Before the LDS games take place today, let me post the quotage from Sunday’s National League Division Series games on TBS. Everything is posted below.
Notes from MLB Postseason on TBS/NLDS – October 2, 2011
The MLB Postseason continues on TBS tonight beginning with the Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays, (Game #3 – 5p.m. ET) and the New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers, (Game #3 – 8:30 p.m. ET). The night will conclude with the post-game show Inside MLB.
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Arizona Diamondbacks (4) @ Milwaukee Brewers (9) – Brewers lead the series 2-0
Announcers: Victor Rojas (play-by-play), Joe Simpson (analyst) with Sam Ryan reportingSimpson on Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson giving up the two-run homer in the first inning: “Sometimes he can be his own worst enemy. He can get so fired up and angry at himself that he can’t really pitch up to his ability. He’s going to have to maintain his composure.”
Rojas on the Diamondbacks hitting style: “The Diamondbacks are a team that likes to hit the long-ball. And when they hit the long-ball they are usually successful.”
Simpson: “As I’ve said before, they live by the sword and die by the sword.”Simpson on Hudson’s pitching technique: “One of the things that makes Daniel Hudson effective, tough and a 16-game winner this year, is that he throws across his body a little bit and that three quarter delivery. He’s hard to pick up.”
Rojas on professional athletes, like Brewers pitcher Zack Greinke, dealing with social anxiety: “There have been a number of guys over the last 10 years that are dealing with this more and more. You get to a certain level and some guys just don’t like dealing with that stage or platform that they are put on.”
TBS reporter Sam Ryan interviews Hall of Famer and former Brewers shortstop Robin Yount
Yount on playing with the Brewers: “This brings back great memories. I played here 20 years and I only experienced one World Series. I think this team is a good a team (compared to the `82 team) and I would love to see another World Series, as would everyone else.”Yount on what the Brewers need to do to advance to the World Series: “A lot of things have to go right. We certainly have the talent. But even if you have the talent, you still have to go out there and play. Things have to fall our way. We have the pitching to carry us. You just have to get some breaks along the way and you have to take it one game at a time.”
Yount as a former coach for the Diamondbacks: “Twenty years versus two-and-a-half years (as a coach) my heart is still here in Milwaukee. I would have to say the Diamondbacks would be my second choice.”
Simpson on Brewers pitching coach Rick Kranitz: “He’s been getting a lot of credit from these pitchers for the work he has done this year. He has made things very simple for the pitcher and the catcher and how he wants them to work. Everything focuses on the fastball, trying to locate the fastball and work off that. He’s a highly-respected pitching coach in baseball.”
Simpson on Diamondbacks rookie first baseman Paul Goldschmidt: “This kid is quite a find. If he can cut down on his strikeouts, he’s going to be a force.”
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St. Louis Cardinals (5) @ Philadelphia Phillies (4) – Series tied 1-1
Announcers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play) and Bob Brenly (analyst) with Craig Sager reportingBrenly on Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins: “Jimmy Rollins provides the kind of pop in the top of the order that you rarely see.”
Brenly on Cardinals leftfielder Matt Holliday’s hand injury: “That’s a big piece of this Cardinals line-up to be without in the Postseason. He really lengthens this line-up; he’s a power threat, good protection in the line-up. This is not the same Cardinals line-up without him in it.”
Brenly on Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee’s mechanics: “(He’s) very smooth with his mechanics. He gives a lot of credit to the Expos minor league pitching coordinator Wayne Rosenthal and Ace Adams. They really smoothed out his mechanics, made him more balanced. He’s got good stuff to work with.”
TBS’ Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly interviewed Cardinals manager Tony La Russa in the fourth inning
La Russa on Chris Carpenter’s performance: “I would add – which could get me in trouble but I’m going to add anyway – that we are pitching to two different strike zones. I guess for this club or any club, that’s an advantage you don’t want to give up.”La Russa on Cardinals relief pitcher Fernando Salas: “He’s been so valuable because he is versatile. Lately, and most of the season, he has pitched in the later part of the game. He can come in now and if he gets a shut down, we can stay in this game. He’s capable of getting righties and lefties out.”
TBS’ Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly interviewed Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee in the fourth inning
Dubee on Cliff Lee expanding his pitches: “Cliff’s stuff is great. He just has to get back down and angle the ball. He’s a great strike zone pitcher but he just has to take advantage of getting out of the strike zone and expand more.”Brenly on Rich Dubee’s pitching staff: “I know for a fact that Rich Dubee works just as hard as any pitching coach in the game, regardless of which one of his pitchers (Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels) is on the mound.”
Brenly on the extent of players’ injuries: “There’s not a player in uniform tonight that is 100 percent at this time of year. Six weeks of spring training, 162 regular season games, you get to the postseason, maybe they don’t hurt as much; but you still have injuries to deal with.”
TBS reporter Craig Sager interviewed Albert Pujols following the game
Pujols on La Russa’s decision to use seven relief pitchers to come from behind: “Listen, this is the playoffs; whatever it takes to get out of an inning. Obviously, Tony is good with that, mixing the pitchers with the hitters. It worked out this time for us.”Pujols on playing through his injuries: “Nothing hurts in the Postseason. I play over 140 games. I thank God for letting me play in the Postseason. Nothing hurts. Maybe tomorrow it hurts. But when the game starts on Tuesday, nothing hurts. Hopefully, we can continue to play like this.”
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Inside MLB
Matt Winer (host) and Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)TBS reporter Tom Verducci interviews Detroit Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer following their game
Scherzer on the importance of winning Game #2: “It was crucial for us to come out here and pitch really well today. Especially for our team to get a win and go back to Detroit and give ‘Ver’ (Justin Verlander) the ball. You’ve got to like where we are at. It’s a good series.”Wells on Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer: “He was just in control. He utilized his change-up — slowed them down and sped them up. That’s what good pitchers do.”
Eckersley on Scherzer’s Game #2 performance: “He had trouble the first inning, but after that, he was nasty. He’s got that change-up and then he beats you with another pitch.”
Winer on the Cardinals and Phillies pitchers: “You couldn’t look at the pitchers mound without finding a former Cy Young Award winner on it.”
Eckersley on Cardinals manager Tony La Russa’s comments on the umpire’s calls: “He’s trying to work the umpire. After La Russa’s comments, the umpire was afraid to pull the trigger and he was back and forth. So it did work. Was it the difference as to why the Cardinals won? No. But that’s what Tony La Russa does. He isn’t afraid to stick his neck out. He is a gamer. He grinds like its nobody’s business on every pitch. That’s what he’s all about. You want him to be on your side.”
Ripken on La Russa’s comments: “(La Russa) is a competitor. The only difference is he just put the headset on at the wrong time. He works the umpires and it does work. They don’t want to be yelled and screamed at. And for a brief moment they may say, ‘Maybe I am a bit wide. Maybe I need to tighten it up a bit.’”
Wells on La Russa’s comments: “That could hurt (the Cardinals) in the long run. The umpires don’t like to be shown up. They might take offense to it and they might take it to them in St. Louis. You never know.”
Ripken on Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols’ power at the plate: “(Phillies starting pitcher) Cliff Lee at times looked really nasty and you thought the game was over. He has the kind of stuff to make the best hitter in the league look foolish. But you aren’t going to get (Pujols out) for long. Albert shows that he can take it, make adjustments, and in the end he ends up winning.”
Eckersley on Jason Motte on being the Cardinals closer: “(Motte) throws nothing but gas. He came up big for (St. Louis) and it was a huge game for them, it says everything about the Cardinals.”
Wells on the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen: “Pujols is getting the accolades, but the bullpen should get the accolades tonight. They came in and shut (the Phillies) down. It was incredible.”
TBS reporter Sam Ryan interviewed Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun following their game
Braun on his first Postseason home run and the team’s momentum: “It was important for us to find momentum early. For the rest of the game we didn’t get too many scoring opportunities so it’s always important to find a way to get ahead. We are feeling good about the way we are playing baseball and (the Diamondbacks) are playing well too. We fully expect them to come out and compete on Tuesday night.”Wells on Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun: “This guy is in the zone. He’s got a great chance of winning the MVP. He had a great regular season and he’s carrying it over to the postseason. He’s seeing the ball so good right now it’s sickening. He can run, he steals bases and he’s a threat no matter what he does.”
That will do it.
