I absolutely love this time of year. Football is in full swing, hockey is about to start up, the weather is beginning to get bearable outside, my birthday is approaching, and most importantly it’s time for baseball! After 162 grueling pre-season games over the spring and summer, eight teams will battle over the month of October for 11 wins. Should a team make it to 11 wins? They win the Fall Classic and claim ownership of the World Series Trophy. All this while the fans like us sit on the edges of their couches, congregate in bars, and pack the stands, as we lose our voices screaming for the teams we love.
After watching the Braves and Red Sox both completely implode (and laughing for a long while since both of those cities suck; I’ll address that later on), I looked into my crystal ball so we can all go to Vegas and make money on who will win this years Fall Classic.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AL East Champion: New York Yankees (97-65)
The Yankees have the experience and the postseason magic that somehow rears its ugly head come October. No one can argue that Derek Jeter can get a base hit in a straight jacket if it means it’ll lead to the go ahead run. While this is true and the lineup is dangerous, these ponies aren’t getting any younger. The biggest concern for the Yankees, and unlike Yankees teams in the past is the pitching. Once you get past Sabathia, no other starter can shut a good offense down.
Lineup: Derek Jeter – SS, Curtis Granderson – CF, Mark Teixeira – 1B, Alex Rodriguez – 3B, Robinson Cano – 2B, Nick Swisher – RF, Jorge Posada – DH, Russell Martin – C, Brett Gardner - LF
Pitching Rotation: CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia
Closer: Mariano Rivera
AL Central Champion: Detroit Tigers (95-67)
The Tigers had a sick second half which helped them cruise into the playoffs and clinch the division (that and the rest of the division is trash). Justin Verlander should win the AL Cy Young and AL MVP, and the rest of the pitching rotation can hold their own. You also can never count out manager Jim Leyland and the rabbits he’ll pull out of his hat. They also have a strong lineup but a big weakness as well; the bullpen. If you can knock a starter out before Valverde comes in, you can score some runs.
Lineup: Austin Jackson – CF, Wilson Betemit – 3B, Delmon Young – LF, Miguel Cabrera – 1B, Victor Martinez – C, Alex Avila – C, Jhonny Peralta – SS, Magglio Ordonez – RF, Ramon Santiago – 2B
Pitching Rotation: Justin Verlander, Doug Fister, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello
Closer: Jose Valverde
AL West Champion: Texas Rangers (96-66)
The defending AL Champions proved last season was no fluke, and did it without Cliff Lee. I like the Rangers lineup from top to bottom. They have a solid mixture of power and speed. Pitching is where I’m concerned here. Although all their starters are strong and can dominate at times (as they’ve proven this season), they are young and lack a lot of experience.
Lineup: Ian Kinsler – 2B, Elvis Andrus – SS, Josh Hamilton – CF, Michael Young – DH, Adrian Beltre – 3B, Mike Napoli – C, Nelson Cruz – RF, David Murphy – LF, Mitch Moreland – 1B
Pitching Rotation: CJ Wilson, Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Alexi Ogando
Closer: Neftali Feliz
AL Wildcard Winner: Tampa Bay Rays (91-71)
The Rays are a real gritty team. On paper they don’t have the lineup in comparison to other AL playoff teams have, but they play team baseball, use speed to their advantage, and never say die (they’re the Goonies of the American League). My concern is the pitching staff as a whole. Price and Shields are experienced, but Hellickson and Davis are popping their cherries. I’m also not sold on Kyle Farnsworth. While he was strong this year, he’s had a history of imploding in big situations.
Lineup: Desmond Jennings – LF, BJ Upton – CF, Evan Longoria – 3B, Johnny Damon – DH, Ben Zobrist – 2B, Casey Kotchman – 1B, Matt Joyce – RF, Sean Rodriguez – SS, Kelly Shoppach - C
Pitching Rotation: David Price, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson, Wade Davis
Closer: Kyle Farnsworth
NATIONAL LEAGUE
NL East Champion: Philadelphia Phillies (102-60)
The Phillies (my World Series pick) finished with the best record in baseball (most win in franchise history). The boast a dangerous lineup and the best rotation. Some people got excited when the Phillies had an eight game losing streak in September, but don’t be fooled, while it wasn’t pretty, the everyday lineup wasn’t playing. In saying the Phillies do have concerns. The offense has a tendency to go cold which is deadly in a short series. Also there are concerns in the bullpen so starters need to go deep.Lineup: Jimmy Rollins – SS, Chase Utley – 2B, Hunter Pence – RF, Ryan Howard – 1B, Shane Victorino – RF, Raul Ibanez – LF, Placido Polanco – 3B, Carlos Ruiz – C, Pitcher
Pitching Rotation: Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt
Closer: Ryan Madson
NL Central Champion: Milwaukee Brewers (96-66)
The Brew Crew (Chris’s World Series pick), have the best lineup in baseball. From top to bottom, aside from the pitcher there’s no easy out. Their pitching isn’t as good as the Phillies but it’s strong from top to bottom. They have their own holes though. They’re not very good defensively, and I question their bullpen. It’s not particularly deep and closer Jon Axford has appeared in over 70 games this season. That’s a lot of appearances for your closer.
Lineup: Corey Hart – RF, Nyjer Morgan – CF, Ryan Braun – LF, Prince Fielder – 1B, Rickie Weeks – 2B, Casey McGee – 3B, Yuniesky Betancourt – SS, Jonathan Lucoy – C, Pitcher
Pitching Rotation: Zach Grienke, Yovani Gallardo, Shawn Marcum, Randy Wolf
Closer: Jon Axford
NL West Champion: Arizona Diamondbacks (94-68)
The Diamondbacks are a good team but also the team I find with the most holes. Their lineup can hit but they are all free swingers which makes them strikeout prone. It’s all or nothing on most nights. The pitching rotation is good and Ian Kennedy will get consideration for the Cy Young (the Yankees probably shouldn’t have given him up), but the pitching staff has no postseason experience (except for Joe Saunders). Similar to the 2007 Phillies, the talent is good and young but the postseason experience isn’t.
Lineup: Ryan Roberts – 3B, Aaron Hill – 2B, Justin Upton – RF, Miguel Montero – C, Paul Goldschmidt – 1B, Chris Young – CF, Gerardo Parra – LF, John McDonald – SS, Pitcher
Pitching Rotation: Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson, Joe Saunders, Josh Collmenter
Closer: J.J. Putz
NL Wildcard Winner: St. Louis Cardinals (90-72)
The Cardinals have the best offensive numbers in the National League and the middle of their order (Pujols, Berkman, Holladay) is the best in baseball. Tony LaRussa surrounded this group with hitters with speed who can put the ball in play. Here’s my issue with the Cardinals; the pitching. Carpenter and Garcia are solid but Loeshe and Jackson aren’t. More importantly, their bullpen is an abortion. The Cardinals would have won the NL Central if not for their bullpen and unlike the Phillies starters, the Cardinals can’t each pitch eight innings an outing.
Lineup: John Jay – CF, David Feeze – 3B, Albert Pujols – 1B, Lance Berkman – RF, Matt Holladay – LF, Yadier Molina – C, Ryan Theriot – 2B, Rafael Furcal – SS (if healthy), Pitcher
Pitching Rotation: Cris Carpenter, Jamie Garcia, Kyle Loeshe, Edwin Jackson
Closer: Fernando Salas
CRYSTAL BALL PREDICTIONS:
ALDS: Tigers/Yankees - Tigers in 4
ALDS: Rangers/Rays - Rangers in 5
NLDS: Phillies/Cardinals - Phillies in 4
NLDS: Brewers/Diamondbacks - Brewers in 4
ALCS: Tigers/Rangers - Tigers in 6
NLCS: Phillies/Brewers - Phillies in 6
ALCS MVP: Jhonny Peralta
NLCS MVP: Hunter Pence
World Series: Phillies in 7
World Series MVP: Cliff Lee
No comments:
Post a Comment