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Typical Braves: They shred the competition all season, yet Atlanta isn't the clear-cut favorite when October comes around. This isn't to dismiss the Braves, because Bobby Cox's club is very strong and easily could land in another World Series. But Tom Glavine hasn't been as consistent lately as he was earlier in the year and Greg Maddux has shown signs of age this year.
| Key Players | |||
| San Francisco: J.T. Snow | |||
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Because Barry Bonds might be in a situation in which he will get nothing to hit, others will need to step up. Kent, Santiago and even shortstop Rich Aurilia will hit, but if Gold Glove first baseman Snow, who has had a very tough year offensively, steps up and gets a few knocks, it will be a tremendous boost to the Giants. | ||
| Atlanta: Gary Sheffield | |||
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When Gary Sheffield is hot, he can carry a team for days. He reported to camp with a new attitude this spring after having spent the winter working out with his good buddy Bonds, who will be in the spotlight on the other side in this series. Atlanta will get the pitching, with the Braves, it's whether they'll score enough runs to win. | ||
That being said, Gary Sheffield gives the Braves their most dangerous bat in a long, long time. Sheffield, Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones form a very solid heart of the Braves' order. And right-hander Kevin Millwood has been lights out this year.
As usual, Cox's team isn't flashy, but it is very solid. With the division title clinched, Andruw Jones made a sensational catch in center against Philadelphia last week that prompted Phillies' manager Larry Bowa to deliver the ultimate compliment.
"I hope everyone in baseball watches the way they play baseball,' Bowa said. "They have the division all wrapped up, but they're still diving for balls. It tells you why they're such a good team.'
The Giants are dangerous. They closed fast and, behind St. Louis, they have the most momentum in the league. Atlanta must face the Barry Bonds issue head on and, like most everybody else in the NL this year, expect the Braves to walk him often. Jeff Kent is Jeff Kent, and Benito Santiago is one of the more underrated bats in the league. Look for Santiago to have a say before this series is over.
Mirroring the Giants' fast finish was Jason Schmidt, the former Pirates right-hander who has developed into a workhorse for the Giants. Right now, though, Russ Ortiz is the best thing going in the San Francisco rotation. But with their bullpen, the Giants are OK without a Schilling-type ace. Robb Nen is one of the best closers in baseball, and setup men Felix Rodriguez and Tim Worrell are as good a tandem as you will find.
"Rodriguez is dynamite, and Tim Worrell has been unbelievable," one NL scout says. "His control is better than it's ever been -- inside, outside. Most days, you're talking six innings with the Giants. With Worrell, Rodriguez and Nen, all Dusty (Baker, the manager) needs is six innings (from his starter). If the Giants get some runs, it's a six-inning game."
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This is a rematch of last year's classic five-game divisional series matchup in which Arizona prevailed on a clutch suicide squeeze play, though the Diamondbacks have taken a couple of steps backward since then.
| Key Players | |||
| St. Louis: Scott Rolen | |||
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This is exactly why the Cardinals acquired third baseman Rolen, to get them here and then to help get them further. Rolen must shoulder a large spotlight and, if he can, his bat and glove will pay huge dividends. | ||
| Arizona: Johnson- Schilling (photo) | |||
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There's no getting around the Johnson-Schilling combination. As one NL scout said, if either loses a start, the Diamondbacks could be in trouble. | ||
Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling are still aces, but left fielder Luis Gonzalez suffered a separated shoulder last week that dealt the Diamondbacks a severe blow. The Diamondbacks also are without Craig Counsell (herniated disks in his neck), who was the MVP of last fall's National League Championship Series; left-hander Brian Anderson (broken foot), who usually pitches well in the postseason, and outfielder Danny Bautista (shoulder). They're trying to get Bautista ready, but he hasn't played since May 24.
Gonzalez's injury not only weakens the Diamondbacks offensively, it also takes away from their defense. Manager Bob Brenly's plan for now is to move Erubiel Durazo to right field, where he can be a butcher, and play David Dellucci and Quinton McCracken in left field and Greg Colbrunn and Mark Grace at first.
Despite this, it isn't as if St. Louis comes in without its problems. The Cardinals will be without one of their best pitchers in the opening round as Woody Williams struggles to come back from a strained muscle in his rib cage. And the team remains emotional in the aftermath of Darryl Kile's death in May, determined to honor his memory with a World Series win.
Top-to-bottom, St. Louis has the best lineup in the NL -- especially with the addition of Scott Rolen. Fernando Vina is a terrific leadoff man, Albert Pujols is dangerous, Jim Edmonds and J.D. Drew are threats, Tino Martinez is postseason experienced and Edgar Renteria is a clutch hitter. Toss in big-game pitcher Matt Morris, and if the Cardinals can get some competitive pitching, they've certainly got enough to win the NL pennant.
