From: mfenster@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (mark andrew fenster)
Subject: Re: Don't Panic Yet
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 16:59:53 GMT

Amit Likhyani <al1x+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

>Atlanta is a stronger team than the
>Pirates.  I don't think that there is anything wrong with admitting
>that.  Still, I don't think this thing is over.

As a Pirate fan, I agree wholeheartedly.

>After the first at bat against Smoltz, Bonds has looked better each time
>up.  He got his first hit out of his system and has drawn a couple of
>walks.  I don't deny for a second that he changes his approach in post
>season.  His strike zone expands and he swings earlier in the count at
>borderline pitches and chases the high inside fastball.  I think he has
>realized that and tried to make adjustments in the last couple at bats
>in game 2.  I think he will at least have better at bats the rest of the
>way.  Van Slyke should start getting some heat also.

True of Bonds, though I'm beginning to lose faith in Van Slyke, esp.
when they put Stanton in.  That weak ground out that killed that
potentially incredible comeback really hurt. 

>I would play Don Slaught the rest of the way.  I  think it is safe to
>say that Don is going to hit better than LaValliere no matter who
>pitches.  

I had thought that La Valliere was the better defensive catcher,
which is pretty important with Nixon on the basepaths, but it
has seemed this year that Slaught has been at least as good.
Well, catching Wakefield will be the real test.  In any case, 
Slaught'll be in on Friday, and if they lose that it's all over
anyway.  If he hits well Friday, maybe Leyland will keep him
for Saturday, though Leyland tends to be pretty stubborn
about making changes in his platoon system.  

>I would play Cole over Redus.  Redus has swung at the first pitch just
>about every at bat and done nothing.  That would leave McClendon at
>first base where he has not played much this year, but I am willing to
>take that risk at this point.  (against lefties).

Maybe.  Redus was hitting a lot better down the stretch (he ended
up around .245 after spending most of the year at .200 or so), and
Cole's first at-bat against Smoltz, where he went ahead 2-0,
swung at a high fastball that probably would have made it 3-0,
and flied weakly to left, was really infuriating.  The guy has so
much potential, but he strikes out too much and walks too little.
His speed would help. 

>Danny Jackson against the Braves is a bad matchup.  They have scorched
>him all year.  Tomlin is the logical replacement.

What about his one hit, 1-0 loss?  That was a masterful performance.
He just falls behind hitters too often, and that clearly happened
yesterday.  He's such a question mark.

>I hope Denny Neagle has pitched his last post season inning.  I wish
>they had integrated Steve Cooke into the pitching staff a hell of a lot
>earlier in the season.  I have to believe he would be more effective
>than some of these clowns.

I agree about Cooke, though he got shelled at times during the
short time he was up.  I wouldn't give up on Neagle in the long
run, and while he wasn't helped by Bonds' goof in the field, he
ended up getting shelled anyway.  There's always next year and
the year after as far as pitching goes:  Wagner, Cooke, Wakefield,
Neagle (hopefully).  Bye bye, Drabek, in all probability.

A good performance from Wakefield and then from Drabek, and
somebody (anybody) hits, and they do have a chance.  Avery is 
hitt-able thisyear, unlike last, and if they can scratch some 
runs against Smoltz, who knows?  

Mark Fenster