by Tom KrasovicFiled under: Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Marlins, Padres, Phillies, Reds
Jonathan Sanchez could be Bruce Bochy's next Sterling Hitchcock. Last time Bochy managed in the National League Championship Series, for the Padres in 1998, left-hander Sterling Hitchcock wielded the best breaking ball of his life and twice shut down the favored Braves. Sanchez is another No. 3 starter whose breaking ball can be unhittable. The Giants' lefty, who is starting Game 2 in the NLCS, is capable of skunking the left-leaning, favored Phillies.
o. Footspeed favors the Phillies.
Andres Torres runs well, but most Giants players are slower than average. Phillies outfielders Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth are fast, and shortstop Jimmy Rollins still runs fairly well despite lingering leg injuries. The Padres' 12-6 record against the Giants this year owed a bit to a big difference in footspeed.
o. Phillies pitchers will bear down extra on Torres.
"It's hard for the Giants to manufacture runs because they don't have speed outside of Torres," said Dodgers scout Ken Bracey. "He's the key. He's got to get on base for Bochy."
The book on Torres is to feed him offspeed pitches below the knees because he'll chase them.
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