Jim Kaat explains Ryan Howard's struggles, Mariano's dominance
| 09:30 AM11.02 | Posted By: Andrew Perloff |
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MLB Network analsyt Jim Kaat joined the show to discuss the World Series. Here are some of his takes.
-- Kaat said the reason Ryan Howard is seeing better breaking balls than he's used to in the postseason. Kaat said he fed off weak pitchers during the season and won't have success against a lefty with a good breaking ball -- like CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte.
-- Kaat said that Brad Lidge had great stuff last night. The thing that got to Lidge was Johnny Damon surviving what looked like a strikeout. Kaat thinks the Phillies can committ to Lidge as their closer down the road.
-- Kaat thinks the Yanks can finish off the series tonight to take it in five. Kaat says you have to play mistake-free baseball to beat New York, and Philly isn't doing that.
-- Kaat said that Mariano Rivera could probably play as long as he's motivated. He's got a style that doesn't wear on his arm.
-- Kaat is old school and thinks pitchers should stay in the game and learn to pitch through trouble. He doesn't like today's quick hooks.
"To me there has been no more valuable player in baseball the last 13 or 14 years than Mariano Rivera," Kaat said. |
Jim Kaat explains Ryan Howard's struggles, Mariano's dominance
MLB Network analsyt Jim Kaat joined the show to discuss the World Series. Here are some of his takes.
-- Kaat said the reason Ryan Howard is seeing better breaking balls than he's used to in the postseason. Kaat said he fed off weak pitchers during the season and won't have success against a lefty with a good breaking ball -- like CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte.
-- Kaat said that Brad Lidge had great stuff last night. The thing that got to Lidge was Johnny Damon surviving what looked like a strikeout. Kaat thinks the Phillies can committ to Lidge as their closer down the road.
-- Kaat thinks the Yanks can finish off the series tonight to take it in five. Kaat says you have to play mistake-free baseball to beat New York, and Philly isn't doing that.
-- Kaat said that Mariano Rivera could probably play as long as he's motivated. He's got a style that doesn't wear on his arm.
-- Kaat is old school and thinks pitchers should stay in the game and learn to pitch through trouble. He doesn't like today's quick hooks.
"To me there has been no more valuable player in baseball the last 13 or 14 years than Mariano Rivera," Kaat said.