John Kruk, Baseball Tonight analyst, on how the 2011 Phillies compare to his “Macho Row” – led 1993 Phillies
This year’s Phillies team is better. For one, they have a more accomplished starting staff. They also have a fresher, younger bullpen than we had going into the postseason. Offensively, our ’93 Phillies team was more consistent, but this 2011 version can kill you with their power.
Nomar Garciaparra, Wednesday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the team with the best lineup entering the postseason:
The Texas Rangers because they have different ways to beat you – hitting for power and average with speed on the base paths. They are very similar to the Yankees, but I give them the edge because they have more guys throughout the lineup hitting for average than the New York Yankees.
Rick Sutcliffe, Monday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best rotation entering the postseason:
The Philadelphia Phillies because they’ve exceeded all the hype we read about all winter and throughout Spring Training. Roy Halladay was equally good this year as he was last year. He won’t win the Cy Young Award unanimously, because there are some other pitchers also having great seasons, but he’s had that kind of year again. Cliff Lee, at times, has been brilliant; Cole Hamels keeps getting better; and Vance Worley would be the third pitcher for the Yankees in the postseason but he’ll be in the bullpen for the Phillies. It’s not only the quality, but the quantity as well.
Nomar Garciaparra, Wednesday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best defensive team entering the postseason:
There are a lot of solid defensive teams, but the Philadelphia Phillies consistently make all the plays. Their pitching staff is so good and many of them pitch for contact, creating opportunities for the defense to impact the game. I don’t think they have a lot of guys with incredible range, or those who will make the exceptional play, but they are going to make the everyday solid play. With that pitching staff, that’s exactly what they need.
Orel Hershiser, Sunday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best bullpen entering the postseason:
The Yankees – their bullpen has the lowest ERA in the American League. Rafael Soriano is starting to return to form; David Robertson is averaging 1.5 strikeouts per inning pitched and Mariano Rivera, who’s been outstanding, has a seven-to-one strikeout/walk ratio. Those guys are going to be called upon because of the weakness of their rotation after CC Sabathia.
Bobby Valentine, Sunday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best managerial move of the season:
The best managerial move of the season was made by Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia when he decided to name young pitcher Jordan Walden his closer. Walden saved more than 30 games. They wouldn’t have contended if it wasn’t for that move.
Barry Larkin, Baseball Tonight analyst, on baseball’s best player:
Matt Kemp is the most complete and best player in baseball. He’s been a Triple Crown candidate with a combination of speed and power. His defense in center field and his maturity and ability to stay focused amidst the turmoil in the organization has been incredible.
Orel Hershiser, Sunday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best approach against Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander:
The key is to put balls in play. You have to bring a ‘fighing off’ approach to nearly every at bat. And, when you get runners on base, you must figure out ways to move them around. You don’t want to try and beat him one-on-one because he is better than most hitters.
Curt Schilling, Baseball Tonight analyst, on which teams have an advantage entering the playoffs:
Detroit and Philadelphia will have their everyday players rested and their rotations set, but Tampa and St. Louis grinded it out all the way to the end of the regular season. The beauty of the postseason is the 0-0 record everyone starts with, but teams go in at potentially huge advantages and disadvantages due to their health and rest.
Aaron Boone, Monday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the importance of momentum entering the postseason:
I don’t think it’s very important. Sure, you’d rather be playing well as a team, but I’ve seen teams limp into the playoffs and get hot and vice versa. When I was on the Cleveland Indians in 2005, the White Sox were having a great year. We almost caught them at the end of the season, but they then went on a great run to win the World Series. In 1998, the Yankees were rolling the entire year. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.
Karl Ravech, Baseball Tonight host, on the most defining moment of the season:
The most defining moment of the season came when San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey suffered a season-ending broken ankle on a collision at home plate. The loss of Posey dramatically affected the Giants offensive attack, it contributed to the underperformance by their pitching staff, and it altered the power structure in the National League. I believe it will also lead to rule changes designed to protect catchers from similar injuries.
Curt Schilling, Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best front office moves this season:
Depending on how it plays out, there could be two genius moves. I think the Doug Fister move [the Detroit Tigers acquired the starting pitcher from the Seattle Mariners] could be huge in October. The other big one for me would be the Michael Bourne trade for Atlanta. He’s not hitting as well by his standards (at least in OBP) but adding a player like that to the top of a lineup changes both the Braves’ approach as well as their opponents. He becomes an asset that can change pitching approaches not only to him but to the hitters behind him when he’s on base.
Dan Shulman, Sunday Night Baseball commentator, on most memorable moment of the season:
The most memorable moment of the season had to be Derek Jeter going 5-for-5 in the game in which he reached the 3,000 hits milestone. He has always had a flair for the dramatic, and this milestone was no exception.
Chris Singleton, Baseball Tonight and Sunday Night Baseball ESPN Radio analyst on the team to watch next season:
The Kansas City Royals are a team that I could see stepping up in that division soon. Rookie Eric Hosmer has been sensational and that team can really hit. All they need is some good starting pitching (like that is easy to get).
Rick Sutcliffe, Monday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best player in baseball:
Roy Halladay because he makes everyone around him better. He’s made a profound impact in Philadelphia. He’s helped Cole Hammels, Vance Whorley and the young kids watching him prepare in Spring Training, both the physical preparation and the discipline (how he takes care of himself off the field). The innings he provides keeps the bullpen strong and he’s brought a lot of excitement to the organization. There hasn’t been an empty seat since he’s put on a Phillies uniform and the impact he will leave will last for decades.
Orel Hershiser, Sunday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best player in baseball:
Matt Kemp has turned in a season which is characteristic of a modern day Willie Mays. His offensive performance has reminded me of Vladimir Guerrero in 2002 and he’s also improved his defense with his outfield assists going from three to 11 this season. He’s always been a five-tool player with great potential. Now, he’s showing the ability to concentrate on a daily basis and put up these numbers.
Nomar Garciaparra, Wednesday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best player in baseball:
Albert Pujols, with Adrian Gonzalez a close second. Pujols still has a tremendous impact because he changes the way an opposing pitcher faces the entire lineup. It’s not only his influence, but how he’s been able to sustain it for so long. He also plays great defense.
Aaron Boone, Monday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best player in baseball:
Matt Kemp has had the most outstanding year. I think it’s a case of a guy with big-time talent who had a great start to his career and had a major setback last year. This winter, to his credit, he looked in the mirror and dedicated himself to being the best player he could be on and off the field.
Karl Ravech, Baseball Tonight host, on baseball’s best player:
I believe pitchers should be considered in the same light as position players and Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander is currently baseball’s best and most dominant player at any position. Whether you use old school or new school statistics and metrics, his dominance can’t be overstated.
Chris Singleton, Baseball Tonight and Sunday Night Baseball radio analyst, on baseball’s best player:
Baseball’s best player now just might be Jacoby Ellsbury. He is doing it all – from average and power to speed and defense.
Dan Shulman, Sunday Night Baseball commentator, on baseball’s best player:
Baseball’s best player right now is Justin Verlander. He’s having a spectacular season. This is a once-in-a-decade kind of season for a starting pitcher. He’s among the league leaders in wins, innings, ERA, strikeouts and WHIP. He has been durable and dominant.
Rick Sutcliffe, Monday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the biggest surprise teams in 2011:
NL – Arizona Diamondbacks: They are the feel-good story of the season and they’ve become role models for the Cubs and Royals. The Diamondbacks lost 97 games last year and made one major move – hiring Kevin Towers. They brought him in and it turned things around. It shows a lot of clubs what can be done when you have a person like him at the top of the chain of command.
AL – Tampa Bay Rays: After their 1-8 start, I thought it was going to be a long year. I remember talking with manager Joe Maddon and he told me they were going to be fine as long as they could figure out ways to score runs. He knew it because he believed they had several starting pitchers who could give them 200 innings. He was right. On a nightly basis, their starting pitching has given them a chance to win all season.
Rick Sutcliffe, Monday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the most underachieving team in 2011:
The Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies – I picked the White Sox to win the AL Central. It’s shocking to see how they’ve done given all of that talent, particularly to see that rotation finishing under .500 this year. I’m also surprised the Rockies didn’t have a lot more to play for down the stretch this season.
Aaron Boone, Monday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on where Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder will play next season:
Pujols – I’d be shocked if Albert Pujols wasn’t back in St. Louis. However, I think there’s a real possibility he could move. If that day comes, my jaw would drop.
Fielder – The perception is the Yankees and Red Sox won’t be in the running, but I still think there will be a lot of suitors with big-time dollars to spend. Perhaps three teams to keep an eye on are the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays.
Rick Sutcliffe, Monday Night Baseball and Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best bullpen entering the postseason:
It starts and ends with one team because of one guy – Mariano Rivera. He has 94 postseason appearances, when the pressure is at the highest, and he’s only lost one game. He has 600-plus regular-season saves and another 42 in the postseason. He’s the guy and everyone else is a distant second.
Barry Larkin, Baseball Tonight analyst, on the best defensive team heading into the postseason:
The Philadelphia Phillies have the best defense heading into the playoffs. There have been high expectations throughout the season for the Phillies starting rotation, and the defense has been there all year supporting them.
Barry Larkin on the keys to beating Justin Verlander:
Whenever facing a dominant pitcher like Justin Verlander, a hitter must eliminate a pitch or a location. Verlander is so good and you can’t allow him to get comfortable with his ability to hit every location and every pitch in his arsenal. In order to compete with Verlander’s fastball, curve and changeup, the hitter must force him to pitch either in or away. The hitter must also force Verlander to be aggressive with one pitch.
Dan Shulman, Sunday Night Baseball commentator, on best acquisition of the season:
In terms of affecting the pennant race, the Tigers acquisition of Doug Fister from Seattle was the best. He has been lights out for Detroit over the last two months and helped them separate themselves from the rest of the AL Central.
