The 2014 NLCS begins on Saturday night when the St. Louis Cardinals will take on the San Francisco Giants. Unlike in the junior circuit, these two teams are familiar faces in the pennant. Like the AL, these two are evenly matched which should make for a great series. Let’s take a quick look at some history and then compare the two squads.
This will be the fourth consecutive appearance for the Cardinals in the NLCS and their ninth trip since 2000. The redbirds have had only one losing season in the new millennia and won the World Series in 2011 and 2006. They’ve won 11 World Series, second-most after the Yankees, and will be looking to make their 20th appearance in the Fall Classic. Counting their days in the American Association they have won 15 titles, and are the most successful National League team of all-time.
It’s an even number year so naturally the Giants are back in the pennant. The 2010 and 2012 World Champs hope to keep the trend going and win for the third consecutive even-numbered year. Counting their days in New York they’ve won seven World Series and 10 titles overall. They will be seeking their 20th appearance in the World Series just like the Cardinals.
The last time these two storied franchises met in the postseason was in the 2012 NLCS, when the Giants came from 3-1 down to win three straight games and pull off the comeback. Cardinal outfielder Matt Holliday took out Giant second baseman Marco Scutaro with a football -style chop-block-slide in Game 2 of that series and one can rest assured that has not been forgiven nor forgotten, despite the Giants going on to win it all. The first postseason matchup between these two was back in the 1888 World Series when the Cardinals were still the St. Louis Browns and were members of the American Association. The National League Champion N.Y. Giants won the exhibition series six games to four. In the 1987 NLCS the Cards and Giants played a seven game series famously remembered for the antics of Giants’ left fielder Jeffrey Leonard. Leonard hit a home run in each of the first four games of the series and proceeded to run the bases with one arm at his side and the other raised in triumph – a celebratory home run trot he called the “One Flap Down.” After his third cadillac around the bases St. Louis pitcher Bob Forsch hit him with a fastball to the ass. He ran the bases with both flaps down in Game 4, and the Cards took the series in seven. Leonard is the last man to win the NLCS MVP as a member of the losing club. In the 2002 NLCS the Giants disposed of the Cards in five games, thanks to Benito Santiago who crushed the game winning two-run homer in the bottom of the 8th in the pivotal Game 4.
Now let’s see how the 2014 versions of these teams compare as they get set to renew a rivalry that began at the Polo Grounds five days shy of exactly 126 years ago.
CATCHER: Yadier Molina (STL) vs. Buster Posey (SF) – It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the teams that employ the two best players at the most important defensive position are the last two left standing. Molina is the best defensive catcher in the world and Posey has the most dangerous bat among the backstops. That being said Molina is a great hitter in his own right, and Posey is no slouch with the glove. ADVANTAGE: N/A
1B: Matt Adams (STL) vs. Brandon Belt (SF) – Adams had a disappointing season in 2014 only managing 15 homers and 26 walks in 563 plate appearances after clubbing 17 homers and walking 23 times in 319 plate appearances in 2013. He did hit a pretty big home run off some guy named Kershaw in his last game though. Belt spent the season battling a concussion and is much better than his numbers suggest. He has more power than Adams, but reaches base less consistently and strikes out more. He also hit a pretty big home run in the last round, winning the longest playoff game ever played. Based solely on this year’s number, both are below average first base bats. ADVANTAGE: N/A
2B: Kolten Wong (STL) vs. Joe Panik (SF) – After Marco Scutaro’s injury the Giants struggled to find a consistent replacement until they called up rookie Joe Panik and saw him hit .305 in 75 major league games. Wong isn’t quite as steady with the bat but is an excellent base-stealer and a better glove. Neither guy has much experience on the big stage. ADVANTAGE: N/A
3B: Matt Carpenter (STL) vs. Pablo Sandoval (SF) – You couldn’t possibly find two more diametrically opposed hitters. The free-swinging Sandoval rarely sees a pitch he won’t offer at, however the patient Carpenter drew 95 walks and so boasts a sterling .375 on base percentage. Sandoval has more pop and despite his tummy is slightly better on defense, plus he also once pulled a Reggie Jackson. Carpenter is a line drive machine. ADVANTAGE: N/A
SS: Jhonny Peralta (STL) vs. Brandon Crawford (SF) – Crawford has a great glove and solid power for a SS. In 2014 he collected 20 doubles, 10 triples, and 10 home runs with 69 RBI. The veteran Peralta was the Cards best player this season with a 5.4 WAR. He smacked 38 doubles and 21 homers with 75 RBI and should win a gold glove. He’s one of the best shortstops in the game. ADVANTAGE: Cardinals
LF: Matt Holliday (STL) vs. Michael Morse/Travis Ishikawa (SF) – Holliday had another stellar year which included a .370 on base and 20 jacks to go with 90 RBI. Morse is battling an oblique injury but should be ready to go for this series. Ishikawa has done well in the field during Morse’s absence, especially considering he had made three career starts in the outfield prior to the playoffs, but is only 2-for-11 at the dish. If Morse is healthy he’ll equal Holliday’s power, but is not as good defensively. ADVANTAGE: Cardinals
CF: Jon Jay (STL) vs. Gregor Blanco (SF) – A bulging disc in Angel Pagan’s back ended his season and now Blanco takes over in center. He’s a solid bat with speed, but his glove – which is excellent in left – leaves lots to be desired in center. Jay hit .303 with a .372 on base and is fantastic defensively. ADVANTAGE: Cardinals
RF: Randal Grichuk (STL) vs. Hunter Pence (SF) – Oscar Taveras looked like the right fielder after the Cards traded Allen Craig, but Grichuk’s defense has seen the rookie take the fellow rookie’s job. Grichuk only went 3-for-16 in the NLDS, but one of those hits was a home run. Pence has an unorthodox style but he gets the job done. This year he amassed 29 doubles, 10 triples, 20 homers, 74 RBI, and scored 106 runs. He’s slightly worse than Grichuk with the glove, but is in another universe with the bat. ADVANTAGE: Giants
STARTING PITCHING: Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, John Lackey, Shelby Miller (STL) vs. Madison Bumgarner, Jake Peavy, Tim Hudson, Ryan Vogelsong (SF) – Neither team has a dominant lineup so expect a lot of small-ball and pitching to be the order of the day. All members of the Giants rotation have been throwing well of late, especially their ace Bumgarner. Wainwright has struggled in the postseason and did his best A-Rod (or Kershaw) impersonation in the first round. ADVANTAGE: Giants
BULLPEN: Trevor Rosenthal, Pat Neshek, Carlos Martinez, Seth Maness, Sam Freeman, Randy Choate (STL) vs. Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo, Jean Machi, Jeremy Affeldt, Tim Lincecum, Yusmeiro Petit (SF) – At the halfway point of the season the Giants’ bullpen was a mess, but since then Casilla has taken over the closer role and Romo has picked his game up. Plus Lincecum has been dominant in his career out of the pen, and Petit has been lights-out as well. Rosenthal has looked shaky at times this year and the redbirds lack the depth the Giants have in the bullpen and in their pitching staff overall. ADVANTAGE: Giants
Article By: Anthony Schiano
