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Absolute power: several things are beyond dispute heading into the World Series. One of them is that whoever is playing will be capable of lighting up the scoreboard

Sporting News, The, Oct 25, 2004 by Kyle Veltrop

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Even before Schilling got battered and then bruised, star starting pitchers were hard to find. The Cardinals and Yankees both lack someone you could term an ace. That's why Schilling's ankle injury was so devastating to the Red Sox; when healthy, he was the trump card their bitter rival lacked. And though the Astros have Clemens and Oswalt, they were unable to use them in Games 1 and 2 because they needed them in the final two games of the Division Series to finish off the Braves.

All of this has resulted in the bullpens taking on greater importance, which has led to high drama because most of these bullpens aren't very good. The Cardinals pounded Houston's relievers for nine runs in 6 2/3 innings after unheralded starters Brandon Backe and Munro both were taken out with two outs in the fifth inning.

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Cardinals relievers were outstanding in the LDS, allowing the Dodgers only one run in 11 2/3 innings. It is a deep unit, with five relievers who usually are reliable. But the Astros reached St. Louis relievers for runs in each of the first four games of the NLCS, coming from behind against the Cardinals bullpen to win Game 4.

In the Red Sox's embarrassing 19-8 loss to the Yankees, no one could serve as a Band-Aid; all five relievers called upon allowed runs. And though Tom Gordon has been vital to the Yankees' success this season, he has been shaky in the playoffs for a team with a lot of pre-Mariano Rivera questions.

The World Series could come down to which team's middle relievers struggle the least.

Absolute No. 4: Managers are under the microscope. Phil Garner previously managed the Brewers and Tigers, so this is the first time he has managed in the postseason. At times, it has shown. Garner was criticized for several moves in the NLDS against the Braves, and he continued to draw puzzled looks in the NLCS. He had quick hooks for Backe and Munro in Games 1 and 2 even though they were moderately effective and their removal led to an overexposure of Houston's bullpen. Garner rationalized that Backe had enough because he was working on three days' rest, but what's the point in bringing him back on short rest if he can't even make it to 100 pitches? In Game 2, Garner failed to use Brad Lidge in a tie game, and Pujols and Rolen homered Off Dan Miceli. Garner also failed to get an at-bat for Mike Lamb, his best bench player, who homered in Game 1. He gained some redemption by using Lidge two innings each in Games 3 and 4, both of which were Astros wins.

The other managers largely avoided the heat, though just one decision can earn plenty of second--and third--guessing. Tony La Russa made puzzling moves in each of his four previous trips to the playoffs with the Cardinals, but he largely has played this postseason by the book. A manager who loves to exploit matchups, La Russa even trotted out the same starting eight in the first six playoff games before John Mabry and Yadier Molina were given starts in Game 4 of the NLCS.

Though one could argue that it's not hard to manage the Yankees' loaded roster, Joe Torre still deserves credit for steadily directing a team that never leaves the spotlight. The Yankees rarely hiccup this time of year and never call be counted out of any game, no matter the deficit. Regardless of the managerial matchup, give Torre--and his four World Series rings--the edge.

Absolute power: several things are beyond dispute heading into the World Series. One of them is that whoever is playing will be capable of lighting up the scoreboard

Sporting News, The, Oct 25, 2004 by Kyle Veltrop

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