Let’s give you the quotes from TBS’ coverage of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers. Check it out.
Notes from NLCS on TBS – October 9, 2011
The National League Championship Series continues on TBS on Monday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. ET with TBS MLB on Deck followed by Game 2 of the NLCS featuring the St. Louis Cardinals @ Milwaukee Brewers (8:00 p.m. ET). The night will conclude with the post-game show Inside MLB.
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TBS MLB on Deck
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)Eckersley on the St. Louis Cardinals/Milwaukee Brewers rivalry: “There are a lot of reasons why they are upset with each other. I love this. I never liked the other team. Why do you want to like the other team? This is a beautiful thing. This is what you want. I think this is great baseball so we will see what happens.”
Eckersley on Brewers pitcher Zack Greinke: “This guy has great control. He’s been so great at home, ridiculous at home. This is where he wants to be, he wants to be on the mound at home. He’s special there.”
Eckersley on the Cardinals bullpen: “I think the bullpen is going to come in play. (Marc) Rzepczynski is going to play an important role and so is Arthur Rhodes. That one guy left-hander, he’s done the job for them. That’s how they put this bullpen together. It is going to be important.”
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St. Louis Cardinals (6) @ Milwaukee Brewers (9) – Brewers lead series 1-0
Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Ron Darling, John Smoltz (analysts) and Craig Sager (reporter)Darling on Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina: “He is the premier catcher in the National League. Not for what he’s done offensively – which is significant – but he’s like a shutdown quarterback in the NFL, you can’t run on him.”
Darling on Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia: “I think Garcia, in the middle of the season, was a victim of that changing bullpen for St. Louis. Nine times he left with a chance to get the win and they blew it for him. He could’ve had a bigger season.”
Darling on the Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun’s powerful hitting: “Occasionally these post-seasons are a showcase for young great talent. Ryan Braun with one swing of the bat shows what type of power he has.”
Smoltz on Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia: “When he gets anxious or a little bit upset at himself, he tries to make pitches that are better and more perfect. And it is harder to make the normal pitches when you are anxious and a little upset.”
Darling on Brewers outfielder Rickie Weeks: “If you ask most Brewers fans who watch Rickie Weeks, when he’s on top of his game, he just fills this Park with line drives.”
Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, John Smoltz interview St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa during the bottom of the fourth:
La Russa on David Frees injury-filled season: “If he’s healthy, he’s going to be as good a run producer as we have on our team.”La Russa on bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist replacing pitching coach Dave Duncan for part of the season: “With his experience, he did a good job. He had his own style and really carried it. Without his confidence we wouldn’t be here.”
Darling on Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun’s hitting power: “That is the thing that makes Braun so dangerous. He can go coast-to-coast. He can pull you for a 460-plus home run or take you down the right field line if you are going to pitch him away.”
Darling on the Brewers hitting streak (six hits) in the 5th inning: “I guess we are getting a taste of the how explosive this offensive of the Milwaukee Brewers can be. Not only led by their dynamic duo [Braun and Fielder] but they also have some depth and great hitters in their line-up.”
Smoltz: “Great pitching will take care of great hitting. What we haven’t seen is great pitching tonight. If you make some mistakes, these guys (Brewers) are explosive enough to get it in the air and it’s gone. They have got to keep the ball down and neither pitcher has been able to do that.”
Smoltz on the trick to pitching to Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun: “He has raw power everywhere. That’s what makes him so tough. You cannot pitch him one way.”
Darling on Cardinals pitcher Kyle McClellan: “He’s a guy you like to come in. He has a decent breaking ball, a decent sinking fastball and a good change-up.”
Smoltz on the Cardinals having trouble with their bullpen in the Postseason: “It is interesting all the teams in the playoffs have a formula when they get to the 7th inning; except St. Louis (with their relievers). He (La Russa) has been able to use a multitude of closers. He won’t even name a closer for a lack of distraction that might go to (Jason) Motte right now. Really, St. Louis has had to patch it together more than any other team in the playoffs.”
Darling on the Brewers picking up closer Francisco Rodriguez at the trade deadline: “One of the best moves in baseball, leading up to Postseason.”
TBS Reporter Craig Sager interviews Milwaukee Brewers teammates Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder following the game:
Braun on hitting a home run in the first inning: “I was just looking for something out over the plate. It is important to hit the ball early in the count and get ahead and get some momentum.”Fielder on getting hit by a pitch in the first inning following Braun’s HR: “He didn’t mean to do it. Fortunately enough we won the game and that is all that matters.”
Fielder on what it means to win Game 1: “It is important because this is our home field. We have to do work at home. It is always good to get the first home game. Hopefully we come out tomorrow and do the same thing.”
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Inside MLB
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)Ripken on Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder’s athleticism: “Prince Fielder is very athletic.People look at him and say he’s not athletic. But he can move and play first base.”
Wells on Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia giving up back-to-back hits in the fifth inning: “He needs to slow the ballgame down. Tie your shoe, walk around the mound, something. When you get in situations like that, you don’t want to keep going because these guys are hot. That thing looks like a beach ball (to them).”
Ripken on the Detroit Tigers Magglio Ordonez and Delmon Young out for the ALCS: “That’s what I’m most concerned about. That’s two big right-handed bats against a predominately left-handed starting pitching staff. You are going to need those experienced bats to drive in runs.
Eckersley on the Milwaukee Brewers: “This was a big game for them. They have been winning at home, they needed this game.”
Eckersley on the Cardinals missing the opportunity to win the NLCS because of Game 1: “Looking back, if St. Louis doesn’t win this series, they can go back to this game. You can’t give up a 5-2 lead in their (Brewers) house. This was the game they could have stolen to take control of this series. I’ve been in a lot of series where I look back to see what I could’ve done. This could be it for St. Louis.”
That’s all.
