On Monday, the MLB on TBS crew spoke with the media regarding the upcoming League Division Series. As you’re aware, TBS will have all four series as well as the American League Championship Series that starts next week. Here are highlights of the conference call. Lead announcer Ernie Johnson, Jr., analysts John Smoltz, Ron Darling and Cal Ripken, Jr. were among those taking part today.
Notes from the 2010 TBS MLB Postseason Conference CallMonday, October 4TBS will televise exclusive coverage of the MLB Division Series and National League Championship Series with coverage beginning Wed., October 6 with a tripleheader: Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays (1:30 p.m. ET) followed by Cincinnati Reds @ Philadelphia Phillies (5 p.m. ET). New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins (8:30 p.m. ET) concludes the day’s action.Participants: Cal Ripken, Jr., TBS MLB studio analyst, John Smoltz, TBS MLB game analyst, Ron Darling, TBS MLB game analyst, Ernie Johnson, TBS MLB play-by-play announcer, Jeff Behnke, Turner Sports executive producerJohnson on the difference between his preparation for baseball games and the NBA on TNT’s studio show: “I think that when I prepare for the NBA studio show, I prepare for the unexpected with Charles (Barkley) and Kenny (Smith) obviously. That is not unlike you’re preparation for a baseball game because, just like our studio show, it’s completely unscripted and you have to go with the flow and see how things work out. Preparation to me has always been key. It’s always been the most important thing to give you a comfort level. You’ve done your homework and you’re ready to go, whether it’s an NBA studio show or doing play-by-play in Major League Baseball. It’s a thrill to be doing this back in the booth and a real kick to be working with Ron (Darling) and John (Smoltz).”Darling on some lesser-known players who could make an impact in the Postseason: “There are some really great stories out there on the West Coast with the (San Francisco) Giants who just won an incredible division fight against the (San Diego) Padres. Andres Torres, their lead-off hitter and centerfielder, has had a great year and I don’t think anyone really knows about him. Of course all the talk is about (Cincinnati Reds pitcher) Aroldis Chapman, he might be called upon to do what David Price did for the Tampa Bay Rays (in 2008). Also look for (Reds outfielder) Jay Bruce, he could play a big role (in the Postseason). I don’t know if everyone in baseball knows (Atlanta Braves catcher) Brian McCann and how good he is. He can really call a game and he’s a great offensive player. I also don’t think the Braves would be where they are this year if it wasn’t for the year that (relief pitcher) Jonny Venters had. In Philadelphia, the two players that I look for are (relief pitcher J.C.) Romero out of the bullpen is going to have to have a big playoff if they’re going to dominate like they think they can. (Second baseman) Plácido Polanco is a professional hitter that every team would love to have hitting in their second spot (in the batting order). (Outfielder) Nick Swisher had an incredible season for the Yankees, he got some huge hits for them. Tampa Bay’s (outfielder) Ben Zobrist is coming off an incredible year last year, not as good this year but still very valuable for them. Look for them to play (infielder) Reid Brignac, a good left-handed bat and good fielder who is a guy that can get a hit late in the game. For Minnesota, (outfielder) Delmon Young finally had the break-out year that many have been expecting. He was an RBI machine and really picked up some of the slack with (first baseman) Justin Morneau being out of the lineup for the Twins. For Texas, it’s a couple of players that the Atlanta Braves sent to Texas for Mark Teixeira (in 2007). Elvis Andrus, who plays shortstop, and Neftali Feliz, their young closer who reminds me of a young Mariano Rivera.”Smoltz on the importance of home-field advantage in the Yankees/Twins LDS: “The biggest thing in the (Yankees/Twins) series is that Minnesota is in a position that they’ve never been in before and that’s having home field against the Yankees. (The Twins) won over 50 games at home and everyone was talking about the new confines and they transitioned very well. They may or may not have a ton of confidence in their past Postseason appearances against the Yankees but this year, (having home field) really levels the playing field for the Twins and gives them a chance to upset the Yankees. Home field advantage does give you a chance to get some momentum early in the series.”Smoltz on the mindset of players headed into the Postseason: “I would like to think that every player wants to get to the Postseason and when you play a certain amount of years and you’re comfortable and some aren’t (comfortable in the Postseason). Without having any team success over the last few years, as a player, you can’t wait to get into this type of environment. You have to able to slow everything down and play like it’s a normal game and deliver at the point that every player wants to. It’s magnified and it’s crazy so preparation for it is going to be different no matter how great of a player you are, you’d like to have a few of those under your belt. But going through it the first time, it’s just an exciting time and it’s the chance to do what you’ve always wanted to do and do it in a quick three out of five series. What I love about the playoffs is that guys are not allowed to make up for a slow start.”Smoltz on the importance of pitching in the Postseason: “This year has more importance for more teams with pitching than in previous years. There are only a couple of balanced teams that can win with offense and not have to win with pitching. San Francisco, Atlanta and Minnesota are going to have to rely on execution so much more. They can’t make up for the mistakes or lack of runs. They can all pitch but they haven’t shown a consistency with hitting. Philadelphia is a very balanced team and they appear to be the odds-on favorite to make it to the World Series.”Ripken on the Phillies’ ‘Big Three’ of Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt: “The three #1 pitchers (Hamels, Halladay and Oswalt) in Philadelphia are all legitimate #1s especially when you get to the playoffs. They are pitchers that take it upon themselves to get out of jams. It just makes it that much harder (for hitters). Those are the kinds of pitchers that you need in the Postseason because they can be dominate. The (opposing) offense might think about starting their runners a little bit, maybe play a little hit-and-run or putting the ball on the ground to advance the runner but with guys like that, on any given day, they might give up some runs but for the most part, they are going to be a big challenge. You have to battle really hard to get guys into scoring position to get a run across. When you look at it on paper, they are the reason why Philadelphia, who has a great offense, could go back to the World Series.”Ripken on which Postseason pitcher would he’d pick to start a deciding LDS Game #5: “It makes logical sense that you would go right for CC (Sabathia) and you can include Andy Pettitte in the argument because he’s been so good in the Postseason. Even though he hasn’t (pitched in the Postseason) I think Roy Halladay has been the best pitcher in the game in both leagues. But I’m going to go out on a limb and say that I’d rather have him go out on the mound (in a LDS Game #5) even though he doesn’t have any (Postseason) experience.”Johnson on working with Ron Darling and John Smoltz in the Postseason: “What’s good about this and what’s fun for me is (working with) guys who have been to the World Series and have been there, done that. It’s not unlike when I do the (NBA on TNT) show, I know most people identify me with that, I get that. (There) I work with a guy who was one of the fifty greatest players and a guy who won NBA Championships. Here, I’m with guys who have been through every baseball situation there is. I think it behooves me to give these guys the ability to take an idea and run with it. People would much rather hear what John Smoltz and Ron Darling think about a certain playoff situation than what a guy who played one year of baseball at the University of Georgia (Johnson). I know my role there and I want to listen to where these guys go with the game. I’ve had a chance to work with both of them and this is awesome.”Smoltz on Rangers starting pitcher Cliff Lee: “(Lee) can strike you out eight or nine times. He’s got the ability to mix-and-match his stuff and get nasty when he has to be. Would he be considered a power pitcher? No but he has the ability to throw a hard slider, curveball, change-up and make nasty pitches with his fastball in and out. He’s been able to do that and been able to be in the right place at the right time.”Darling on former minor league teammate and current Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire: “(Gardenhire) has the ability to not only work with young players and be able to give them a lot of encouragement but we’ve also seen that he has no problem being tough on his players. In today’s game, you see a lot of managers; maybe it’s because of the money, having a hard time using that lineup as a way to get their players to play the game right. Ron doesn’t have a problem with that and he never did.”Ripken on Rangers third basemen Michael Young making the move over from shortstop: “(Young) is a fantastic player and its not an easy move to go from short(stop) to third (base). You’re playing in the middle of the infield and the ball is coming off the end of the bat. But Michael has gone over there and taken a goalie mentality and when the ball comes off the bat quick and has slicing action, many times you want to dive over the ball too quickly. It took a little while for him to read the ball off the bat but to see him make that transition has really made their ballclub better. He also didn’t let it affect his hitting either along the way.”The panel made their World Series predictionsSmoltz predicts Phillies over Rays: “That’s what is neat about (the Postseason) is so many things can change. What I think will happen may not end up happening but as we sit here today, I would say Philadelphia is going to go to the World Series and I think they are going to play Tampa Bay. Those are the two most balanced teams and I think Philadelphia finds a way to win the World Series.”Ripken predicts Rays over Phillies: “I’ll take the same two teams (as Smoltz) but reverse it…Tampa over Philadelphia.”Darling predicts Phillies over Twins: “I think that Philadelphia is going to make it through. I sense that Minnesota or Texas is going to get through this year. The Yankees and Rays have great front-line pitching and question marks after that. I think they are more vulnerable this year so Minnesota or Texas can get through but whoever plays Philadelphia is going to lose.”
There you have it.
