With a tripleheader Sunday, there was plenty of notes and quotes from TBS’ coverage of the League Division Series. It will marks the last tripleheader of the LDS as two series have ended in sweeps. Here’s the quotage from yesterday.
Notes from MLB Postseason on TBS – October 10, 2010The MLB Postseason on TBS continues on Mon., October 12 beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) with TBS MLB on Deck followed by the San Francisco Giants @ Atlanta Braves (Game #4) at 7:30 p.m. (ET). The night will conclude with the post-game show Inside MLB.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****TBS MLB On-DeckMatt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts)Eckersley on the Texas Rangers not using Cliff Lee in Game #4: “It’s a no-brainer to me. You’re in a position where you’re up two (games to) one, you don’t have to do it. But if you have to do it, I can see it. If (the Rangers) do lose (Game #4), they want their ace to feel as good as he can. Then I like your chances with your (ace) feeling good instead of going on three days rest.”Eckersley on rookie Braves relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel: “I think (Kimbrel) has caught the eye of a lot of people. Nobody really knew about this kid. But he came out in his first Postseason appearance against the Giants in a very pressure-packed situation (in Game #2) and I’ll tell you what, was this kid throwing hard or what? This kid was throwing lightning. He showed me something. You hate to have (Braves closer Billy) Wagner come out of the series because he’s such a veteran but this kid is nasty.”Eckersley on using a bullpen by committee in the Postseason: “During the season is one thing because you want everything to be set up. Everything changes in the playoffs, whether it’s who is going to pitch or how many innings you’re going to pitch. Closers go two innings in the playoffs and all bets are off in the playoffs. The manager can go anywhere he wants to.”Wells on San Francisco starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez “I like (Sanchez’s) demeanor and the way he goes out there. He is not afraid to take the ball at any given time. This kid has stepped up for the San Francisco Giants and he’s shown what he can do. He talks the talk and walks the walk and you don’t see that too often. He’s not afraid to fail and that’s why I like him.”Ripken on the Cincinnati Reds needing to focus on the game: “If I were the Reds, I wouldn’t read the paper and I wouldn’t watch television. I would try to put it all out of my mind and get back to playing baseball.”Eckersley on how Philadelphia Phillies starting pitchers Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt make fellow starting pitcher Cole Hamels a better pitcher: “Trying to keep up with the other two guys (Oswalt and Halladay) will make you a much better pitcher.”***** ***** ***** ***** *****Game 1: Tampa Bay Rays (5) @ Texas Rangers (2) – Series tied 2-2Announcers: Don Orsillo (play-by-play) and Buck Martinez (analyst) with Marc Fein reportingMartinez on Rangers starting pitcher Tommy Hunter being a winner throughout his career: “Tommy Hunter has been a winner in the minors and a winner in the big leagues. He has that kind of aura about going to the mound and having the ability to win.Martinez on Postseason hitting is ‘quality, not quantity’: “You don’t need a lot of hits in the Postseason, you just need big hits.”Martinez on Rays outfielder Ben Zobrist: “Zobrist has been the most consistent Rays hitter. He’s had good at-bats all throughout this series.”Martinez on Rangers designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero: “Guerrero can reach just about anything (with his swing). (Pitches) off the plate, inside, outside…it doesn’t make any difference.”Martinez on the Rays demeanor in the LDS: “When they came to Dallas (between Game #2 and #3), everyone said that (the Rays) were saying all the right things and they talked about the airplane being very relaxed. You couldn’t tell if they were up or down (in the series). They have really played like that.”Orsillo: “It’s one thing to say it; it’s another thing to do it.”Martinez on players on the Rangers and Rays wanting to play: “There’s not a player on either team that would go ask their manager for a day off.”***** ***** ***** ***** *****Game 2: San Francisco Giants (3) @ Atlanta Braves (2) – Giants lead the series 2-1Announcers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play) and Bob Brenly (analysts) with Tom Verducci reportingBrenly on Giants pitcher Jonathan Sanchez’s ability to consistently throw strikes: “That is a big key for Jonathan Sanchez – the ability to throw strikes. He lead the National League in 96 walks on the season, that being said he didn’t get hit very often. He can be his own worst enemy out there on the mound.”Brenly on the Atlanta Braves offense: “We really didn’t see the Braves offense wake up until very late in Game #2 out at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Not only did their bats not wake up, I’m not sure they were woken up. (Giants pitcher) Tim Lincecum can put you to sleep in the way he pitched in Game # 1 but we really saw a lot of emotion and a lot of very good bats very late in Game #2.”Brenly on Bobby Cox and Bruce Bochy adjusting their plans and naming Derrick Lowe and Madison Bumgarner as their starting pitchers for Game #4: “We’ve said all along that baseball is a game of adjusting and that goes for managers and pitching coaches too. Plans are always written in pencil.”Stockon: “With eraser.”Brenly on the pressure of the Braves relief pitchers stepping in for Billy Wagner as the closer: “They can close. It is completely different story when you know you have to be the closer. I think that is why Bobby Cox didn’t commit to any one of his relief pitchers filling in for Billy Wagner. He said we are going to use the match-ups and use whoever we think is the right guy for the right situation. I think if you announce that one of these young pitchers is going to be the closer it is going to be added pressure on his shoulders before he got in that situation.”Brenly on Postseason pitching: “Most good pitchers in the Major Leagues if you give them an opportunity to settle in and find their rhythm and get all the right splits between their pitches, they can be very tough for the remainder of the ball game.”Brenly on Braves fans’ adoration for Brooks Conrad: “Oh no doubt credit goes to the Atlanta fans. They are very knowledgeable fans and they realize that there is not another good option other than Brooks Conrad on second base because of the incredible amount of injuries that the Braves have suffered.”TBS’ Stockon and Brenly interviewed Giants bench coach Ron Wotus during the gameWotus on the hitters having trouble picking up pitches early on in the game because of the shadows: “The fast ball was easier to see, the breaking pitches were a little more difficult. We are losing the shadows now so hopefully it will be easier to see.”Wotus on the difference between being a bench coach in the regular season vs. the postseason: “I think it is different for everyone but it is business as usual but you want to take advantage of your opportunities. You want to make sure you are prepared. When the situations present themselves, you want to pull the trigger and not wait for something to happen.”TBS’ Stockon and Brenly interviewed Atlanta Braves pitcher Derrick Lowe during the gameLowe on being the starting pitcher for Game #4: “I’ve been fortunate to be on numerous teams that have given me the opportunity to come back on short days. I went to Bobby (Cox) before Game #1 and said I’m available if needed and he told me a few days ago that that was the route we were going.”***** ***** ***** ***** *****Game 3: Philadelphia Phillies (2) @ Cincinnati Reds (0) – Phillies win the series 3-0 and will advance to the NLCS.Announcers: Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and Joe Simpson (analyst) with David Aldridge reportingSimpson on the size of Great American Ball Park: “Everything hitting the air here is an adventure because it is a small, small ball park, a real band box. Fly balls are homeruns here on a normal night.”Simpson on Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto’s fastball: “Cueto does have some run on his fast ball. He can make his two-seamer run away from a left handed hitter. It is not just hard and straight it has some movement.”Anderson on Phillies manager Charlie Manuel: “Charlie Manuel has plenty of weapons. He hasn’t been pleased with his offense but he is pleased with the two wins and a chance to knock the Reds out of the postseason and a chance for the Phillies to advance.”Simpson on Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins playing through his injury: “Naturally your adrenaline is going to take over in the Postseason even with an injury and push you to do some things you are not yet physically ready to do.”Simpson on Cincinnati Reds centerfielder Drew Stubbs: “This guy Stubbs in centerfield is going to be a household name in baseball in the years to come. He is a go glove in the making here in centerfield. He can throw and his bat is coming around too.”TBS’ Anderson and Simpson interviewed Cincinnati Reds Manager Dusty Baker during the gameBaker on the decision to add Orlando Cabrera back into tonight’s lineup: “Our doctors saw him and thank God for modern medicine. He was fine, he swung fine and threw fine. I know he made an error today but he was alright to play the game.”Baker on putting Game #2 behind them and focusing on today’s game (Game #3): “The only thing you can do is to play today. The only thing in your control is today and that’s what I told my club. I told my club let’s just go out and play ball. I have a great feeling about today’s game.”Simpson on Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels’ pitching ability: “He’s been sharp and making good pitches (tonight). His change-up has been excellent, as it usually is.”Simpson on the Philadelphia Phillies pitching line-up keeping the Reds from scoring: “Does good pitching stop good hitting? So far it has.”Simpson on Reds pitcher Nick Masset’s diverse pitching style: “That’s what makes him so effective. He’s throwing 95, 96 and then he breaks out this over the top curve ball and it is just impossible to stay back. Good pitch by Masset, good sequence.”Simpson on the Phillies getting hot at the right time of the year: “I’m not going to say it’s unprecedented but the way (the Phillies) are playing right now is something you’re going to have to look in the record book to see who’s been this good at this stage in the season. They went through most of the season without most of their big guns in the lineup and they still don’t have (shortstop) Jimmy Rollins back. But they’ve missed a lot of their guns and they’ve got them back now. Watch out anybody who gets in their way.”***** ***** ***** ***** *****Inside MLBWiner, Eckersley, Ripken and WellsWells on Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels: “(Hamels) just did a great job executing. This cutter that he has, his change-up got all of these guys on their front foot. (Joey) Votto had no chance tonight. I don’t think anyone had a chance, they just closed their eyes and swung.”Ripken on how the Phillies fulfilled what was expected of them in their LDS: “Sometimes the paper predictions don’t always measure up with what happens on the field. They certainly did with this series.”Ripken on how the Phillies remind him of the Yankees: “You know what (the Phillies) reminds me of? The way the Yankees behave. It’s the experience, it’s the understanding, they aren’t panicking and they get it. They feel it and they let their game come out in the Postseason. They look like the Yankees right now.”TBS reporter Tom Verducci interviewed Giants outfielder Aubrey Huff following the gameHuff on the Giants winning Game #3 in dramatic fashion: “I can’t take it man. I don’t think I’ve seen a pitch to hit this whole series. I actually got lucky on that (game-tying ninth inning single) to be honest with you. The guys in (the Braves) bullpen have been so nasty all year long. Can’t say enough about the way we battled, we didn’t give up. Every time I play against (Braves reserve) Eric Hinkse, he seems like he comes up with a big homer late. I didn’t think he’d hit one and sure enough, he did. But we kept battling and you never know what can happen.”Wells on Braves rookie reliever Craig Kimbrell not trusting his pitches late in Game #3: “If (Kimbrell) had three or four years under his belt, he might have made a different pitch selection. Trust your stuff. (The hitters) don’t have a chance. When I’m throwing 96-97 mph, I’m not going to throw (an off-speed pitch) because you don’t want to speed their bat up, like he did with (Freddy) Sanchez.”Ripken on Braves second baseman Brooks Conrad’s three errors in Game #3: “You can’t help but feel for (Conrad) and I think it’s starting to get inside his head. You can look at his body language and his face and he (seems to say), ‘why me? Why does this have to happen to me?’ But he’s a good player, he’s made some good plays, he’s just run into a bad stretch.”
And one more MLB Postseason on TBS press release coming right after the jump.
This TBS release discusses tonight’s coverage of Game 4 of the Braves-Giants series.
Exclusive Coverage of the League Division Series on TBS Continues Tonight with San Francisco Giants @ Atlanta Braves in Game #4Game #5 between Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m. (ET) exclusively on TBSMLB Postseason coverage on TBS continues on tonight, October 11 with the network’s exclusive coverage of the League Division Series (LDS). TBS MLB on Deck pre-game show leads off the day’s action at 7 p.m. (ET) featuring Matt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David Wells (analysts). The pre-game show will lead into Game #4 between the San Francisco Giants @ Atlanta Braves at 7:30 p.m. (ET). The Giants lead the best-of-five series 2-1 and will advance to the NLCS with a win. Madison Bumgarner is scheduled to pitch for the Giants against the Braves’ probable starter Derek Lowe. Dick Stockton (play-by-play) will call the game alongside analyst Bob Brenly with Tom Verducci reporting. The night will wrap up with post-game studio coverage on Inside MLB with Winer, Eckersley, Ripken and Wells. If the Braves win Monday night, TBS MLB on Deck will get underway on Wed., October 13 at 7:30 p.m. (ET) before leading into Braves @ Giants in Game #5 at 8 p.m. (ET). Inside MLB will recap the night’s action.On Tue., October 12, TBS’ will have exclusive coverage of Game #5 between the Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays at 8 p.m. (ET). The series is tied 2-2 and the winner of Game #5 will advance to the ALCS to face the New York Yankees. Cliff Lee is scheduled to start for the Rangers against the Rays’ expected starter David Price. TBS MLB analyst Ron Darling will join Don Orsillo (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst) and Marc Fein (reporter) for the game. TBS MLB on Deck with preview the game at 7:30 p.m. (ET) and Inside MLB will wrap up the action following the game.Continuing throughout the network’s coverage of the MLB Postseason, Fans can access game updates and notes on the TBS Hot Corner Twitter feed at twitter.com/tbshotcorner. Viewers can also log on to TBS Hot Corner on MLB.com (http://www.mlb.com/tbshotcorner) to access to video highlights and interviews from the LDS and American League Championship Series, as well as exclusive footage from the TBS studio shows.MLB DIVISION SERIES ON TBS SCHEDULE
Mon., October 117 p.m. TBS MLB On DeckMatt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley (analyst), Cal Ripken (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)7:30 p.m. San Francisco Giants @ Atlanta Braves, Game #4Announcers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Bob Brenly (analyst) and Tom Verducci (reporter)Post-game Inside MLBMatt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley (analyst), Cal Ripken (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)Tue., October 127:30 p.m. TBS MLB On DeckMatt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley (analyst), Cal Ripken (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)8 p.m. Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays, Game #5Announcers: Don Orsillo (play-by-play), Ron Darling (analyst), Buck Martinez (analyst) and Marc Fein (reporter)Post-game Inside MLBMatt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley (analyst), Cal Ripken (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)Wed., October 13(If Braves WIN on Monday)7:30 p.m. TBS MLB On DeckMatt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley (analyst), Cal Ripken (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)8 p.m. Atlanta Braves @ San Francisco Giants, Game #5*Announcers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Bob Brenly (analyst) and Tom Verducci (reporter)Post-game Inside MLBMatt Winer (host), Dennis Eckersley (analyst), Cal Ripken (analyst) and David Wells (analyst)
More stuff coming up. Trying to catch up. Why is a holiday Monday so busy at work? I don’t understand.
