tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post1243828285774948335..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: ALDS Game 5: Rangers at RaysMark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-86031545870761905592010-10-13T23:18:04.148-04:002010-10-13T23:18:04.148-04:00Indeed, the Phillies top 3 are excellent pitchers,...Indeed, the Phillies top 3 are excellent pitchers, getting focused at the right time. "Ever" is a long time.<br /><br />Strasburg's "peripherals" were what, half a dozen games before he blew up? Durability is relevant, and actual success is always better than fantasy success, or potential. Every time. "Maybe"'s a baby.<br /><br />Zimmermann may have it in him to be a pretty good major league starter someday, maybe someday soon; we'll see. Until then, he's a promising project, that's all. That's quite a lot, actually, but until it exists, it doesn't exist.<br /><br />Maybe by 2013 or 2014, when SS is healed and strong, if he heals and gets stronger, Lee will still be healthy himself, and as good as he is now. Maybe Zimmermann will be, too. It could happen. The Phillies are unlikely to sit on their hands in the meantime, but who knows where they'll be by then? One thing is absolutely certain: there will be dominating starters available to them between now and then, and they might sign the right ones, like they seem to have done this year. <br /><br />But all this hypothetical stuff is just that: an academic exercise for the hot stove, because Cliff Lee is NOT going to pitch for Washington in my lifetime. He just isn't. <br /><br />The Nationals could trade Nyjer Morgan for Halladay, too -- I mean, it would be legal -- but that's just not going to happen.Sec3MySofanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-7755289583090254122010-10-13T11:17:56.092-04:002010-10-13T11:17:56.092-04:00Firstly, the Phillies' rotation [i]is[/i] one ...Firstly, the Phillies' rotation [i]is[/i] one of the best ever. Secondly, Strasburg's peripherals while he was year were better than Halladay's. Thirdly, Cliff Lee is better than either Oswalt or Hamels. The only real question is whether Zimmermann can be as dominant as either of the latter two, and IMO he is certainly capable of that--but even if he isn't, the rotation still wins out by virtue of the superiority of the first two starters as long as he can stay close.Joshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-41381134137136315262010-10-13T10:29:45.370-04:002010-10-13T10:29:45.370-04:00I don't know that it (going to Game 5) hurts T...I don't know that it (going to Game 5) hurts Texas that much, because they were only going to get two games from Lee anyway (I believe that all of his postseason starts are on regular rest). Even last year in the WS the Phillies only started Lee in Games 1 and 5. I do note that he got knocked around a little bit the second start although the Phillies won anyway to send it back to NY for the finale. So the Rangers were going to have to win two games w/o Lee to advance regardless. It will be interesting to see how Ron Washington sets up his rotation for the series. <br /><br />John C.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-70327786332049836362010-10-13T09:48:43.355-04:002010-10-13T09:48:43.355-04:00Yanks in five. Rangers, just happy to be there, wi...Yanks in five. Rangers, just happy to be there, will win only Lee's start. Going to 5 in ALDS really, really hurts Texas.Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-24674463508127056492010-10-13T09:09:31.543-04:002010-10-13T09:09:31.543-04:00Just to think how close the Yankees were to gettin...Just to think how close the Yankees were to getting Lee at the trade deadline, I hope Texas beats the Yanks and goes to the WS!Tcostantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-24767656655471749362010-10-13T08:36:11.350-04:002010-10-13T08:36:11.350-04:00Nice that you're enthusiastic, Josh. Wouldn...Nice that you're enthusiastic, Josh. Wouldn't even be the best in their own division, but keep a good thought.Sec3MySofanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-64631226286492202822010-10-13T00:57:11.248-04:002010-10-13T00:57:11.248-04:00Cliff Lee is absolutely incredible. It's too ...Cliff Lee is absolutely incredible. It's too bad there is absolutely no way we could convince him to come here short of massively overpaying him (to the tune of 10 years $200m) because a 1-2-3 of Strasburg-Lee-Zimmermann would be one of the best ever.Joshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-70048176564672610402010-10-13T00:29:40.061-04:002010-10-13T00:29:40.061-04:00I like the how aggressive the Rangers were on the ...I like the how aggressive the Rangers were on the bases. While many are penciling in a Phils-Yanks Series, both LCS have the potential to go at least 6 games. Should be very entertaining and a dream for fans of good pitching. I've enjoyed your postseason updates. Thanks...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com