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Preparation is key to playoff success

Sporting News, The, Oct 18, 2004 by Todd Jones

During the playoffs, teams and cities dream about what could be. "Wait till next year" doesn't apply to the clubs still playing. Players are chasing their Holy Grail, and it's a time of intense prayer for fans. For fans of teams whose series begin on the West Coast, they find out just how many hours of sleep they need to function. And if their team goes to a Game 5 or a Game 7, they want to know the definition of "function."

But few people know what goes on in the weeks before the playoffs. Each team has advance scouts who follow one or two clubs for the final month of the season. Their job is to detect the smallest tendencies, from the patterns pitchers use to how outfielders set up and track fly balls. If an outfielder has a bad hamstring or can't go to his right, for example, that information can help win games.

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The scouts pass along their findings to coaches, who then put together an I extremely detailed game plan. This is where matchups, particularly as they relate to bullpens and bench players, can make the difference. As I've said before, superstars don't win these games--except for Derek Jeter. Some role players will play a bigger part in the postseason than they did the entire regular season. It's almost a backward way of planning. If a coaching staff sees that the club's best pinch hitter doesn't fare well against an opponent's bullpen, that pinch hitter might be left off the playoff roster. And organizations can adjust the roster after each series, which is a huge advantage. Also, if a hitter wears out a certain pitcher, or a pitcher consistently gets a hitter out, the two won't meet in the playoffs if managers can help it. With each postseason game so precious, matchups are that highly valued. In the regular season, pitchers are asked to just get everybody they face.

Players never are more alert than during the playoffs. They grind out every out, they think along with the manager a lot more. After all, he controls their playoff future, so they stay interested.

Keep an eye on the little things this month--guys taking the extra base, guys fouling off extra pitches, hitters and pitchers taking more time between pitches. The players know that doing these things can decide whether they go on or go home. It's awesome to watch.

E-mail Todd Jones, a reliever for the Phillies, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

Preparation is key to playoff success

Sporting News, The, Oct 18, 2004 by Todd Jones

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