October 16, 2006
Picking a Nit
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
The topic was pertinent because St. Louis faced lefty Oliver Perez Sunday night in Game 4 of the NLCS and is scheduled to take on Glavine again tonight in Game 5. Perez didn't exactly mesmerize the Cardinals, allowing five runs - and three homers - in 5 2/3 innings, but that was more than some expected from a pitcher who was 3-13 with a 6.55 earned run average during the regular season.
Five runs in 5 2/3 innings is about what you might expect from a pitcher with a 6.55 ERA.
The article says "more than SOME expected," which is undoubtedly true.
Taken out of context, you would generally expect pitchers to perform worse in the playoffs because the opposing offense is better. The Cardinals don't fully hold up their end of the bargain, but in that light, one might reasonably have expected less from Oliver.
