Cubs vs. Braves Scouting Reports

[C. Bellinger]

Let's look at our friends in the NLDS:

C: Damian Miller vs. Javy Lopez
Javy's having an unbelievable year with the bat, truly a great Indian Summer season. Miller, well, isn't. Damian is dependable with the glove while Javy's merely okay. The backup catchers (Bako and Blanco) are basically interchangeable (and hey, they were!)--good field, no hit.
EDGE: Big one to Braves

1B: Eric Karros/Randall Simon vs. Robert Fick
Speaking of Indian Summer seasons, Karros had a pretty neat one too in limited action. Simon is fairly consistent--no walk, no strike out, high .290/low .300 average, some power. Fick has had a very streaky year. Matt Franco is also available to play first. All of these guys are solid but not spectacular with the glove.
EDGE: Minor one to Cubs

2B: Mark Grudzielanek vs. Marcus Giles
Grudz hitting .314? Who foresaw that? Who also foresaw that the Hundley for Karros/Grudz deal would be a heck of a steal for ChiTown? Unfortunately, Giles hit .316, had more power, and more speed. Perhaps Prior can take him out again in Game 1.
EDGE: Medium to Braves

SS: Alex Gonzalez vs. Rafael Furcal
Gonzalez is dangerous around the 9th inning, but for the most part, he's a free-swinging, fine glove shortstop with some power. Furcal has a lot of speed (and is tough to throw out), some power, and has a tendency to rush plays.
EDGE: Medium to Braves

3B: Aramis Ramirez vs. Vinny Castilla
Castilla blows Ramirez away with the glove, and at this point, they're about even with the stick with a slight edge going to Aramis.
EDGE: Small one to Braves

LF: Moises Alou vs. Chipper Jones
Moises had a fine year and can be dangerous when locked in. Chipper had an excellent if unspectacular year. Both men have had postseason experience, although Chipper's obviously the veteran here.
EDGE: Small one to Braves

CF: Kenny Lofton vs. Andruw Jones
Interesting look at players here. Lofton can do the fundamental things, doesn't make errors (but doesn't make big plays either), can run, and is a good leadoff man. Jones is sort of a free swinger, makes all sorts of defensive gems, and has power.
EDGE: Even (I have to take into account Kenny's postseason mojo)

RF: Sammy Sosa vs. Gary Sheffield
Sheff had a simply crazy year--a monster average, few strikeouts, wheels. Yeah, he's not much with the glove, but c'mon, it's right field. Sammy...Sammy...it was an up and down year, but let me tell you this, if he gets into a groove, Sammy can carry a team.
EDGE: Medium one to Braves

BENCH: Tony Womack, Doug Glanville, Tom Goodwin, Troy O'Leary vs. Mark DeRosa, Julio Franco, Darren Bragg, etc.
None of these guys are really that sensational with maybe Franco the best, I dunno. The Cubs have some wheels and good glovemen.
EDGE: Small one to Cubs

PITCHING MATCHUP ONE: Kerry Wood vs. Russ Ortiz
Wood has had another streaky year, but believe me, nobody wants to face him...and he does have a better ERA than 21-win guy Russ Ortiz. Is this one of those games that you can tell who will win in the first or second inning? I think so. If Wood looks lights out, he probably will stay lights out. If he's shaky, then Ortiz can cruise.
EDGE: Even

PITCHING MATCHUP TWO: Carlos Zambrano vs. Mike Hampton
Hampton's pretty nifty in the postseason...three years ago. Zambrano had that really bad start down the stretch, but before that, he was pretty neato. I think the Cubs have an edge year.
EDGE: Small one to Cubs

PITCHING MATCHUP THREE: Mark Prior vs. Greg Maddux
Great matchup on paper. You can't rule Mr. Maddux out, but Prior is having a sensational year and bests Maddux in wins AND ERA.
EDGE: Big one to Cubs

(Bear in mind that almost all of these pitchers can do some nice things with the stick too)

THE BULLPEN: Mark Guthrie, Kyle Farnsworth, Mike Remlinger, Dave Veres, a starter vs. Kent Mercker, Jaret Wright, Will Cunnane, Ray King, Darren Holmes, Roberto Hernandez, etc.
Neither of these teams have a red hot pen. Both have a lot of greybeards (in the case of Remlinger and Holmes, literally). Both could implode. The other starters (Estes, Cruz, Reynolds, Bong) probably could eat up some relief innings, but aside from Matt Clement or Horacio Ramirez, none will really be factors.
EDGE: Even

CLOSER: Joe Borowski vs. John Smoltz
Let's not downplay Joe B. He had an excellent year and did everything that was asked of him. Smoltz, unfortunately, has been scary good. Crazy good. Lightning good. The only problem is that he may be damaged goods...and also the fact that last year, Smoltz was almost as good and was a non-factor anyway.
EDGE: Medium one to Braves

MANAGERS: Dusty Baker vs. Bobby Cox
They've been here before, they've both been to the Big Show too. None of these guys will make rookie mistakes, although they may pull some LaRussa style moron moves ("I think I'll have Womack pinch hit here," "It's definitely Shane Reynolds time").
EDGE: Even

BALLPARKS: Wrigley Field vs. Turner Field
Let's see here...Turner Field--Tomahawk chant, apathetic fan support, pitcher's park. Wrigley Field--crazed bleacher bums, insane fan support, hitter's park.
EDGE: Big one to Cubs

INTANGIBLES: Can we just say that the postseason is usually not the best year for these teams?
EDGE: Small one to Braves

PREDICTION: Cubs in 5

[ACPS]

Wood and Prior will be very difficult to beat in a 5-game series.

[Yankee Bulldawg]

Wood & Prior are 2 of the best young pitchers in baseball period and will be extremely tough to beat in a 5 game series. Atlanta though has 2 tough pitchers themselves in the likes of Russ Ortiz & Mike Hampton.

Should be a very interesting series