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| Russell Martin's only hit of the night was a ninth inning solo home run off of Cubs pitcher Jason Marquis on Wednesday night as the Dodgers took Game 1 of the NLDS in Wrigley 7-1. |
Our View: On a night the wind was supposed to keep the ball in the park, Los Angeles hit three home runs. Martin had a mere .396 slugging percentage this season but 10 of his 13 home runs came after the All-Star break.
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| Derek Lowe settled down after a second inning two-run home run. He lasted six innings, struck out six and scattered seven hits and a walk to earn the victory in Game 1 of the NLDS. |
Our View: As typical, Lowe got hitters to pound the ball down. He allowed just three flyballs as opposed to nine groundballs. Lowe has appeared in 18 postseason games with a 3.36 ERA.
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| Mark DeRosa accounted for all of the Cubs RBI on Wednesday in their 7-2 playoff loss to the Dodgers. He was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run off of Dodgers starter Derek Lowe. |
Our View: The utility man was questionable for the night's game because of a strained calf. He was a pleasant source of production during the regular season when he hit .285 with 21 home runs, 103 runs and 87 RBI.
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| Ryan Dempster had one of his worst games of 2008 in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Wednesday. He lasted just 4.2 innings, walked seven, allowed four hits and four earned runs. All the runs came on a James Loney grand slam after Dempster had walked the bases loaded. |
Our View: It came down to control for Dempster on Wednesday, and he just did not have much. He will be fresh and poised to rebound should he be called upon to pitch again in this series.
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| Manny Ramirez hit a solo home run and scored two runs in Wednesday's 7-2 victory at Wrigley Field. He had two hits, including an infield single, and a walk in five plate appearances. |
Our View: Manny continues to be the most productive hitter in baseball and should be a highlight fixture throughout this postseason.
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| James Loney hit a grand slam on his only hit of the night as the Dodgers took home field advantage from the Cubs in a 7-2 victory on Wednesday. |
Our View: The shot came in the fifth off of Ryan Dempster and put the Dodgers ahead for good. Loney had 13 regular season homers in 161 games.
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| Carlos Quentin has been left off the White Sox playoff roster according to the AP. |
Our View: Quentin led the AL in home runs when he broke his right wrist on Sept. 1 after slamming it on his bat in frustration. He has not given up on playing again should the White Sox advance in the postseason, and was hitting off a tee.
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| The Star-Tribune reports that Josh Beckett played long toss Wednesday before the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels began their AL division series, and remains on track to start Game 3 on Sunday in Boston. |
Our View: Beckett, originally scheduled to start Game 1, injured a muscle in his side last Friday during a bullpen session. He was probably the best pitcher in last year's playoffs and if he's healthy, should be set to dominate again.
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| CBS Sports reports that the New York Mets scheduled a telephone news conference for Thursday to announce a new contract for general manager Omar Minaya.
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Our View: Under Minaya, the Mets have seen their payroll skyrocket but they have been edged out of each of the past two postseasons. Among his biggest tasks this winter will be finding a closer to replace Billy Wagner.
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| Newsday reports that Brian Cashman expects Joba Chamberlain to be in the starting rotation for 2009. |
Our View: Joba started 12 games this season with mixed results and he rarely went deep into games. With an offseason to prepare for the role, expect Joba to be more effective in 2009.
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| Javier Vazquez will throw in Game 1 of the ALDS against Tampa Bay on Thursday according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Over his last three starts, he is 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA. He is a risky play to throw Game 1 but Ozzie Guillen did not have much choice after having to throw his other starters on short rest over the past four days.
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| Chipper Jones' MRI revealed that the pain in his shoulder is a result of acute tendinitis according to MLB.com. He was prescribed a few weeks of rest and a strength program for the 36-year-old third baseman, who won his first career batting title on Sunday.
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Our View: This is certainly good news for Chipper. He should continue to hold his fantasy value in 2009.
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| CC Sabathia will pitch on Thursday in Game 2 of the NLDS on three-days rest for the fourth straight start. |
Our View: He will face an imposing Phillies lineup in a hitter-friendly park but we have no reason to doubt Sabathia in any situation.
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| The Brewers soon-to-be ace Yovani Gallardo threw 75 pitches over four innings in Wednesday's Game 1 loss to the Phillies. The youngster yielded three unearned runs following a Rickie Weeks error. Coming back from knee surgery, the Brewers did not want to go much beyond 75 pitches for Gallardo on Wednesday. |
Our View: His control wavered most of the day and it could probably be attributed to playoff pressure. He allowed just three hits while walking five. Over the 2008 season, he walked just eight batters in 24 innings.
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| Prince Fielder struck out three times in four at bats in Game 1 of the NLDS on Wednesday. |
Our View: No strikeout was more critical than in the ninth inning with a runner on second down two with one out. Unfortunately, the big fella just didn't have it going today against some excellent Phillies pitching.
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| Slugger Ryan Howard drew three walks against the Brewers during Wednesday's 3-1 win in Game 1 of the NLDS. |
Our View: Howard struck out in his other at bat. In 2008, the game's premeir slugger walked 81 times while striking out on 199 occasions. Expect him to draw at least 10 walks per series throughout the playoffs.
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| Chase Utley tallied a double and two RBI in the Phillies Game 1 victory over the Brewers. |
Our View: Utley was one of the very best at his position in 2008 recording 104 RBI, 113 runs and 33 home runs. His spot in the Phillies order is one of the best in baseball, just in front of Ryan Howard.
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| Cole Hamels was outstanding in Game 1 of the NLCS at home against the Brewers. He tossed eight innings of shutout ball while allowing just two hits and striking out nine. Brad Lidge gave up an unearned run in the ninth as the Phillies took Game 1 3-1. |
Our View: After striking out the side in the first, it was obvious that Hamels was "on". He used his changeup often to get strike three on Wednesday.
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| Troy Percival will not likely be on the ALDS roster for the Rays according to the Tampa Tribune. He is still dealing with a knee problem although he did pitch some in the final week of the season. The roster will not be official until 10 a.m. on Thursday. |
Our View: It will be interesting to see who gets the call to close but expect it to be Dan Miller. Six different Rays' pitchers had more than one save this season.
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| The New York Daily News reports that Ambiorix Burgos allegedly struck and killed two women in a hit-and-run crash in his homeland of the Dominican Republic. |
Our View: Burgos missed all of 2008 due to elbow surgery and may miss the rest of the millenium behind bars if the report is accurate. Earlier this month, he had been arrested for abusing his girlfriend.
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| James McDonald has made the Dodgers' postseason roster for the opening round against the Cubs, according to the LA Daily News. As a result, Ramon Troncoso has been left off the roster. |
Our View: McDonald hurled six scoreless innings with the Dodgers in the regular season, with a 1.00 WHIP. He was the Dodgers' minor league pitcher of the year in 2007.
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| Doug Brocail's 2009 option has been declined by the Astros, according to the AP. But the team will still try to re-sign him and GM Ed Wade said, "Doug did a terrific job for us this year. He was a workhorse out of the bullpen and brought a solid veteran presence to our clubhouse. Although we’ve declined to exercise the 2009 option, it’s our hope that we can get Doug back here for next season. I have already spoken with him, and he expressed definite interest in being with us."
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Our View: The 41-year-old reliever would have earned $3.25 million next season if the club picked up his option. He ended the season with a 3.93 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 68.2 innings.
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| Pat Burrell has been cleared to play in Game 1 of the NLDS against Milwaukee, and is in the lineup in left field, according to the AP. |
Our View: He left Tuesday’s workout after experiencing discomfort in his lower back, but was deemed ready to go today. He struggled down the stretch, but still finished the season with 33 homers.
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| Johan Santana underwent surgery today to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, according to the NY Post. |
Our View: The arthroscopic procedure was deemed successful and he is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for spring training.
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| The Cubs have reportedly selected Felix Pie over Micah Hoffpauir for the postseason roster in the opening round against the Dodgers, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
Our View: An official announcement regarding the roster is expected this morning. Pie provides solid speed off the bench and would help defensively in the outfield with Mark DeRosa dealing with a calf strain.
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| Hank Blalock's $6.2 million option in 2009 will "almost certainly" be picked up by the Rangers, according to the Dallas Morning News. |
Our View: The team has 10 days after the World Series to either pick up the option or let him enter free agency. It is unlikely he will work at third base and Chris Davis is considered a superior fielder at first base. Blalock could serve as a DH, but Milton Bradley could occupy that position as well. After picking up the option, the Rangers could opt to trade him for pitching help.
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| Milton Bradley is coveting a multi-year deal, but the Rangers are not ready to satisfy his wish, according to the Dallas Morning News. |
Our View: Bradley posts strong numbers when healthy, but missed 36 games this season due to various injuries, and is too risky to invest in with a long-term deal.
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| Manager Eric Wedge remarked that Jensen Lewis is not likely to be the Indians' closer in 2009, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Wedge said, "We want to go out and get a closer so we have two options at that spot. Jensen Lewis did a good job for us on a short-term basis."
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Our View: He nailed down 13 saves this season, but held a 3.82 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. The team is not ready to trust him as their full-time closer.
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| The Padres are expected to file a grievance against Khalil Greene for missing the final two months of the season, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. |
Our View: On a pro-rated basis, that could leave as much as $1.47 million of his $4.5 million salary in dispute. He broke his hand while punching a storage cabinet at PETCO Park.
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| Manager Joe Torre said Takashi Saito could close if there is a save situation in Game 1 against Chicago, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: Saito missed two months because of a sprained ligament in his elbow, but picked up a save on Saturday, which was his first since July 9. As for Jon Broxton, he noted that he would not mind moving back to the setup role.
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| Hong-Chih Kuo underwent a heart exam in an attempt to determine why his fingers went numb and turned red while warming up Saturday, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: He tested negative for blood clots. As previously stated, he will not pitch in the NLDS against Chicago, and will be missed as he held a 2.14 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over 80 innings in the regular season.
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| Mike Lowell is projected to start at third base in Game 1 against the Angels, according to the Boston Globe. While the Globe projects him to start, manager Terry Francona remains uncertain and said, "We just don't know yet. I thought Mikey Lowell looked pretty good. I thought it was very encouraging the way he moved around. The movement he did do didn't grab at him. That was very encouraging."
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Our View: Lowell was a driving force during Boston's World Series run last season, but the 34-year-old failed to stay healthy this season, and it remains to be seen if he can make an impact in their bid to win a third title in five years.
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| J.D. Drew, who has been recovering from a herniated disk in his back, is being projected to start Game 1 against the Angels in right field, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Drew only played in 109 games in the regular season due to his ailment, but was productive with 19 homers and 79 runs scored.
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