As professional baseball teams head into the post-season, coaches, general managers, players and owners are all aware of one thing-masterful pitching will take down masterful hitting any day. A few years back, when the underrated Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees to take the ALDS and eventually the ALCS, it was the depth of the Detroit pitching staff that defeated the Yankee hitters. The fact is that although most analysts and handicappers picked the Yankees to easily win the series, a select few thought that the Tigers were the obvious choice based, primarily, on their pitching staff.
Depth of Rotation and Length of Series
One thing to consider is that a club that did well over the extremely long regular season may not have what it takes to win a five or seven game series. A rotation with one top starter and a solid number two and three can be golden against a club that has a rotation that features starters that notched a lot of wins but lacks true depth and a go-to hurler. Lights out guys who can consistently give quality starts will dominate in the post season. The playoffs are a concentrated crucible where there's little room for mistakes, inconsistency or question marks. Is there a stopper on the staff? If so-excellent!
Long, Middle Relief and Set Up
The bullpen has to offer a sound long and middle relief pitcher or two and at least one quality set up guy. It doesn't matter how good your starters are, the fact is that a team will need to call upon these players at least once or twice during a playoff series, and they need to be able to hold the fort and keep the team in the game. How many innings have these players pitched in the regular season? Might they be worn down? How have they performed in the last two weeks? A pitching staff that is tired near the end of the season will usually carry that into the playoffs. Is there a gut-check reliever in the long, middle or set up spots?
Closer
Okay, here's one name from 2008-Brad Lidge. Or should I simply say, "Lights out?" The closer is key. He can simply make a one-run game a win with 12 pitches or less. A gutsy, ice-in-his-veins, take no prisoners, fastballing, intimidating, cold-eyed closer can assure that a top notch pitching staff gets every win it deserves. If the closer is in place, forget about it. The game is over when the eighth is done.
Age, Wear-and-Tear and Health
You don't want a pitching staff that's too old or too young or too anything. What you want is a club with a wizened veteran starter or two, another guy who's at the mid-point of his career and a young stud. Lively arms, strong legs and durable backs are essential. If there are health concerns it could be detrimental. Then again, if there is an unhealthy pitcher who is totally focused and determined to win, like Schilling was for the Red Sox so many years ago, then that spirited presence could be the difference-maker in a post-season series. Still, Schilling was surrounded by a very deep staff that included the amazingly versatile team-player Tim Wakefield.
Catcher
A catcher who calls a great game can get a shaky starter through a tough inning or two. Additionally, he knows how to work each hitter, allowing each of his pitchers the opportunity to perform at a premium level. Veteran catchers who are smart, tough leaders can anchor a talented, deep pitching staff, giving them the confidence they need to excel.
Some say that pitching is 80 to 90% of the game but baseball guru Bill James notes that if offense is 50% of the game and defense is 50% and pitching is about 25% of defense, then pitching is approximately 35% of the entire game. With that being said, it's been noted that pitchers have a lot more weapons at their disposal and leeway in how they get things done than hitters. The margin of error for hitters is miniscule compared to pitchers. When it comes to betting on MLB's post season be sure you analyze every team's pitching staff and every pitcher on that staff inside out and then make your bets accordingly.
