Now that the Mets are done...my postseason predictions

by erich10031 on Sep 29, 2008 2:41 AM EDT

National League:

Division Series --

The Phillies will beat the Brewers. The Phillies are decent this year (I don't think they will make it past the Cubs, nor would they win the World Series if they somehow did) -- good enough to do away with the Brewers, whose problems can be summed up as "C.C. Sabathia can't pitch every game."

The Cubs win over the LA Dodgers. Apparently, to win the NL West, all you have to do is not lie there like a dead moose, waiting to be skinned/dressed by Sarah Palin. A .519 win percentage translates as "slightly better than a dead moose" when talking about playoff teams. The Cubs have 100 years of experience in finding ways to lose, but will save that for the World Series.

League Championship --

Cubs over Phillies. No wise-ass remarks...the Cubs are just a better team than the Phillies.

American League:

Division Series --

Tampa Bay over Minnesota/Chicago White Sox. It doesn't matter who ends up winning the AL Central, since either way they will be the AL equivalent of the Phillies...not bad, but not WS material either. Tampa Bay has enough momentum from their "worst to first" season to win this one.

LA Angels over Boston. Unfortunately, what are probably the two best teams will meet up here, not in the WS. I think the Angels are somewhat better, and am not sure the Red Sox are entirely over their long-standing tendency to lose when it really matters.

League Championship --

Angels over Rays. This is the point where the Rays suddenly realize this is the first time they've been out of last place...something they do will cost them going to the World Series.

World Series: Angels over Cubs. 100 years of failure back this prediction.

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I made a similar guess last night

I think the Angels are a strong enough team to take on anyone. Plus they have good post-season experience. (Don’t know if they have enough grit and heart, tho’. Eckstein is far away!)

However, if Boston beats LAA in the first round, it’ll be great to watch the Rays beat the Sox to get into the WS. A Rays/Cubs series would be a fun combination of “Can They Do It?” and “Who are these people?”

"The people of Houston are spending money like oil's selling at $40 a barrel."

by IanB in MD on Sep 29, 2008 7:59 AM EDT 0 recs

My predictions

Boston over Anaheim: I think the 100 wins for LAA are misleading. They play in a terrible division and their run differential is not that good. Beckett/Lester/Dice-K match up well with Santana/Saunders/Lackey. The Angels OPS+ is 96 compared to the Red Sox at 108. The Angels have more depth at middle relief, but Paplebon is a better closer.

Rays over AL Central: They are the least flawed of the teams. They have the best pitching depth of the three teams. How is Minnesota third in the AL in runs scored?

Cubs over Dodgers: The Cubs should muster enough runs against a good Dodgers staff to win. The Cubs pitching should handle an inferior offense. I think it will be closer than most people think.

Phillies over Brewers: With out Sheets, the Brewers starting pitching is in trouble and their bullpen is Metesque.

LCS: Red Sox over Rays, Cubs over Phillies
WS: Cubs over Red Sox
Post WS: The Apocalypse

by Reg Dunlop on Sep 29, 2008 10:47 AM EDT 0 recs

Cub-Sox

That would be great for MLB – especially if they drag it out to 6 or 7 games. All kinds of tears and other blabbering about the Cubs.

But I would hate to see the Sox in the Series again, even if they lose. Their fans are jerks.

"The people of Houston are spending money like oil's selling at $40 a barrel."

by IanB in MD on Sep 29, 2008 11:08 AM EDT up 0 recs

I agree 100%

Those are my picks also. The Angels are a mirage and I think Boston takes them down rather easily. The ALCS against the Rays should be a brutal affair, however, and I don’t know that Boston will have anything left in the tank for a Cubs team that should steamroll the NL.

That being said, the playoffs are a crapshoot, as 2006 (sigh) taught us, so who knows? I’m going to root for a Rays-Brewers World Series.

Vote change: DePodesta/Acta in 2009!!!

by Greenpoint Ian on Sep 29, 2008 12:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Rays-Brewers WS

That may draw lower ratings then the Stanley Cup Finals

by Reg Dunlop on Sep 29, 2008 2:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

And...

…are there enough people in Tampa willing to go to a WS game? Would they know how to find the stadium?

"The people of Houston are spending money like oil's selling at $40 a barrel."

by IanB in MD on Sep 29, 2008 2:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

i know i'd watch it

and how many yankee/bosox haters would watch it to see if the rays could do the unthinkable?

by gogomets on Sep 29, 2008 3:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Me, too. But then again, I love baseball.

But really, if the Rays were in the Series, I would consider flying down to Tampa and just expect there will be tickets at the walk-up booth the day of the game.

"The people of Houston are spending money like oil's selling at $40 a barrel."

by IanB in MD on Sep 29, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up 0 recs