2010 MLB Playoffs: Giants Vs. Braves NLDS Game 2 Viewing Guide
Time: 9:37pm ET
Starting Pitchers: RHP Matt Cain vs. RHP Tommy Hanson
Series: 1-0 San Francisco
TV: TBS
TV Announcers: Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly
Radio: ESPN Radio
Radio Announcers: Chris Berman, Dave O’Brien, Rick Sutcliffe
Umpires: Dana DeMuth, Paul Nauert, Paul Emmel, Mike Winters, Jerry Layne, Ed Hickox
MLB.com Gameday: Link
Team Blogs: McCovey Chronicles, Talking Chop
Situation
What Roy Halladay did to the Reds in Game 1 of their series was impressive, but what Tim Lincecum did to the Braves in Game 1 of this series might've been just as good overall. There are different ways of being unhittable. Roy Halladay was unhittable, in that he didn't let the Reds make any solid contact. Tim Lincecum was unhittable, in that he didn't let the Braves hit the ball, ever. The Braves are running with a weakened lineup than they're used to, and that much was very apparent Thursday night. Atlanta's hitters need to get into the series, hit a few balls on the screws, and remember how to score runs before this series blows them by.
Three Keys
(1) Here’s the problem with Atlanta letting Tim Lincecum get away with a complete game in the opener - San Francisco’s bullpen is completely rested. Maybe over-rested. Not that Atlanta’s got particularly taxed, but what this means is that, with a fresh bullpen and a day off in between Games 2 and 3, Bruce Bochy can remove Matt Cain at early signs of trouble. He doesn’t have to try to ride him too far. If Cain doesn’t have it, or if he runs into a wall, there’ll be relief available, and it’ll be good.
(2) Tommy Hanson is the rare right-handed starter that doesn’t throw a whole lot of changeups to left-handed hitters. He lives mainly off his fastball, slider, and curve, staying as far outside as possible while still throwing strikes. The extent of the called strike zone to left-handed hitters could end up being important, then, because Hanson loves his backdoor breaking balls, and if he’s not getting strikes just off the black, he’ll have to come further inside, where his pitches are easier to handle. If the spot is there, he’ll pitch to it. If it isn’t, we could see some real good swings.
(3) The Braves only allowed one run and five hits, but they also made two errors, and could've been charged with more than that. Their infield defense in particular didn't look comfortable Thursday night, which shouldn't come as a surprise since injuries to Chipper Jones and Martin Prado have both Omar Infante and Brooks Conrad playing out position. Everybody focuses on the offensive drop-off, but the glovework is also important, and it can have a big effect on a short series. Should one of them bobble a grounder, or if Conrad doesn't make a very good turn on a possible double play, that could mean a run, and a run could mean the game.
