This happens every year.
If I would have taken my own advice, I would be much happier.
Playoffs are
much more intense than the every day game. Okay....now that I stated the obvious, here we go.
- Each teams two best pitchers go head to head the first two games.
This alone, sets up the "pitching duel" situation. These teams both want that first win, and pitching generally gets it.
- Don't go 0-2, or it's over.
Game two sees another great pitching match-up. The game one loser has to win this game! It will be another chess game from the dugouts, as each run could be the only one scored. These first two games have guys tossing the ball who have shut people down all season. Now you have guys trying to over achieve at the plate, and they just can't. You don't see too many guys get yanked early in game 1 or 2 of the playoffs.
- Thinning the herd.
Games 3-4 go on their own merit. Generally, the total hops up a half run to a run in these games. By now, the batters settle in a little more, and the pitching weakens a bit. Batters will see the ball better, as these pitchers don't have the ability of the first two games.
In today's Hou/Atl game, I think Houston takes the better pitcher to the hill, but they are facing a team who can close them out. This is a literal "must win" for the Astros, and that pressure might be too much for some of those guys. Maybe Reynolds trys to be too precise.....batters get too agressive, etc.
Both pitchers get 6+ innings on the avg, so that would lead you to believe that they can keep it low.
I would say the under 8' here might be the right bet, but the totals will start to go over in these games, as they go deeper into the rotations.
[This message has been edited by yyz (edited 10-12-2001).]
