Monday, October 02, 2006

Baseball Post-Season: First Round

In the middle of the greatness of football season, we still have baseball, which enters its postseason playoffs. With three rounds of playoffs, the postseason is no longer as special as it once was, and it drowns in the sea of 500 channels of cable & satellite, as well as the 800 pound gorilla known as the NFL. Nonetheless, there are some storylines worth addressing, and picks to be made.

Division Series

American League
Detroit vs. New York (AL): DET led the American League Central for the entire season, until the last day, when they blew a 6-0 lead to the hapless Royals, allowing them to be swept by a team that lost more than 100 games. DET has the wild card to fall back on, but they have to play NY. NY is there every year, but the Yankees haven't won a World Series in six years. DET is young, and NY has experience. Pick: NY, 3-1.
Oakland vs. Minnesota: MIN was the best team in the second half of the season. OAK had little trouble winning the West. MIN will have too much for OAK. Pick: MIN, 3-1.

National League
St. Louis vs. San Diego: The Cardinals very nearly pulled the biggest choke in the history of baseball, blowing an 8 1/2 game lead with 13 to play. Their lead got down to 1/2 game, but managed to split a four-game series with Milwaukee and hold off the Astros. The Padres held off the Dodgers and won the West on a tiebreaker. Pick: SD, 3-0.
Los Angeles vs. New York (NL): The Dodgers have played well in the second half of the season. NYM is struggling, now that ace Pedro Martinez is out for the playoffs. That can't help but hurt NYM. Still, NYM has a strong lineup, and should hold off the Dodgers. Pick: NYM, 3-2.

Championship Series

American League
NYY vs. MIN: When in doubt, go with the Yankees. NYY in 6.

National League
NYM vs. SD: If Pedro were healthy, it would be NYM in a slam dunk. Pedro is out, and I'll take the Padres in the upset in 6.

World Series
SD vs. NYY: Los Yanquis.

8 comments:

Zee said...

I hope the Yankees lose.

That is all.

John said...

Me, too. I hate the Yankees as much as anyone. They're a safe pick, though.

Zee said...

Deet won today! WHOOOPIE! Go Tigers! (best Italian sausages at their ballpark, btw)

John said...

That would be cool if DET could go home and win two against the hated Yankees. It would also make me look like a fool, especially since I also picked SD to go to the World Series.

Zee said...

BTW, I don't think the Tigers winning makes you look like a fool. No one picked them. I didn't, but am very excited that they pulled it out and won. I hope they keep going. Closest thing to a hometown team that I've had (not counting the Hawaii Islanders and the Rangers).

John said...

The greatness of the Hawaii Islanders. :-)

Zee said...

Oh! And the Toledo Mudhens too! :)

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