey4315]

How about give some credit to the Giants Pitching staff. They were awesome in September and have yet to let up. They dominated Howard and the rest of that line up.

Yes the Giants have been pitching well but can we really give them all the credit when the Phillies hitters didn't really hit the Red's pitching staff either. They scored over four runs once in that series (due to 4 Red's errors), so it's not like they were riding a hot streak entering the NLCS. That being said, the Giants pitched extremely well but it certainly helped that the Phillies hadn't hit well for weeks.

It's been a month and half now that you've called the Giants pitching staff "lucky." I know you don't like the Giants. We get it, but WTF do they have to do before you stop chalking it up to luck? They got lucky against the Padres in early Sept because Lincecum's velocity was really down. They got lucky against the Braves because the braves can't hit. They got lucky against the Phillies because they were slumping. Give it a rest.

 

[RL24]

He struck out in over 50% of his at bats! We should be talking about the Hall of Shame in this discussion. That is an epic fail, and cannot be blamed on the batters who hit before or after him in the lineup.

Striking out is better that gidp.

What if the gidp produces a run?


I would never say that Ryan Howard was single handedly responsible for the Phillies NLCS loss. I would say that he missed a golden opportunity to single handedly take the Phillies to the WS.


He had some good hits, but they were poorly timed. When the Phillies needed him, he struck out.

 

[dutchj16]

How about give some credit to the Giants Pitching staff. They were awesome in September and have yet to let up. They dominated Howard and the rest of that line up.

Yes the Giants have been pitching well but can we really give them all the credit when the Phillies hitters didn't really hit the Red's pitching staff either. They scored over four runs once in that series (due to 4 Red's errors), so it's not like they were riding a hot streak entering the NLCS. That being said, the Giants pitched extremely well but it certainly helped that the Phillies hadn't hit well for weeks.

It's been a month and half now that you've called the Giants pitching staff "lucky." I know you don't like the Giants. We get it, but WTF do they have to do before you stop chalking it up to luck? They got lucky against the Padres in early Sept because Lincecum's velocity was really down. They got lucky against the Braves because the braves can't hit. They got lucky against the Phillies because they were slumping. Give it a rest.

Oh I'm sorry, could you please point out where I used the word 'luck' or 'lucky' in my previous statement? If I could add, I'm sick and tired of some fans (you) who think the Giants are the most talented team in the world and that no outside (perhaps divine) intervention had anything to do with reaching the World Series.

 

[lisu]

Oh I'm sorry, could you please point out where I used the word 'luck' or 'lucky' in my previous statement? If I could add, I'm sick and tired of some fans (you) who think the Giants are the most talented team in the world and that no outside (perhaps divine) intervention had anything to do with reaching the World Series.

I would say all series in October take a little luck and some timely hits and good pitching. The Giants just got more of those during the last 2 series than the Braves and Phillies did.

 

[ronfromfresno]

How about give some credit to the Giants Pitching staff. They were awesome in September and have yet to let up. They dominated Howard and the rest of that line up.

Yes the Giants have been pitching well but can we really give them all the credit when the Phillies hitters didn't really hit the Red's pitching staff either. They scored over four runs once in that series (due to 4 Red's errors), so it's not like they were riding a hot streak entering the NLCS. That being said, the Giants pitched extremely well but it certainly helped that the Phillies hadn't hit well for weeks.

It's been a month and half now that you've called the Giants pitching staff "lucky." I know you don't like the Giants. We get it, but WTF do they have to do before you stop chalking it up to luck? They got lucky against the Padres in early Sept because Lincecum's velocity was really down. They got lucky against the Braves because the braves can't hit. They got lucky against the Phillies because they were slumping. Give it a rest.

Oh I'm sorry, could you please point out where I used the word 'luck' or 'lucky' in my previous statement? If I could add, I'm sick and tired of some fans (you) who think the Giants are the most talented team in the world and that no outside (perhaps divine) intervention had anything to do with reaching the World Series.

I believe the inference that all the teams the Giants are facing are slumping or not hitting or divine intervention is considered luck. And even if homer Giants fan see the team through rose colored glasses there is a considerable amount of statistics that would prove a "lucky" tag as incorrect. Like I pointed out before the Giants were the best team in many statistics and record in the second half of the season and now they are winning game when it counts. Make excuses, hate the Giants, but at the end of the day baseball is baseball and the best team at that moment wins and right now that team is the Giants.

 

[dutchj16]

How about give some credit to the Giants Pitching staff. They were awesome in September and have yet to let up. They dominated Howard and the rest of that line up.

Yes the Giants have been pitching well but can we really give them all the credit when the Phillies hitters didn't really hit the Red's pitching staff either. They scored over four runs once in that series (due to 4 Red's errors), so it's not like they were riding a hot streak entering the NLCS. That being said, the Giants pitched extremely well but it certainly helped that the Phillies hadn't hit well for weeks.

It's been a month and half now that you've called the Giants pitching staff "lucky." I know you don't like the Giants. We get it, but WTF do they have to do before you stop chalking it up to luck? They got lucky against the Padres in early Sept because Lincecum's velocity was really down. They got lucky against the Braves because the braves can't hit. They got lucky against the Phillies because they were slumping. Give it a rest.

Oh I'm sorry, could you please point out where I used the word 'luck' or 'lucky' in my previous statement? If I could add, I'm sick and tired of some fans (you) who think the Giants are the most talented team in the world and that no outside (perhaps divine) intervention had anything to do with reaching the World Series.

I believe the inference that all the teams the Giants are facing are slumping or not hitting or divine intervention is considered luck. And even if homer Giants fan see the team through rose colored glasses there is a considerable amount of statistics that would prove a "lucky" tag as incorrect. Like I pointed out before the Giants were the best team in many statistics and record in the second half of the season and now they are winning game when it counts. Make excuses, hate the Giants, but at the end of the day baseball is baseball and the best team at that moment wins and right now that team is the Giants.

So you are hating on me because of your inference of what I'm saying, so pretty much you are assuming that the intent of my comment is to say how lucky the Giants are. I agree, the Giants are playing great baseball right now, but can you honestly deny as an impartial bystander that the reason the Giants are where they are is because other teams have made errors and have not played up to their potential? Be completely honest, but I do agree they are playing as well as they can right now and that's why they are in the World Series.

 

[dutchj16]

Oh I'm sorry, could you please point out where I used the word 'luck' or 'lucky' in my previous statement? If I could add, I'm sick and tired of some fans (you) who think the Giants are the most talented team in the world and that no outside (perhaps divine) intervention had anything to do with reaching the World Series.

I would say all series in October take a little luck and some timely hits and good pitching. The Giants just got more of those during the last 2 series than the Braves and Phillies did.

Exactly, couldn't have said it any better. My goodness, an impartial un-biased Giants fan? I didn't think they existed, I thought they were like Unicorns.

 

[kdailey4315]

Oh I'm sorry, could you please point out where I used the word 'luck' or 'lucky' in my previous statement? If I could add, I'm sick and tired of some fans (you) who think the Giants are the most talented team in the world and that no outside (perhaps divine) intervention had anything to do with reaching the World Series.

I'm sick of your complete inability to give the Giants any credit at all but since you asked for it here's your previous posts. Please show me one post where I have claimed the Giants as the best in the world.

9/30. Marginalizing victories because they were against the Dbacks

I'm sorry but you are still missing my point. Lincecum has gotten away with leaving his now barely above average fastball up in the zone. I mean, his fastball lacks any movement. Furthermore, he leaves both his changeup and curveball up in the zone, but he hasn't gotten hit lately and it bewilders me. Also for his September starts, he has faced the Diamonbacks twice so does that really count? Also, would like to point out that Kershaw is better than any Giants pitcher, agreed?

10/10. After Brooks Conrad won the game for the Giants you turn a lucky break for one game into luck for an entire series

Wow, two errors and a bloop single. I cannot imagine this win feels that great for Giants, I could be wrong but I would not want to win like that. Just shows how lucky the Giants have been this series.

10/23. After we clinched it. It's all luck again

Congrats guys. It was a weird NLCS for me when your two most hated teams are playing for the pennant. I just hope you guys realize how lucky a ride it's been and count your blessings. Again, congrats guys.

 

[TNP777]

I believe the inference that all the teams the Giants are facing are slumping or not hitting or divine intervention is considered luck. And even if homer Giants fan see the team through rose colored glasses there is a considerable amount of statistics that would prove a "lucky" tag as incorrect. Like I pointed out before the Giants were the best team in many statistics and record in the second half of the season and now they are winning game when it counts. Make excuses, hate the Giants, but at the end of the day baseball is baseball and the best team at that moment wins and right now that team is the Giants.

ok, Ron - you got it.

 

[kdailey4315]

Awesome article by Jayson Stark

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/ ... id=5722446

 

[ronfromfresno]

I believe the inference that all the teams the Giants are facing are slumping or not hitting or divine intervention is considered luck. And even if homer Giants fan see the team through rose colored glasses there is a considerable amount of statistics that would prove a "lucky" tag as incorrect. Like I pointed out before the Giants were the best team in many statistics and record in the second half of the season and now they are winning game when it counts. Make excuses, hate the Giants, but at the end of the day baseball is baseball and the best team at that moment wins and right now that team is the Giants.

ok, Ron - you got it.

:lol: Thanks, I bet Halloween is your favorite holiday with all the fabulous Orange and Black everywhere.

 

[dutchj16]

Oh I'm sorry, could you please point out where I used the word 'luck' or 'lucky' in my previous statement? If I could add, I'm sick and tired of some fans (you) who think the Giants are the most talented team in the world and that no outside (perhaps divine) intervention had anything to do with reaching the World Series.

I'm sick of your complete inability to give the Giants any credit at all but since you asked for it here's your previous posts. Please show me one post where I have claimed the Giants as the best in the world.

9/30. Marginalizing victories because they were against the Dbacks

I'm sorry but you are still missing my point. Lincecum has gotten away with leaving his now barely above average fastball up in the zone. I mean, his fastball lacks any movement. Furthermore, he leaves both his changeup and curveball up in the zone, but he hasn't gotten hit lately and it bewilders me. Also for his September starts, he has faced the Diamonbacks twice so does that really count? Also, would like to point out that Kershaw is better than any Giants pitcher, agreed?

10/10. After Brooks Conrad won the game for the Giants you turn a lucky break for one game into luck for an entire series

Wow, two errors and a bloop single. I cannot imagine this win feels that great for Giants, I could be wrong but I would not want to win like that. Just shows how lucky the Giants have been this series.

10/23. After we clinched it. It's all luck again

Congrats guys. It was a weird NLCS for me when your two most hated teams are playing for the pennant. I just hope you guys realize how lucky a ride it's been and count your blessings. Again, congrats guys.

So you are saying that there has been no luck at all for the Giants? Kudos, in actually looking up all the stuff though, I'm impressed. In reference to my last post, simply stating that you guys shouldn't take this postseason for granted. But in my opinion, I think the Giants have been incredibly lucky this postseason although I did not say that in my last post (giving the Giants credit for pitching well, not saying that pure luck has gotten them there, just saying it has helped them out, but they deserve to be there more than the Phillies) as I was trying to be nice but since you pissed me off, here it goes. All of the errors committed this postseason have really helped out the Giants not to mention, twice in the last two games, Phillies hitters lined into double plays with runners on. Posey was called safe in game 1 of the NLDS when we all knew he was out. The team the Giants were to play in the NLDS lost their best hitter, Prado, a couple days before the start of the playoffs and then Wagner gets injured during the NLDS. I have given the Giants credit, in fact, I think their pitching has been phenomenal like I have said countless times; however, I am bewildered by your narrow-mindedness and inability to grasp the idea that the Giants have been lucky. I mean, is it really that hard to acknowledge that the Giants have been lucky this postseason? However, I do agree, again like I said before, that the Giants have been playing up to their potential while other teams have not, so I do give them credit.

 

[ronfromfresno]

Oh I'm sorry, could you please point out where I used the word 'luck' or 'lucky' in my previous statement? If I could add, I'm sick and tired of some fans (you) who think the Giants are the most talented team in the world and that no outside (perhaps divine) intervention had anything to do with reaching the World Series.

I'm sick of your complete inability to give the Giants any credit at all but since you asked for it here's your previous posts. Please show me one post where I have claimed the Giants as the best in the world.

9/30. Marginalizing victories because they were against the Dbacks

I'm sorry but you are still missing my point. Lincecum has gotten away with leaving his now barely above average fastball up in the zone. I mean, his fastball lacks any movement. Furthermore, he leaves both his changeup and curveball up in the zone, but he hasn't gotten hit lately and it bewilders me. Also for his September starts, he has faced the Diamonbacks twice so does that really count? Also, would like to point out that Kershaw is better than any Giants pitcher, agreed?

10/10. After Brooks Conrad won the game for the Giants you turn a lucky break for one game into luck for an entire series

Wow, two errors and a bloop single. I cannot imagine this win feels that great for Giants, I could be wrong but I would not want to win like that. Just shows how lucky the Giants have been this series.

10/23. After we clinched it. It's all luck again

Congrats guys. It was a weird NLCS for me when your two most hated teams are playing for the pennant. I just hope you guys realize how lucky a ride it's been and count your blessings. Again, congrats guys.

So you are saying that there has been no luck at all for the Giants? Kudos, in actually looking up all the stuff though, I'm impressed. In reference to my last post, simply stating that you guys shouldn't take this postseason for granted. But in my opinion, I think the Giants have been incredibly lucky this postseason although I did not say that in my last post (giving the Giants credit for pitching well, not saying that pure luck has gotten them there, just saying it has helped them out, but they deserve to be there more than the Phillies) as I was trying to be nice but since you pissed me off, here it goes. All of the errors committed this postseason have really helped out the Giants not to mention, twice in the last two games, Phillies hitters lined into double plays with runners on. Posey was called safe in game 1 of the NLDS when we all knew he was out. The team the Giants were to play in the NLDS lost their best hitter, Prado, a couple days before the start of the playoffs and then Wagner gets injured during the NLDS. I have given the Giants credit, in fact, I think their pitching has been phenomenal like I have said countless times; however, I am bewildered by your narrow-mindedness and inability to grasp the idea that the Giants have been lucky. I mean, is it really that hard to acknowledge that the Giants have been lucky this postseason? However, I do agree, again like I said before, that the Giants have been playing up to their potential while other teams have not, so I do give them credit.

What potential are the Giants playing up to? They have severely under hit compared to the rest of their season. And as far as errors and double plays, welcome to the game of baseball, all of these are part of the game and aided the Phillies vs the Reds and the Rangers vs the Rays. Remember the fantastic thing about baseball is you get a lot of chances to beat a team, 9 innings in a game and at least 4 games to do that. No one is lucky enough to have luck get them 7 wins against good to great teams. The Giants were the BEST team in the second half of the season, not the Braves, not the Phillies not anyone else. Who should win the games when the best team in the league is playing, the team that makes the least amount of mistakes. The Giants stil scored, still got guys out still hit HR and closed out games. But thanks for giving them their due, they do desevre to be in the Series as do the Rangers, great pitching vs great hitting and if the Giants actually play up to their potential the Rangers are in serious trouble, season stats are almost the same with the Giants pitching far out in front.

 

[dutchj16]

Oh I'm sorry, could you please point out where I used the word 'luck' or 'lucky' in my previous statement? If I could add, I'm sick and tired of some fans (you) who think the Giants are the most talented team in the world and that no outside (perhaps divine) intervention had anything to do with reaching the World Series.

I'm sick of your complete inability to give the Giants any credit at all but since you asked for it here's your previous posts. Please show me one post where I have claimed the Giants as the best in the world.

9/30. Marginalizing victories because they were against the Dbacks

I'm sorry but you are still missing my point. Lincecum has gotten away with leaving his now barely above average fastball up in the zone. I mean, his fastball lacks any movement. Furthermore, he leaves both his changeup and curveball up in the zone, but he hasn't gotten hit lately and it bewilders me. Also for his September starts, he has faced the Diamonbacks twice so does that really count? Also, would like to point out that Kershaw is better than any Giants pitcher, agreed?

10/10. After Brooks Conrad won the game for the Giants you turn a lucky break for one game into luck for an entire series

Wow, two errors and a bloop single. I cannot imagine this win feels that great for Giants, I could be wrong but I would not want to win like that. Just shows how lucky the Giants have been this series.

10/23. After we clinched it. It's all luck again

Congrats guys. It was a weird NLCS for me when your two most hated teams are playing for the pennant. I just hope you guys realize how lucky a ride it's been and count your blessings. Again, congrats guys.

So you are saying that there has been no luck at all for the Giants? Kudos, in actually looking up all the stuff though, I'm impressed. In reference to my last post, simply stating that you guys shouldn't take this postseason for granted. But in my opinion, I think the Giants have been incredibly lucky this postseason although I did not say that in my last post (giving the Giants credit for pitching well, not saying that pure luck has gotten them there, just saying it has helped them out, but they deserve to be there more than the Phillies) as I was trying to be nice but since you pissed me off, here it goes. All of the errors committed this postseason have really helped out the Giants not to mention, twice in the last two games, Phillies hitters lined into double plays with runners on. Posey was called safe in game 1 of the NLDS when we all knew he was out. The team the Giants were to play in the NLDS lost their best hitter, Prado, a couple days before the start of the playoffs and then Wagner gets injured during the NLDS. I have given the Giants credit, in fact, I think their pitching has been phenomenal like I have said countless times; however, I am bewildered by your narrow-mindedness and inability to grasp the idea that the Giants have been lucky. I mean, is it really that hard to acknowledge that the Giants have been lucky this postseason? However, I do agree, again like I said before, that the Giants have been playing up to their potential while other teams have not, so I do give them credit.

What potential are the Giants playing up to? They have severely under hit compared to the rest of their season. And as far as errors and double plays, welcome to the game of baseball, all of these are part of the game and aided the Phillies vs the Reds and the Rangers vs the Rays. Remember the fantastic thing about baseball is you get a lot of chances to beat a team, 9 innings in a game and at least 4 games to do that. No one is lucky enough to have luck get them 7 wins against good to great teams. The Giants were the BEST team in the second half of the season, not the Braves, not the Phillies not anyone else. Who should win the games when the best team in the league is playing, the team that makes the least amount of mistakes. The Giants stil scored, still got guys out still hit HR and closed out games. But thanks for giving them their due, they do desevre to be in the Series as do the Rangers, great pitching vs great hitting and if the Giants actually play up to their potential the Rangers are in serious trouble, season stats are almost the same with the Giants pitching far out in front.

The Giants are playing as well as they can, in my opinion, while the Phillies clearly underperformed. Also, just curious, how many of the Giants runs this postseason have been scored due to errors? I'm curious to the percentage, not trying to take away anything from your excellent post. And yes, believe it or not, teams are lucky enough to get 7 wins against a team although I never said all of the Giants wins were lucky, you did (brought up the 7 wins). Look at the Dodgers, they got 80 of them.