What a wild ending to the NL. The Mets had the biggest upset in the history of baseball and lost the division. The Rockies had an incredible September and took the wildcard over a one game playoff against the Padres. Here are my predictions for the playoffs.
AL
Round 1
Indians vs. Yankees
Prediction: Indians in 5
Why?: The playoffs are a whole different ballgame. The fact that the Indians will be on a three man rotation is a huge factor considering that they have Sabathia, Carmona, and Byrd. The Yankees will keep it close, but the Indians will take the series.
Red Sox vs. Angels
Prediction: Red Sox in 4
Why?: The home field advantage in this series is HUGE. Red Sox fans are one of the most dynamic and passionate (and also violent) fans in baseball. This plays a much bigger role in the playoffs than one might expect. The Red Sox are also an overall better team with potential CY Young winnner Josh Beckett in their rotation and veterans such as Ortiz and Ramirez. Lets not forget Okajima and Papelbon (arguably the league's best closer). The Red Sox are too good of a team to lose this series.
ALCS
Red Sox vs. Indians
Prediciton: Indians in 7
Why?: Most people have the Yankees or the Sox going to the World Series due to their reputations. This makes it easy to overlook at the Indians, but the lack of recent playoff experience shouldn't count this team out. The power bats of Hafner, Sizemore, and Martinez might not match up to Ramirez and Ortiz, but they won't have to. Sabathia and Carmona will hold this team in check. The Sox will beat up on Byrd, but thats as far as it will go. The Indians will win it in game 7 at Fenway Park (which I know people will think is unlikely, but it will happen).
NL
Round 1
Phillies vs. Rockies
Prediction: Phillies in 4
Why?: The Rockies are riding a wave of success that stems as far as the beginning of September, but so are the Phillies. The Phillies were all, but out of it until the collape of the Mets. While people can argue that the Phillies are only it because of the collapse, all the NL teams struggled to make the playoffs. The Phillies are a better team overall than the Rockies. Matt Holliday might be the best hitter in the NL, but he can't alone help the Rockies especially when stacked up to Howard, Rollins, and Utley. Both teams don't have good pitching, but the Phillies have Cole Hamels who is a huge advantage. The Rockies will get their bubble burst in the first round.
Diamondbacks vs. Cubs
Prediction: Diamondbacks in 5
Why?: This is a toss up to me. The only reason I'm giving this to the Diamondbacks is because they have home field advantage. We all know what happened the last time the Cubs were in the playoffs and that'll definitely be in the back of their minds (along with the fans), but the Diamondbacks will edge them.
Round 2
Diamondbacks vs. Phillies
Prediction: Phillies in 6
Why?: The Phillies will carry their hot streak against the Diamondbacks. The Phillies are dominant in terms of hitting with Howard, Utley, Rollins, and Rowand. Webb and Hamels match up pretty nicely, but the Phillies bats will prevail.
World Series
Phillies vs. Indians
Prediction: Indians in 7
Why?: It'll come down to game 7, but again the pitching of the Indians will be too much for the power bats of Phillies to handle. As said, the Phillies will keep it close, but the Indians will win their first World Series since 1948.
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2 comments:
OK, I am with you with the AL until the ALCS. I can't see the Indians pulling the win in Fenway unless the pitching falls apart (which could happen) and it doesn't really matter who wins the NL, right?
Picking the Indians are a risky move (especially having them close out a win at Fenway), but like you said, I can see the Sox pitching falling apart and dont' really see that with the Indians. Most people will disagree with me on this, but I'm sticking with the Indians.
The NL isn't really a threat to the AL at all (I'm saying this as a Mets fan). The Phillies are the only team with a shot at a World Series win, but their pitching will let them down (Moyer and Eaton?? come on).
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