Playoff Strategies

[cbbryan]

I wondered what some of your thoughts where on this. I've asked a few of my friends as well and have had mixed responses.

 

While I'm looking forward to the Z vs Webb match-up, why don't more teams save their ace for game 2? Especially in a 5 game set. A 7 game series I can see why you want your Ace in game 1 because he could start 3 games in the series.

 

But in a 5 game series, the starter for game 2 would start game 5. Why not pitch Lilly or Hill in game 1 vs Webb and then match-up Z with Davis in game 2.

 

IMO, it makes more sense in this situation.

 

Thoughts?

[David]

It's more likely you'll find yourself in a game 4, for one.

[MSG T]

It's more likely you'll find yourself in a game 4, for one.

 

Exactly, you go in trying to win in 3-4 games and worry about game 5 if neccesary. Same in a 7 game. Win what you can now and worry about the last two games if you need to. Play to win now, not later.

 

Starting with your #2 guy when you don't have to in the first game, you're expecting to lose a couple of games. I'd go in expecting to go 11-0.

[Derwood]

the best strategy is to score more than your opponent by the end of each game

[David]

I remember in 2003, thinking about potential WS pitching matchups, I was hoping we'd sacrifice Z in a potential game 1 against Pedro, so that we'd be more assured of wins with Prior and Wood in games 2 and 3. I figured if we were gonna beat Pedro, we were gonna beat him. I didn't want to see Prior get outdueled in a great performance or something like that.

 

I wonder how sound my reasoning was, in hindsight.

[Guest]

I think it depends on your pitching staff. the cubs should start whoever will do best on three days rest in game 1 in this series since that pitcher should be used again in game 4. there is little difference between zambrano and lilly in my opinion.

[moorecg]

I remember in 2003, thinking about potential WS pitching matchups, I was hoping we'd sacrifice Z in a potential game 1 against Pedro, so that we'd be more assured of wins with Prior and Wood in games 2 and 3. I figured if we were gonna beat Pedro, we were gonna beat him. I didn't want to see Prior get outdueled in a great performance or something like that.

 

I wonder how sound my reasoning was, in hindsight.

 

Wasn't it the Yankess in 2003?

[David]

I remember in 2003, thinking about potential WS pitching matchups, I was hoping we'd sacrifice Z in a potential game 1 against Pedro, so that we'd be more assured of wins with Prior and Wood in games 2 and 3. I figured if we were gonna beat Pedro, we were gonna beat him. I didn't want to see Prior get outdueled in a great performance or something like that.

 

I wonder how sound my reasoning was, in hindsight.

 

Wasn't it the Yankess in 2003?

 

Ya, and it was the Marlins, too. ;)

 

It looked like it might the Red Sox for about the same while it looked like it could be the Cubs.

 

Plus, I was just thinking in hypotheticals (obviously, Cubs in the WS, heh).

[Soul]

the best strategy is to score more than your opponent by the end of each game

 

Hehe, I was wondering who would be the first to say this.

[Skyballer]

the best strategy is to score more than your opponent by the end of each game

"It's crazy, so crazy, so crazy it just might work"

:lol:

[BigbadB]

I wondered what some of your thoughts where on this. I've asked a few of my friends as well and have had mixed responses.

 

While I'm looking forward to the Z vs Webb match-up, why don't more teams save their ace for game 2? Especially in a 5 game set. A 7 game series I can see why you want your Ace in game 1 because he could start 3 games in the series.

 

But in a 5 game series, the starter for game 2 would start game 5. Why not pitch Lilly or Hill in game 1 vs Webb and then match-up Z with Davis in game 2.

 

IMO, it makes more sense in this situation.

 

Thoughts?

 

What would be your reaction if the Cubs lost game 4 and the series with your best pitcher slated to pitch game 5?

 

I'm guessing you would be mad like the rest of us for starting your best starter in game 2 instead of game 1 in hopes that your best starter would pitch game 5.

[CubColtPacer]

I wondered what some of your thoughts where on this. I've asked a few of my friends as well and have had mixed responses.

 

While I'm looking forward to the Z vs Webb match-up, why don't more teams save their ace for game 2? Especially in a 5 game set. A 7 game series I can see why you want your Ace in game 1 because he could start 3 games in the series.

 

But in a 5 game series, the starter for game 2 would start game 5. Why not pitch Lilly or Hill in game 1 vs Webb and then match-up Z with Davis in game 2.

 

IMO, it makes more sense in this situation.

 

Thoughts?

 

What would be your reaction if the Cubs lost game 4 and the series with your best pitcher slated to pitch game 5?

 

I'm guessing you would be mad like the rest of us for starting your best starter in game 2 instead of game 1 in hopes that your best starter would pitch game 5.

 

Unless you believe in momentum from game to game, that doesn't matter. It just meant that you would have lost the series in 4 games rather than 5.