The Power of Veteran Players
(or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Crunch Numbers....well, and still worry)
Going into the Nats series, Lou said that he was afraid that this could be a trap series. Meaning, the Cubs won two out of three at home from the league leader and were riding high, then they would go into the cavernous RFK stadium against one of the worst teams in the league and could very well choke.
They did not.
However, the Brewers went into fun PNC Park in Pittsburgh and they lost three out of four. And I started wondering why. My immediate answer was that the Cubs have a really good squad of vets. And then I started trying to figure out who are the vets on the Brewers. Sheets. Jenkins. That's all I could think of. And you know what? Neither of those guys has ever been to the postseason.
It is said that veteran players help. But more so it's the veteran players who have postseason experience that help the most. They've been there. They know the road and can help the kids who do not.
So, without further ado - some numbers.
(Note: these numbers are from the current 25-man rosters for the Cubs and Brewers)
Number of players to have been to the post-season
Brewers: 4 (Johnny Estrada, Damien Miller, Craig Counsel, Tony Graffanino)
Cubs: 14 (Eyre, Howry, Lilly, Marquis, Zambrano, Bowen(!), DeRosa, Izturis, Lee, Aram, DWard, Floyd, Jacque Jones, Soriano)
Number of total post-season games played by the current rosters:
Brewers: 86
Cubs: 147
Number of World Series won by players on current rosters:
Brewers: 3 (Miller with DBacks in 2001, Counsel with '97 Marlins and '01 DBacks)
Cubs: 2 (Lee with...well you know. Floyd with '97 Marlins)
It is not just the fact that the Cubs have 61 more games of experience in the post-season, but it is that so many of their players have been there.
Oh, and even our kids have been there. Theriot and Fontenot won the College World Series.
Okay, I do not like to be overexcited -- okay, maybe I do, but I think this is all very telling. And it could make for a very interesting second-half.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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19 comments
Comments
with Kerry Wood possibly coming back in July
by Chanman25 on Jul 6, 2007 10:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Prior giving tips...
by MPH73 on Jul 6, 2007 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wood
by MissouriKev on Jul 6, 2007 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
True
by brokenland on Jul 6, 2007 10:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
rotoworld reports that Wood
by Chanman25 on Jul 6, 2007 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cub Fans!
by gary varsho on Jul 6, 2007 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And!
by JohnM on Jul 6, 2007 10:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You are correct!
by Al on Jul 6, 2007 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Having a good mix
by mike on Jul 6, 2007 10:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
jason marquis???
by LilLPLancer23 on Jul 6, 2007 12:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Also Braves
by brokenland on Jul 6, 2007 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Proof or just conjecture?
In what way is this "very telling"? I mean, all you've proven is that the Cubs field a team with older players, and since they've been playing the game longer they happen to have post-season experience.
By your logic, the Giants should be kicking ass. They have Barry Zito, Bengie Molina, Rich Aurilia, Pedro Feliz, Omar Vizquel, Barry Bonds, Dave Roberts, Ray Durham, Ryan Klesko, Mark Sweeney, and Matt Morris...ALL with postseason experience!
Currently their record stands at a whopping 36-47.
Just because you collect a bunch of players that are older doesn't make them more successful.
by FukudomeAtLarge on Jul 6, 2007 2:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
by krummy12 on Jul 6, 2007 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
By that logic...
Playoff experience can be helpful, but I think talent ultimately decides these things. Hopefully, our talent outperforms the Brewers talent down the stretch.
by SouthernCub on Jul 6, 2007 4:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Vets...
by Goat Whisperer on Jul 6, 2007 4:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
wood
by NOMAR on Jul 6, 2007 4:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
cubs
by NOMAR on Jul 7, 2007 5:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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