Score Tracker compares the Giants and Rangers

Here’s a look at the Giants and Rangers, using Score Tracker to compare their wins and losses in the 2010 postseason. Like everything in Texas, the Rangers have done everything big, with only one game decided by 2 runs or less. In contrast, the Giants have been anything but Giant, taking more of a “conservationist” approach to their games. With the exception of their 6-1 loss and their 3-0 “blowout,” every game has been decided by 2 runs or less.

OCTOBOMETER AND THE YANKEES

Here’s a look at the New York Yankees batting order, comparing regular season OPS with postseason OPS. Cano and Granderson have stepped up, while a parade of Yankees (led by A-Rod) has shrunk from the limelight.

Paintomatic looks at the Giants Starting Rotation

Here’s a look at the San Francisco Giants’ starting three for this series. It’s unclear why the Giants flipped Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez, but after looking at Paintomatic it does make some sense. For the most part, Tim Lincecum and Cain throw the same pitches, at roughly the same velocity and with similar frequency.

Phillies vs. Giants – It’s On!

2 great staffs.  The Giants have a slightly deeper rotation 1-5, and a better closer.  But facing Halladay has got to scare Giants fans…

Yankees Rangers – It’s On!

The Rangers would seem to have a big edge in their starting rotation on paper, but the Yankees have the benefit of starting with their best guy on the mound…

How Good Are The Giants?

A classic “pitching and defense” team.  But can they manage to get a hit off of Halladay, Oswalt, and Hammels?  And, if they do, can they get to home plate?

How Good Are The Yankees?

Gotta love the offense but the mediocre pitching and defense is somewhat disconcerting.  Then again, they pitched pretty damn well against the Twins…

Lee vs. Price – Game 5

Here’s a look at what Rangers and Rays hitters will have flying at them in tonight’s deciding Game 5.

Why the Yankees dropped AJ Burnett from the ALDS rotation

Paintomatic explains.  (For those not familiar with Paintomatic, each circle represents a pitch, the size indicating how often the pitch is thrown and the color indicating how effective the pitch is.)

Winnesota?

Here’s a look at what the New York Yankees have done to the Minnesota Twins in their last four postseason series. Ugly, to say the least…unless you’re a Yankee fan.

Twins Yankees CASHCLOUD

I know this is the time of year when we put salaries and contracts aside and just play some ball, but I can’t let it rest. Until baseball corrects the vast payroll disparities between teams, I’m going to keep making CASHCLOUDS. And probably for a long time!

Tim Lincecum vs. the Braves

A look at how some of the Braves hitters have fared vs. Tim Lincecum in their careers. Lee and McCann have had the most success against The Freak…

Rangers and Twins AfterGlow

Today’s installment of AfterGlow features the remaining AL playoff contenders, the Rangers and Twins. The Rangers have come a long way since 2008, with major improvements in pitching and returning to where they were in 2006. (Note: some of the ranking data I used for these visuals is a few days old and some of the rankings have shifted a bit since then).

The Twins are another team that got where they are today via big improvements in pitching, although for the last 5 years they’ve consistently lived in “the better part of town” when it comes to pitching and defense.

Rays and Yankees AfterGlow

As promised, here’s the first of some daily doses of AfterGlow. Let’s start by previewing two of the AL’s playoff contenders, the Yankees and Rays. Both teams find themselves in a very similar place but have gotten there in very different ways. The Rays have had a dramatic rise to prominence, with sweeping improvements in both runs scored and runs allowed. Over the last 5 years their offense has improved steadily, as had their pitching & defense (with the exception of a 2009 setback).

The Yankees have been amazingly consistent over the last 5 years, especially with their offense.