The first name in second reads.
Stats don't lie, they kill dreams
Numbers tell the story of this year's WS contenders
Tim Kurkjian at ESPN has always been a number-cruncher. He could name all the MLB players to hit .300 in night games at Yankee Stadium from 1986-1994. He could also tell you how many foul balls were hit to the ridiculously nonathletic ball boys and girls near foul lines in 2007. I'd also venture to guess he might know how many cats or squirrels have run onto MLB fields.
With Mr. Kurkjian as inspiration, here are some numbers to remember heading into the MLB postseason.
0 - This is the number of postseason saves for Brian Fuentes (LAA) and Huston Street (COL). This is also the number of postseason wins for A.J. Burnett (NYY), Joba Chamberlain (NYY), Cliff Lee (PHI), J.A. Happ (PHI), Clayton Kershaw (LAD), Edwin Jackson (DET) and Rick Porcello (DET).
Alex Rodriguez has played in 39 postseason games, and has accumulated 38 strikeouts, opposed to 17 walks. A-Rod has blasted seven home runs in October or later, with 17 RBIs.
Joe Torre has managed plenty of postseason games in his career, going 80-51 overall. Since 2002, after the Yankees historic three-peat, Torre is 24-27 in the playoffs. Also, Torre has coached nearly the same amount of postseason games (131) as the three other NL managers combined (LaRussa (STL), 107; Manuel (PHI), 22; Tracy (COL), 4.)
Manny Ramirez has 28 postseason home runs and 74 RBIs accompanied by a .286 average. Albert Pujols has a .323 average with 13 home runs and 35 RBIs. Todd Helton has hit .220 with 0 HR and 2 RBI in his postseason career.
Angels lead-off man, Chone Figgins, has hit only .207 in his 26-game postseason career. He has struck out 26 times, stolen four bases, and has an on-base percentage of only .233.
The Colorado Rockies have played four postseason series in their short history. In each series, the team that won Game 1 has won the series. The Rockies swept both postseason series they've won, and were swept in the 2007 World Series, and lost 3-1 to Atlanta in 1995.
The Yankees are 3-6 in their last nine postseason series. The pinstripes also have struggled against the Angels in postseason play having lost the ALDS to the Halos twice since 2005.
The Detroit Tigers have only been in the playoffs once since 1987, which was their World Series run in 2006 that ended with the Cardinals dropping the Tigers, 4-1.
Six of the eight playoff contending teams have team payrolls that rank in the top eight of the league. The Yankees lead the way with salaries over $200 million while the other five teams are above $100 million total. Whereas, the Cardinals and Rockies, fall in below the other contenders at less than $90 million.
Two more numbers: 11 and 1. It will take 11 wins to leave us with one World Series champion.
With Mr. Kurkjian as inspiration, here are some numbers to remember heading into the MLB postseason.
0 - This is the number of postseason saves for Brian Fuentes (LAA) and Huston Street (COL). This is also the number of postseason wins for A.J. Burnett (NYY), Joba Chamberlain (NYY), Cliff Lee (PHI), J.A. Happ (PHI), Clayton Kershaw (LAD), Edwin Jackson (DET) and Rick Porcello (DET).
Alex Rodriguez has played in 39 postseason games, and has accumulated 38 strikeouts, opposed to 17 walks. A-Rod has blasted seven home runs in October or later, with 17 RBIs.
Joe Torre has managed plenty of postseason games in his career, going 80-51 overall. Since 2002, after the Yankees historic three-peat, Torre is 24-27 in the playoffs. Also, Torre has coached nearly the same amount of postseason games (131) as the three other NL managers combined (LaRussa (STL), 107; Manuel (PHI), 22; Tracy (COL), 4.)
Manny Ramirez has 28 postseason home runs and 74 RBIs accompanied by a .286 average. Albert Pujols has a .323 average with 13 home runs and 35 RBIs. Todd Helton has hit .220 with 0 HR and 2 RBI in his postseason career.
Angels lead-off man, Chone Figgins, has hit only .207 in his 26-game postseason career. He has struck out 26 times, stolen four bases, and has an on-base percentage of only .233.
The Colorado Rockies have played four postseason series in their short history. In each series, the team that won Game 1 has won the series. The Rockies swept both postseason series they've won, and were swept in the 2007 World Series, and lost 3-1 to Atlanta in 1995.
The Yankees are 3-6 in their last nine postseason series. The pinstripes also have struggled against the Angels in postseason play having lost the ALDS to the Halos twice since 2005.
The Detroit Tigers have only been in the playoffs once since 1987, which was their World Series run in 2006 that ended with the Cardinals dropping the Tigers, 4-1.
Six of the eight playoff contending teams have team payrolls that rank in the top eight of the league. The Yankees lead the way with salaries over $200 million while the other five teams are above $100 million total. Whereas, the Cardinals and Rockies, fall in below the other contenders at less than $90 million.
Two more numbers: 11 and 1. It will take 11 wins to leave us with one World Series champion.
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