I just wanted everyone to know that I have recently added a number of new DVD Movies to the store.  In the future, I'll be adding new books and music too.  Check my store out!  This week, we'll be adding some vintage music albums for collectors.  Big Jim

As you all know, I represent John Mallee, the Hitting Coordinator for the Florida Marlins, Minor League Division.  Here is what one of his players said about him that is currently playing in the Arizona Fall League:

 

 

 

WORLD SERIES GAME 1

CARDINALS VS TIGERS

 6:30 PM STANDARD CENTRAL TIME

FOX NETWORK

 

 

WHO SHOULD WIN?

BY JIM MYERS

 

            The World Series starts tonight at 6:30 pm (CST).  Who will win?  Here’s what I think.

 

 

1. STARTING PITCHING: The Tigers have the best young arms in baseball. (Robertson/Verlander/Bonderman).  Kenny Rogers, the veteran of the group has pitched much better in playoffs than anyone anticipated.  (2-0 in 15 innings with a 0.00 ERA).  The starters for Detroit, who worked at least 186 innings during the regular season, may have benefited from the 6 days off.  All season long, I’ve read that the youthful pitching staff would collapse under the pressure.  They haven’t yet.   Dave Duncan, the Cardinals Pitching Coach, has given Jeff Weaver new life and he has pitched great in the playoffs. (2-1, 16.2 innings pitched, 2.16 ERA).  The Cardinal Ace, Chris Carpenter is not available until game 3.  Jeff Suppan has been a surprise with his ability to change speeds.  (1.86 ERA)

EDGE:  Goes to the Tigers, if the layoff has not made them too rusty.  There is a legit question if the Cards have much left after a tough series with New York.

 

 

2. BULLPEN:  Detroit has a charge up from the rest here too.  Joel Zumaya’s sore wrist should have bounced back from the time off, and closer Todd Jones has been money for the Tigers this post-season. (5 innings pitches, No Earned Runs).  Cardinals Manager, Tony LaRussa, relies on his pen more than other managers. He will call on several of his young arms, including Adam Wainwright (6 2/3 innings pitched, No Earned Runs).  He has done a great job filling in for the injured Jason Isringhausen.

 

EDGE:  This one is a dead heat.  I might give a slight nod to the Cards, because no one works a pitching staff like LaRussa and Duncan.  But remember that Jim Leyland is no slouch either.  A push?

 

3. HITTING:  Albert Pujols is not only the best hitter in the game today; he is the most feared and the best clutch hitter.  Just ask the Astros if Big Albert can extend a series or not with one swing, like he did last year in the NLCS.  This might be the stage for the future HOF’mer to win the biggest series on national television, in a situation where they have to pitch to him.  But that is just it, if you don’t have to pitch to him, why do it? (.316, 0 HR, 4RBIs in the playoffs).  He hit 49 HRS during the season, with 137 RBIs, so he is DUE!  Maybe the guy the Tigers had better concern themselves with is Molina (.333, 2HRS, 7RBIs) in the playoffs.  Scott Rolen and David Eckstein are a little beat up.  Detroit’s Graderson seems like he is always on base for the boppers, who can hit that big blow on the big stage at any time (Ivan Rodriguez, Craig Monroe, Magglio Ordonez, and Brandon Inge.  Detroit has more options here at this time.

 

EDGE:  DETROIT

4. FIELDING: I-Rod and Molina are two of the best catchers in their respective leagues.  Carlos Guillen has filled in well for Sean Casey at 1^st.  Inge is a very good 3^rd baseman, and Polanco is brilliant at 2b.  With Roland’s sore shoulder, the Cards have been shaky.  Jim Edmonds plays the best centerfield of just about anybody.  If Taguchi plays that tightens up the corners for the Cards.

 

EDGE:  A PUSH

5. MANAGER: Two of the very best in the game, Tony LaRussa and Jim Leyland.  Tony handles the Cards bullpen like every game is game 7 of the WS.  Jim Leyland was a Cardinal scout for 6 yrs and you can expect him to exploit their weaknesses.  Expect Detroit to have a slight edge here.

 

EDGE:  TIGERS

6. BENCH: LaRussa has masterfully used Taguchi, Duncan and Spiezio.  The Tigers are healthier, but has the layoff made them slightly rusty off the bench?

 

EDGE: CARDS

7. INTANGIBLES:  Both teams have hit their strides in the playoffs after sluggish finishes to the regular season.  The Cards have been steady, the Tigers have been historic.  The National League has not faired well in the last few years at the WS.

 

EDGE:  TIGERS

8. BOTTOM LINE:  The main question for Detroit is whether or not the layoff will affect them in the first few games.  I doubt it.  They start at home and their fans will give them a large boost. If the Series goes 6 or 7 games, they finish at home too.  St Louis is mentally and physically exhausted after an extended series with the Mets.  Will Chris Carpenter regain his ace form?  Had to say.  2 rookies starting for the both teams in game 1 because Carpenter may not be ready.  Jeff Weaver has to keep his chin up, not something he has done consistently over his career.  In terms of OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage), St. Louis ranks next to last in the NL against left-handed pitching. It so happens that the Tigers will likely start lefties Kenny Rogers and Nate Robertson within the first three games of the World Series. If that's the case, then if the series goes seven, the Cards will face lefties four times. Obviously, they're going to need to show improvement against port-siders if the offense is going to put enough runs on the board in this series.  Scott Rolen’s shoulder has made him a liability at the plate.  He can expect to see pitches high and outside to test him.  Detroit’s main problem is a common one for American League teams; who sits when they go to St Louis and there is no designated hitter?   Marcus Thames? Craig Monroe?  They loose a big bat either way.  I THINK THE TIGERS WIN IN 6.  It will be an entertaining WS this year.

 

 

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ABOUT BIG JIM'S NEW STORE Big Jim's New Store is an E-Bay Store opened in October, 2006.  We specialize in selling baseball instructional videos.  We also sell VHS tape, DVDs, and even dancing shoes for women.  I will be adding Women's Clothing, Record Albums, and many, many other products just in time for Christmas.  We are dedicated to providing the finest quality inventory at the greatest prices.  We offer a 14 day money back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied with any and all of our products.  You can bid/buy from us with confidence.  We are working hard to hunt down many items for Christmas and beyond. Our goal is to make your transaction go as smoothly as possible.  If you have any questions, please e-mail, and I'll answer as soon as I can.   Please check our store often. ABOUT ME I am the webmaster and e-commerce guy for John Mallee, Hitting Coordinator for the Florida Marlins, Minor League Division. Check out our site www.prostylebaseball.com. We offer instructional hitting videos, streaming video,including free streams, baseball tees, a forum, flashing news about baseball, E-books, motion analysis software and our brand new recruiting service.http://recruiting.prostylebaseball.com/. We also sell Perry Hill's Ultimate Infield video, one of the best instructional videos of all time. My services are available to help you design you website and insure that people will see it and purchase products. Coming very soon, I will have instructional videos in Microsoft Office 2003 applications, like Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Publisher.  I am also available to teach Office Applications at your home or workplace

Favorite Links My Yahoo 360 page My My Space Page Pro Style Baseball Site

If you are a high school baseball player, or you sell baseball instructional videos or equipment, I'd like to hear from you!  If you sell movies or music or DVD or CD's please contact me.  If you need someone to teach computers, or Office Applications at home or at work, please contact me. 

Who do you like in the World Series?  I am beginning to think the Tigers are a team of destiny.  Drop me a note, let me know what you think.  Big Jim