Relief pitching and slugging for both World Series teams made up for starting pitching-Bats blog

10/17/11, "If the story lines from the League Championship Series hold up, expect a furious bullpen showdown when the World Series starts on Wednesday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

The Texas Rangers survived against the Detroit Tigers despite a 6.59 earned run average from their starters. The Cardinals’ rotation was even worse against Milwaukee, with a 7.03 E.R.A. Cardinals Manager

• Tony La Russa got more outs from his relievers than his starters.

There could be more of the same in the 107th World Series. Both teams have averaged more than five runs a game in the postseason and feature deep and powerful lineups. The Cardinals’ Albert Pujols hit .478 with nine runs batted in against the Brewers, and

• Texas’ Nelson Cruz smashed six home runs against Detroit,
• the record for a postseason series.

The Cardinals have won 10 championships, the most of any team besides the Yankees, and will seek their first since 2006. The Rangers, who lost in five games to the San Francisco Giants last fall,

• have never won the World Series."

10/17/11, "A Series of Relievers," NY Times Bats blog, Tyler Kepner

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