World Series Preview

St. Louis Cardinals Vs.








Detroit Tigers





Starting Pitching:

Anthony Reyes wasn't on the roster in the NLDS and went 4 innings in his NLCS start, giving up two earned runs on three hits and four walks in four innings. Reyes has excellent suff, but at times he finds too much of the plate with his fastball, and when that happens, he is vulnerable to the long ball (two home runs in his first NLCS start and 17 in 85 1/3 innings during the regular season.) He has never faced Detroit.
The Cardinals game 2 starter is a former Tiger who left Detroit in 2002 in the Jeremy Bonderman deal (although at the time it was referred to the Jeff Weaver deal). Weaver signed with the Dodgers as a free agent in 2004 and was cast aside by the Angels this summer to make room for his brother, Jered. He was acquired by the Cards to fill a starting slot. He ended a string of ugly post-season experiences with a Game 2 victory in the NLDS over the Padres in San Diego. He pitched well in his first NLCS start, though he took the loss after giving up 2 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. Weaver is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in two career starts vs. Detroit and is 14-23 with a 4.05 ERA in 43 career games (300 innings) at Comerica Park.
Taking the mound in Game three will be the Cy Young Award winner in the NL last season, Chris Carpenter may win it again this season. He Came up big in the NLDS, making two starts, but he was hit hard in his first NLCS start as the Mets raked him for five earned runs on six hits and four walks in five innings. Carpenter was beaten by Justin Verlander and the Tigers at Comerica Park on June 25th. Prior to that outing, Carpenter had been 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA in three career starts at Comerica Park and was 3-3 with a 6.75 career ERA against Detroit over ten games.
Rounding out the roation for the Cardinals is rightie Jeff Suppan. Suppan had the best postseason outing of his career in the NLCS firing eight shutout innings and allowing just three hits in a Game 3 win over the Mets, before tossing seven innings of two-hit ball in the decisive Game seven. The NLCS MVP was the No. 4 starter in the postseason two years ago but has moved up in the rotation due to the season-ending shoulder injury to Mark Mulder. Suppan is 3-1 with a 3.44 ERA in seven career starts at Comerica Park and is 8-6 with a 4.60 ERA IN 19 starts against Detroit.

The No. 2 pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Verlander has emerged as one of the best young power pitchers in the game and hasn't done anything to hurt his growing reputationthus far in the postseason. His fastball has been clocked as high as 99 mph and he gets it to the plate following an abbreviated delivery. Verlander has an above-average curveball and a decent changeup. When all three pitches are working, Verlander is practically unhittable. He can get into trouble when he pitches up in the zone. He is 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in one career start Vs. St. Louis.
The Pitching hero of the postseason, Kenny Rogers has yet to allow a run in two postseason starts vs. the Yankees and A's. He has good movement of his fastball and knows how to spot it well. He doesn't use the slider as often these days, but it hasn't hurt his performance as his curveball and slider are both fine compliments to his fastball. Defensively, Rogers remains one of the best in either league. Rogers was hit hard by the Cardinals in a start this year, as the lefty was racked for five earned runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. For his career, Rogers has no record against St. Louis in two games and has given up nine earned runs on 14 hits in 8 1/3 innings with a 9.72 ERA.
Game 3 starter Nate Robertson pitched five scoreless innings in the ALCS opener at Oakland and outpitched A's ace Barry Zito to send the Tigers on their way. Robertson, who worker six innings or more in 19 of his last 19 regular-season starts, can be especially tough when his slider is working. He hasn't faced St. Louis.
Rounding out the rotation for the Tigers, Jeremy Bonderman started the final game of the ALCS and limited Oakland to three runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings, though only one run came after the first inning. He has excellent stuff, but like a lot of young pitchers, he struggles with his command at times and is still learning how to pitch to Major League hitters. Bonderman relies on a mid-to-high 90's fastball complemented by a sharp breaking slider, but his splitter is coming on as another out pitch. Bonderman has never faced St. Louis.

Edge: even

Bullpen:

Closer Jason Iringhause is out for the year following hip surgery and the Cards' youngsters have had to learn on the fly. Thus far, Adam Wainwright and Tyler Johnson and lefty Randy Flores have done a better-than-expected job. Tigers closer Todd Joes has been perfect in save opportunities since the postseason began, and though setup man Joel Zumaya missed the last two games of the ALCS with a right forearm injury, he is expected to be ready for the WS. Lefties Jamie Walker and Wilfredo Ledezma and right-handers Fernando Rodney and Jason Grilli give Leyland plenty of options for the late innings.

Edge: Tigers:

Catcher:

The two best defensive catchers in the game will be showcased in Yadier Molina of St. Louis and Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez of Detroit. Molina doesn't provide much offensively, although he did hit .444 (4 for 9) in the three game series against Detroit at Comerica Park back in June. Rodriguez is still on the short list of the best defensive catchers around and his offesive skills, though not what they were five years ago, are still formidable and worthy of a No. 3 hitter. Rodriguez uses the whole field and runs well, and he is also very good at disrupting opponents' offence with his defence.

Edge: Tigers

First Baseman:

Even wiuth a balky hamstring, Albert Pujols is probably still the best player in the game. It isn't just the HR's, RBI's, and batting average the Cardinals first baseman provides, he's also outstanding in the clutch, as his .397 batting average with runners in scoring position during the regular season demonstrates. Assuming he's healthy after missing the final two games of the ALCS, Sean Casey gives the Tigers a left-handed hitter who is one of the toughest hitters in baseball to strike out. Casey hits line drives to all fields when he's in a groove, though he doesn't have Pujols' power.

Edge: Cardinals

Second Baseman:

Ronnie Belliard, the latest in a line of Cards second basemen since Mark Grudzielanek was not re-signed, had a decent year offensively but has never hit well at Comerica Park (.205) or particularly well against the Tigers (.252). ALCS MVP Placido Polanco is one of the more effective No. 2 hitters in the game and makes those around him better, as the Tigers found out when they went 13-21 late in the season when Polanco was on the disabled list with a separated shoulder. Average defensively, Polanco is a heady hitter who seldom strikes out, is adept at small-ball and can hit the ball out of the park now and then.

Edge: Tigers

Shortstop:

David Eckstein is the get-the-uniform-dirty sparkplug at the top of the Cardinals' batting orderand is always coming up with the key hit or big play defensively to help his team win. Carlos Guillen, assuming he's not at first base as he was for the injured Casey in the ALCS, is a .300 hitter with some power, and he is one of the reasons the Tigers are where they are today. Guillen, one of the better all-around middle infielders in the game, hit only .188 in the ALCS.

Edge: Tigers

Third Baseman:

Scott Rolen has been playing hurt but remains a dangerous power threat, as well as one of the best fielding third basemen in the game. Inge is the best athlete on the team, and the converted catcher/outfielder has gradually improved his play at his latest position. Inge has power and runs very well. A clutch hitter, Inge has come up with the big hit more than once in key games this season and hit .333 in the ALCS.

Edge: Cardinals

Left Fielder:

Corner outfield production has been a disappointment for the Cardinals this season, but after acquiring Preston Wilson and teaming the right handed power hitter with the underrated So Taguchi, the Cardinals have finally found a solution that is at least adequate, if not overpowering. Craig Monroe, ranked among the league leaders in strikeouts, but he's also provided power and drives in an acceptable number of runs. Monroe, a dead pull hitter who has trouble against top right-handed pitching or when he tries to pull pitches off the plate, hit .429 with a homer and 4 RBIs in the ALCS.

Edge: Tigers

Center Fielder:

Injuries have plagued Jim Edmonds' season, but he remains a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder and a left-handed hitter with ample power. Edmonds is capable of carrying the lineup when he's on. Curtis Granderson is an emerging talent with the speed necessary to play center field, and yet Garanderson has also displayed suirprising powerfor a line drive hitter. Granderson has a good, accurate arm and plays excellent defence. The 25-year-old needs better plate discipline and must improve his base-stealing skills, but he hit .333 in the ALCS.

Edge: Cardinals

Right Fielder:

Juan Encarnacion had a decent second half, after a disappointing start. The former Tiger still chases too many pitches out of the strike zone and didn't hit for as much power as the Cardinals had hoped for the man who suceeded Larry Walker in Right Field. Detroit clean-up hitter Magglio Ordonez, who won game 4 of the ALCS with a walk-off home run,is usually among the league leaders in hitting with runners in scoring position, and once again he's topped the century mark in RBIs. Ordonez drives the ball to all fields with a short powerful swing and seldom gets cheated. He is a decent fielder with an accurate arm.

Designated Hitter:

The four designated hitter games at Comerica Park should help the Cardinals, in that a guy who is normally on the bench -- Chris Duncan, or whoever isn't starting in left field, Wilson or Taguchi -- could provide another potent bat in the lineup without burning a pinch-hitter. Duncan came up with a big home run off a lefty in Game 5 of the NLCS. Whoever is DH'ing for St. Louis will have a difficult time matching the production of Detroit's designated hitters have been giving lately. Alexis Gomez, Marcus Thames Omar Infante -- it didn't matter who Jim Leyland plugged in at DH in the ALCS, all contributed big time in the sweep of Oakland.

Edge: Tigers

Bench:

St. Luois manager Tony La Russa has always been good at maximizing bench production and finding players who can handle multiple roles. Taguchi, John Rodriguez, Aaron Miles, Wilson and Bennet have all pitched in this season. Infante is a handy guy for have around as the good glove fielder can fill in at a number of spots and is a capable pinch-runner. Vance Wilson is a capable back-up to Rodriguez. Gomez has some pop, but little experience. Overall offensively, however Detroit's supporting cast is average.

Edge: Cardinals

Manager:

La Russa has taken a team that is noticeably weaker than the one that was eliminated by Houston last year in the NLCS, as well as the one that lost to Boston in the World Series in 2004, and yet piloted them back to the World Series. La Russa is not afraid to take chances -- like holding out Chris Carpenter on the season's final day or sending left-handed hitting Chris Duncan up to pinch-hit against a lefty in Game 5 of the NLCS -- and more often than not, his moves work to his team's advatange. Everything Jim Leyland touches lately has turned to gold, as his decisions keep paying dividends for the Tigers, and his team has clearly rallied around the skipper.

Edge: even

Intangibles:

The Cardinals have endured injuries to key players, a tough NLCS against the Mets and a seemingly uphill climb to get this far. The Tigers are playing their best baseball, have won seven in a row and are having the kind of magical run that can make for a memorable postseason.

Edge: Tigers

Series Prediction: Tigers in 6