Series Preview: Ee-Yah vs Otherton

The National League Championship Series match up between the Ee-Yah Orators and Otherton Fishbiscuits may be more one-sided than anticipated. One one hand, owner Mike S has been an ATB faithful since day one and owns one of the best managerial records in our history.  On the other hand, Brian B, a relatively new owner, is enjoying his first post season birth in five tries.

Rotation

Pedro vs Addie.  The top two contenders for the NL Cy Young award face off, leading their respective teams in every meaningful pitching category.  Joss won an ATB high 23 times this year, and Martinez owns an ATB best 0.97 WHIP (among starting pitchers).

For arguments sake, lets call these two pitchers about equal, at least for this season.  Looking at the back end of the rotation, Larry Dierker and David Cone are about as good as Lefty Stewart and Pete Alexander.  That leaves the difference in quality between #2 starters Noodles Hahn and Deacon Phillippe.  Hahn, as the stats show, is simply the better pitcher.

Edge:  Otherton

Bullpen

Both teams win games, 91 for Otherton vs 86 for Ee-Yah, thanks in part to quality bullpens.  The Orators have two studs in Mike Myers and Rafael Betancourt, and similarly the Fishbiscuits counter with Kent Tekulve and Joakim Soria.  The back ends of the pen are equally solid as well.

Edge:  Equal.

Lineups

Otherton batted .274 / .317 / .375 with 659 runs scored.  Ee-Yah batted .283 / .346 / .360 with 673 runs scored.  Thus on paper at least, it is clear the Orators have the better lineup.  However, please remember that arguably their best player, Hughie Jennings, is shelved for entire post season after getting injured on a hit-by pitch.  This exposes an otherwise very good lineup.

Otherton's lack of ability to get on base is countered by their ability to hit the long ball, and hold a 111 to 49 edge on Ee-Yah.  Hank Aaron led both teams in home runs with 45.

Edge:  Otherton, but only because Hughie Jennings does not factor into it.

Series Edge:  It's Otherton's series to lose.  Typically the team that features Pedro Martinez automatically has a large edge in starting rotation, but Joss is having a phenomenal season and has the ability to match Pedro pitch for pitch.  With Jennings out, the edge goes to Otherton.