Playoffs mean action for bats

The importance of pitching in the Major League Baseball playoffs has never been more evident than in this season. The remaining teams all boast strong pitching staffs and were able to eliminate clubs such as Houston and Cleveland, who "snuck" into the post -season with their bats.\nRandy Johnson and Curt Schilling's performances thus far have been mind-boggling (combined 3-1, 1.03 ERA). The Yankees and Mariners had two of the top three American League pitching staffs during the regular season.\nBut now, with such talent remaining and so few games left to play, it will be the hitters who make the difference for their teams.\nBecause runs are now so difficult to come by, each one is more valuable than the last. The players who put runs on the scoreboard are giving their team a huge advantage.\nPlayers' careers are often judged by their post -season accomplishments, and this is why: The regular season has them competing against some awful pitchers, but to be able to come up with the big hit against the league's Cy Young Award winner under added pressure is something entirely different.\nOften, the ability to hit well in the post -season comes through experience. Seattle, New York and Atlanta have plenty of that. These teams have been playoff regulars for the last decade. But Arizona, even with a lineup full of veterans, is still green when it comes to the post -season.\nLuis Gonzalez, Mark Grace and Matt Williams are all superb veteran hitters, but that becomes diluted as they do not know the pressures of playoff baseball. Of the three, only Williams has been to the World Series, and that was 12 years ago with the San Francisco Giants.\nThe Diamondbacks have the best two starting pitchers in baseball, and are certainly playing well right now, but if they cannot get help from the lineup, the team will struggle. Counting on three hit shutouts every night is risky.\n Seattle, on the other hand, complements its pitching staff with solid hitting from Ichiro, who batted a sick .600 in the series against Cleveland, to Edger Martinez, whose veteran leadership will be imperative for a victory over the three time defending champions.\n This post -season, somebody will need to step up to the plate and produce winning plays. Whoever it is will have accomplished a terrific feat, as hitting these pitchers is something no team has been able to do thus far. We know it will happen; somebody has to win. Watching the drama unfold will be a thrilling way to close a thrilling season.