Division Series: Sunday, October 5th, 2003

Sunday, October 05 2003 @ 07:00 AM EDT

Contributed by: robertdudek

Chicago Cubs at Atlanta, 7:30 PM ET (Game 5)

Great offence has made a comeback - evening up both this and the Oakland-Boston series. When Kerry Wood can't locate with his off-speed stuff, he tend to have problems. We saw him lose his release point in the 8th inning of Game One. Mike Hampton will have to navigate through a lineup that hits lefthanders very well and he'll be pitching on 3 days' rest. If I were a Braves fan, I'd wish Greg Maddux were starting this game.


Kerry Wood (2002/2003)
versus ABHHRTBWKHBPSBCS OBPSLGK pctW pct
right 83717828304 8327424 97.302.363.290 .090
left676 143182301142091397.336.340.260.144

Kerry Wood is a pitcher who doesn't rely much on his defence. He gives up quite a few homers and walks and strikes out a ton of batters. In Game 1, he faced 30 batters and only 13 balls were put in play. The Braves only managed 1 hit on those balls in play, which is a little unlucky. Wood walked 5 in 7.1 IP: if he walks that many tonight I expect the Braves to do some damage.

Atlanta Braves versus Righthanded Pitchers (2002/2003)
PlayerAB H2B3BHRWKSB CSHBPavgobpslg
R Furcal10312994616177614845156.290.342.415
M Giles59518154320659413511.304.383.506
G Sheffield858 273501521209425416.318.411.561
L Jones87927757 347162139743.315.423.547
J Lopez639179313 41471190211.280.340.531
A Jones94325950258 10421411414.275.355.516
J Franco179548151743300.302.362.441
V Castilla885 22345527341345310.252.287.406
pitcher

notes: OBP is calculated without including sac flies (H+W+HBP)/(AB+W+HBP); player in red indicates the batter is at a platoon disadvantage.

The Braves have seen 4 consecutive righthanded power pitchers and tonight they will see the first one for a second time. I think that bodes well for run scoring. Gary Sheffield has to be the key player for the Braves tonight - how will his hand respond two days after his injury?

Mike Hampton (2002/2003)
versusABHHRTBW KHBPSBCSOBPSLGK pctW pct
right114232625476 134130347.362.417.102.105
left31688131363554541.360.430.152.100

Mike Hampton struck out a bunch of Cubs after getting off to a rocky start. He survived, pitching 6 innings and allowing 2 runs before Mark DeRosa drove in 2 runs in the 8th to give the Braves a win. Hampton faced 27 Cubs on Wednesday, walking 5 and striking out 9. He allowed 4 hits, including a double, on 13 balls in play. Facing a finesse lefty for the second time in 4 days will likely spell victory for the Cubs.



Chicago Cubs versus Lefthanded Pitchers (2002/2003)
PlayerABH2B3B HRWKSB CS HBPavgobp slg
K Lofton2446013 5 11629664 .246.303.348
M Grudzielanek2096416032428112.306.383.426
S Sosa206726 1185447010.350.485.650
M Alou2428117282624101.335.401.521
A Ramirez2607113 0191541002.273.318.542
E Karros2137317162817211.343.421.516
A Gonzalez2375515 283148420.232.328.424
D Miller2005218023244000.260.362.380
pitcher              

notes: OBP is calculated without including sac flies (H+W+HBP)/(AB+W+HBP); player in red indicates the batter is at a platoon disadvantage.

Alex Gonzalez didn't start against Hampton in Game 2, but Dusty no doubt felt his defence was important enough to forego the offensive edge that Martinez would give them.

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