Went back to Bags' Baseball America 2008 prediction for the 2011 lineup. Definitely glad this isn't the current lineup:

Catcher	Jackson Williams
First Base	Dan Ortmeier
Second Base	Nick Noonan
Third Base	Angel Villalona
Shortstop	Emmanuel Burriss
Left Field	Fred Lewis
Center Field	Wendell Fairley
Right Field	Nate Schierholtz
No. 1 Starter	Matt Cain
No. 2 Starter	Tim Lincecum
No. 3 Starter	Barry Zito
No. 4 Starter	Tim Alderson
No. 5 Starter	Madison Bumgarner
Closer	Brian Wilson

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Say, has anyone come across the audio of Jon Miller's call of the end of the Series? I've hear Kuiper a dozen (or more) times, and I've heard Miller's HR call, but haven't found his call of the final out.

I'm sure it was awesome and I'd really like to hear it. Loved Kuip's. Curious how well Miller kept the emotion in check. Morgan too for that matter given that he grew up in the Bay Area.

 

Would love to hear it. Giants don't win the World Series all that often! ;)

Anyone?

Ok, all of these comparisons are using this year's numbers, not looking at career at all.

1. Andrus v Torres Remarkably similar numbers. Andrus with six more steals, but more PAs and twice as many CS. Torres an advantage v RHP, Andrus versus LHP. Torres with much more Power. Even

2. Young v Sanchez again, very similar numbers. Both are somewhat splitty with Sanchez actually better v RHP in ave/ob, but behind in slug. Sanchy better across the board v LHP. Probably even although, given that the Giants are going to see 4 LHSP and Rangers 4 RHSP maybe slight Giants.

3. Huff v Hamilton. Goes large to Texas. Hamilton was splitty this year, but he's not horrible v LHP. Believe it or not, Huff has better numbers v LHP.

4. Posey v Vlad. I'm assuming for these purposes that Vlad is playing the OF. Very similar numbers again, but Posey has better OB and slugging. Vlad experience, Posey a better eye. Tough to call here.The Giant fan in me says Posey, slight edge.

5. Burrell v Cruz. Cruz has better numbers across the board.

6. Kinsler v Ross. Kinsler is very, very good v LHP. Not so much v RHP. Ross is hot and a lot more balanced. Edge Giants assuming Ross stays hot for seven more games. Otherwise even.

7. Molina/Treanor v Uribe. It's unclear who the Giants will start at 3b each game, I'm assuming Uribe will play either way. Here is where I'm assuming the Tex OF isn't playing (we'll address DH below) Uribe is better than that platoon.

8. Renteria/Panda v Cantu/Moreland. Nothing to write home about here. Probably even.

DH. Giants will likely use Rowand (either moving Burrell or not) and Panda here, perhaps Schierholtz or Ishi. The Tex OF platoon of Murphy and Francoeur is splitty, but very good. Francoeur only played 15 games so it's hard to read much into his season numbers. Slight advantage to Tex

Fielding
C Posey v Treanor/Molina - edge Giants

1b Huff v Cantu Moreland. Don't know much about Moreland. Huff is better than Cantu. Even?

2b Sanchez v Kinsler. Sanchez handily

ss Uribe/Rent v Andrus much more range for Andrus, but he will make more errors.

3b Uribe/Panda v Young Even with Uribe, Young over Panda although Young made 3 more errors in a simliar number of IP. Even versus Uribe.

LF Vlad v Burrell - Even Rowand/Nate v Francoeur/Murphy Even

CF Torres v Hamilton – Torres more range (assuming he’s healthy) Hamilton a better arm. Torres will be better in AT&T, but probably even overall

RF Ross v Cruz - Even

SP
Giants edge in games 2-4,6&7

RP
Giants Edge in terms of depth and experience.

Should be another closely played series. The Rangers are very splitty which can be good and bad for them. It will be interesting to see how that plays out with pitching changes and the Giants' deep pen. I would expect a lot of moves with guys like Kinsler,Hamilton, Murphy, Francoeur, Young and Moreland.

Thoughts?

Poll

Evaluate my evalution

28%

You're obviously a delusional Giants fan who knows nothing about baseball

20 votes

60%

Eh, you're a Giants fan, but the analysis isn't that far off

42 votes

7%

Man, this is some GREAT analysis!

5 votes

4%

Dude, seriously, you think the Rangers are this good?

3 votes

70 votes | Poll has closed

Ok, One guy's opinion here:

 

 

Ok, lineup spot by spot.

 

1.       Victorino v Torres

Torres advantage. Higher OB, average and power. Similar speed, but slight advantage there to Victorino in terms of SBs

2.       Polanco v Sanchez

Very similar. Dead even.

3.       Utley v Huff

This year Huff is better. More power, more average same OB

4.       Howard v Posey

Experience aside,  Posey has better numbers, average, OB. Similar slugging. Extrapolated for a whole year Posey would have had 27 HRs, 100 RBI. Ryan hit 31 108

5.       Werth versus Burell

As mentioned this is the big gap. Werth is better across the board.

6.       Rollins versus Uribe

Rollins has speed, Uribe power. Other numbers are very similar. Draw

7.       Ibanez versus Panda/Fontenot

I think they should play Panda, but they may not.  Ibanez big advantage v Font, very similar numbers to Panda. Draw with Panda

8.       Ruiz V Ross

Ross has better power and is hot. Ruiz had better ave/ob during season. Probably a draw, but I could go with a slight Phil advantage if you throw out Ross’s hot streak

 

Fielding

C – Posey has a great arm, Ruiz experience. Draw

1b – Huff is better Howard is a slug

2b -  Draw

SS – HUGE advantage to Phil

3b – Draw with Fontenot, advantage to Phil with Panda

LF – Draw

CF – Draw

RF – Draw

 

SPs – Draw on the first three, SF advantage on #4 (if the Phils use 4)

RP – advantage SF

 

Overall, that's pretty dang close. Forecast for more torture and a good series.

 

Jet

San Francisco Giants