As many of you may know I don't follow baseball all that closely other than to suffer at the hands of my Dbacks each year. Even so, I figured I might as well make some predictions and voice my hopes for which teams will be playing in the second round.
NLDS:
Atlanta Braves at the San Francisco Giants
How they got here: The Giants won a normally contested, but always questioned, NL West race with the Padres by 2 games. The rode the backs of their young pitchers, who allowed them to win many games this year even when the offence only produced 2 or 3 runs. The Braves on the other hand clinched their post season berth on the last day of the season compliments of their win against the Phillies and the Padres getting shut out by Jonathan Sanchez, who the Braves will see in game 3. From what I've seen the Braves also rely on their pitches, they had 3 starters with 10 or more wins and an E.R.A. of 4 or better. The tail end of their bullpen is also strong with Billy Wagner picking up 37 saves.
Season Record: Overall Home Away Last Playoff Appearance Last Playoff Series Win
Atlanta 91-71 56-25 45-36 2005 2001
San Francisco 92-60 49-32 43-38 2003 2002
Season series: Braves 4-3
Key to the series: For the Braves starting pitching is the key, they need to keep the runs allowed down against the quality of pitchers that San Francisco has. The key for the Giants is getting run support for their pitchers. If the starters allow 5 or more runs in a game I will be extremely surprised but even if they only give up 2 runs will it be enough to get the job done?
My hopes: Braves Reality: Braves
Cincinnati Reds at the Philadelphia Phillies
How they got here: The Phillies won the NL East decisively with their deadly pitching staff and plenty of power in their offence. The starting pitching of Halladay, Oswlt, and Hamels could just about win games by themselves but Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth are there to provide some backup power. Add to that mix Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Placido Polanco, the Phillies are once again a force not many teams will want to face in the playoffs. The Reds will send 17 game winner Bronson Arroyo to the mound for game 1 and team leader in ERA and strikeouts Johnny Cueto in the second game to try to keep the games close. On offence Joey Votto was among the leaders in every statistical category including runs, hits, HR, RBI, and batting average. The Reds won the NL central by 5 games over the Cardinals despite going 5-5 over the last ten games.
Season Record: Overall Home Away Last Playoff Appearance Last Playoff Series Win
Cincinnati 91-71 49-32 42-39 1995 1995 NLDS
Philadelphia 97-65 52-29 45-36 2009 2009 NLDS
Season series: Phillies 5-2
Key to the series: The only key to this series is the Phillies pitching, how does Roy Halladay handle the pressure of his first playoff start? If the starting rotation gives the Phillies quality starts I don't see any way that the Reds can match up player for player.
My hopes: Reds Reality: Phillies
ALDS
New York Yankees at the Minnesota Twins
How they got here: Both teams in this ALDS matchup were magnificent at home this year tying for 2nd and 3rd overall for most home wins, only the Braves won more. The Yankees carried their team with their bats, bailing their pitchers out on countless occasions. They had 3 players, Rodriguez, Cano, and Teixeira, finish in the top ten in the American league in RBI this season. Their pitching was inconsistent to say the least, CC Sabathia being the exception to the case with 21 wins and a 3.18 ERA. Beyond CC nothing was predictable. Phil Hughes finished with 18 wins but an ERA over 4, AJ Burnett finished with a 5.26 ERA and only ten wins, the aging Andy Pettitte put together an 11-3 record but battled injuries throughout the year making only 21 starts. The Twins used a more rounded approach in capturing their AL Central title. Headlines by Carl Pavano and young ace Francisco Liriano, the twins had 6 starting pitchers pick up 10 or more wins while only one of them had an ERA over 4.5. The offence was versatile as well; they had a different leader in each of the 3 major statistical categories. Joe Mauer led the team in average, Jim Thome let in HR and Delmon Young lead the team in RBI.
Season Record: Overall Home Away Last Playoff Appearance Last Playoff Series Win
New York 95-67 52-29 43-38 2009 2009 WS
Minnesota 94-68 53-28 41-40 2009 2002
Season series: Yankees 4-2
Key to the series: The key to this series is going to be getting wins at home. If the Twins win the first 2 games in their new outdoor ballpark then they have a great chance of winning the series. If the Yankees can steal one in Minnesota I can't see the series reaching 5 games and returning to Target Field. Beyond CC's first start each game in this series has a potential to be a high scoring affair, who's offense can get on track first and take advantage.
My hopes: Twins Reality: Yankees
Texas Rangers at the Tampa Bay Rays
How they got here: The Rangers quietly, other than the mid season acquisition of Cliff Lee, ran away with the AL west. As far as I was concerned at the beginning of the season the depleted angels were still supposed to be in contention for a title but finished the season ten games behind first place with a sub .500 record. Other than Cliff Lee the Rangers pitching staff is relatively unknown, CJ Wilson led the way with 15 wins and a 3.35 ERA. On the other side of the ball Josh Hamilton led the way with a .359 batting average and belting 32 home runs. The always dangerous Vladimir Guerrero provided the most run support with 115 RBI. The Rays won the AL east this year on the final day of play when the Yankees lost the regular season finale to the Red Socks. Young pitching, seemingly the topic for at least one team in each of the first round series, is what led the Rays to the title this year. They had 5 starting pitchers with 12 wins or more, including David price, who won 19 games and led the team not only in wins but in ERA, strikeouts, and innings pitched as well.
Season Record: Overall Home Away Last Playoff Appearance Last Playoff Series Win
Texas 90-72 51-30 39-42 1999 Never – 1 game win 1996
Tampa Bay 96-66 49-32 47-34 2008 2008 ALCS
Season series: Rays 4-2
Key to the series: The Rays need their young starting rotation to withstand the pressure of the postseason as well as it did in 2008 when they reached the World Series. The Rangers need Hamilton and Vlad to produce offence early in games and take some of the pressure off of their starting pitchers.
My hopes: Rangers Reality: Rays
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