Kurkjian on the AL Central

[witesoxfan]

I hate to say it, because it's overly used, but the playoffs really are a crapshoot. Any number of teams can win it at any given time. The 2005 White Sox depended heavily upon power and pitching throughout the postseason. The one exception I can think of during all 11 wins was game 4 of the Series. I know they got another run in game 3 of the ALDS with the late inning on, over, and in method, but in hindsight, that run meant nothing.

 

The only factor that comes up 95% (or more) of the time is great pitching. Without great pitching throughout the postseason, you won't win. You can run into a fastball or hanging breaking ball here and there, and you can get runners on and over, but without great pitching, you won't win. In 2006, the A's had great pitching against the Twins, and against the Tigers that pitching disappeared pretty quickly.

 

The White Sox allowed 34 runs in 12 games in the 2005 postseason; simple math says that's less than 3 runs a game. Ozzie-ball didn't win, what won games for the Sox in the postseason was the 3-run homer, because a 3-run homer won almost every single game.

[Balta1701]

The White Sox allowed 34 runs in 12 games in the 2005 postseason; simple math says that's less than 3 runs a game. Ozzie-ball didn't win, what won games for the Sox in the postseason was the 3-run homer, because a 3-run homer won almost every single game.

Also worth noting is the fact that the Sox scored on average a full run more per game in the 2005 postseason than they did in in the regular season IIRC. The offense was clicking for those games, although one or two big explosions can dominate that a bit for a short series of games.

[longshot7]

The Twins have the biggest home field advantage in baseball, basically. However, in the playoffs, they usually are up against teams with better records and thus are playing more road games than home games. Their postseason failures probably have a lot to do with that fact.

 

It definitely makes one wonder what they'll do in 2010 when their new stadium is done considering it's outdoors and they're built for the carpet.

[Balta1701]

It definitely makes one wonder what they'll do in 2010 when their new stadium is done considering it's outdoors and they're built for the carpet.

Freeze to death.

[RockRaines]

Also worth noting is the fact that the Sox scored on average a full run more per game in the 2005 postseason than they did in in the regular season IIRC. The offense was clicking for those games, although one or two big explosions can dominate that a bit for a short series of games.

And Frankly, our pitching was superior to each team we faced. The Red Sox had Clement and Fatty McFatFat starting for them even.

[witesoxfan]

And Frankly, our pitching was superior to each team we faced. The Red Sox had Clement and Fatty McFatFat starting for them even.

 

games 1 and 2. It's one thing if those guys start and the series goes 4 games. Those two were their most ready starters at the time.

[caulfield12]

I hate to say it, because it's overly used, but the playoffs really are a crapshoot. Any number of teams can win it at any given time. The 2005 White Sox depended heavily upon power and pitching throughout the postseason. The one exception I can think of during all 11 wins was game 4 of the Series. I know they got another run in game 3 of the ALDS with the late inning on, over, and in method, but in hindsight, that run meant nothing.

 

The only factor that comes up 95% (or more) of the time is great pitching. Without great pitching throughout the postseason, you won't win. You can run into a fastball or hanging breaking ball here and there, and you can get runners on and over, but without great pitching, you won't win. In 2006, the A's had great pitching against the Twins, and against the Tigers that pitching disappeared pretty quickly.

 

The White Sox allowed 34 runs in 12 games in the 2005 postseason; simple math says that's less than 3 runs a game. Ozzie-ball didn't win, what won games for the Sox in the postseason was the 3-run homer, because a 3-run homer won almost every single game.

 

Even taking Game 1 against Boston out of it, we averaged 5.3 runs per game in that post-season...(53 runs scored in 10 games).

 

We outscored the opposition almost 2 to 1. Almost unheard of in recent post-season history over a 10-11 game period.