Game 1 -- Wednesday at 3:00 cst. on ESPN Roger Clemens (0-0, 0.00) vs. Jaret Wright (0-0, 0.00) Clemens vs. Atl in 2004: 0-0, 1.29 in 1 start Wright vs. Hou in 2004: No Record Game 2 -- Thursday at 3:00 cst. on ESPN Roy Oswalt (0-0, 0.00) vs. Mike Hampton (0-0, 0.00) Oswalt vs. Atl in 2004: 0-0, 3.68 in 1 start Hampton vs. Houston in 2004: 0-0, 10.38 in 1 start
WWW ... With Roger and Roy O pitching in Atlanta, and our incredible home winning streak and Backe's performance yesterday I don't see any reason why the Astros won't sweep the Braves. This is the year we finally get the monkey off our back and win a playoff series.
Being devil's advocate, we have never won a playoff series, and the braves are always in our way...Bags and Biggio seem to choke...blah, blah, blah... However, we're on a roll, the stars are in alignment and we are destined to win it all this year...Our team is more than Bags and Biggio and our pitching is awesome... Win 3 of 4, of course, win the first two games.... Go Stros'!!!
In all honesty, if this were just any normal games: Clemens vs. Jaret Wright??? Are you kidding me? Oswalt vs. John Thomson? You're joking right??? But, the fact that its the playoffs, and the Braves, causes everybody to look at these two games sooooo differently. I just think we should take off those glasses for a second, and just look at these pitching matchups... in a pitching-friendly ballpark... at a time of day when the shadows are going to be rampant... and go from there. It will ultimately come down to the offense and the bullpen, because the starting pitching is heavily favored our way. If we can get some early runs.... which are good no matter what time of the season... I think it will really help these guys get in a nice groove for the rest of the series. WW... one will be close, one will not. But, good results either way.
I think we go WLWW anyone have any clue as to what time they are thinking about for Saturday's game? Does it depend on other outcomes?
I think we'll lose 1 of the first 2 unfortunately due to lack of offense, but come back to win the next 2. Pugs
All I can say is... don't expect a prime time game, especially since the AL/NL series moves to Boston and LA. Its a given that Houston vs. Atlanta is the smallest media market- matchup in the playoffs right now... and thus, they'll probably want to minimize the primetime spots given to them. St. Louis will get a primetime spot ONLY because they're playing LA... if they were playing Atlanta, and we were playing LA, the time slots would be flip-flopped. Basically, your team's record really has nothing to do with it... Media Market rankings of teams in Playoffs: 1. New York 2. LA/Anaheim 5. Boston 9. Atlanta 11. Houston 14. Minnesota 21. St. Louis http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html
Dear Baseball Gods, Please, oh please, allow our beloved Astros to drop the mutha****ing hammer on the mutha****ing braves. Thank you. Many chicken(wing)s will be sacrificed in your honor.
You still owe me one. b*stard. WWW I can't bear to think about the potential greatness Saturday has in this sports fan's life. If UT beat OU and the Astros clinched their first ever series win, it'll probably rank up near the top.
does anyone know the formation of how Teams are paired for the postseason? I know that the wild-card winner cannot play a team from his division in the first round. I dont know it seems we always play the braves. How come we didnt end up playin someone like LA?
Because the Braves have a better record than LA, and the best team (the Cardinals) gets to play either the wild card or the division winner with the worst record (if the wild card is in the same division). In 1997, the Marlins were the WC, thus the Braves had to play the worst division winner... us. In 1999, the Mets were the WC, thus the Braves had to play the worst division winner... us. (btw... that year, the Braves had 103 wins, the Diamondbacks had 100 wins, and we had 97 wins... what a tough year to win the division!) In 2001, the Cardinals were the WC, thus we had to play the worst division winner... the Braves.
The team with the best record (Cardinals) plays the wild card team, unless the wild card team (Astros) is in the same division. In that case, the team with the best record (Cardinals) plays the 3rd seeded team (Dodgers), and the wild card (Astros) plays the 2nd seed (Braves).
If we win the series but don't sweep, it's going 5 games. The reason I think this is: who's pitching for the Astros in game 4? Seems that out of all the games, the one started by Hernandez/Munro/Redding/other would be the one I'd bet on the Astros to lose. I also tend to think that the winner of the Stros/Braves series will represent the NL in the world series. Especially if Carpenter is out for the second round. Actually, I wouldn't be shocked if the Cardinals lost in the first round.
I gotta think that if it gets to game 4... if we're down 2-1, Clemens will go on 3 days rest, followed by Oswalt on 3-days rest for game 5. If we're up 2-1, you might see a game like you saw yesterday, with (get ready for this) Redding getting the start... his first win of the year came against the Braves, and whatever confidence he can take from that, he'll need it. I don't really feel that much less comfortable with him on the mound, as opposed to Carlos or Pete. Carlos would have been ideal, but its obvious he's starting to fatigue now with the lack of regular work, and his still weak arm strength. And, even if you lose that game... you have Roger ready on full rest for Game 5 in Atlanta... the game which the Braves have lost each of the last two years (2002 - San Fran, 2003 - Cubs)