MLB playoffs

With the long baseball regular season finally over, now the real fun starts.

With both the A's and Giants knocked out I am know a Red Sox fan as you can see with my avator. Let's hope for as good playoffs as years past with better results.

Now onto my prediction for the first round matchups for the AL.

Red Sox vs Angles

Starting Pitching- With Schilling, Wakefield and Pedro the Sox have the advantage in pitching but a lot hings if Pedro can get out of his funk, the Angles have been pitching better but other than when Colon's on, nobody really scares me on the Angles staff.
Advantage- Red Sox

Hitting- Both teams have mashers in Glaus, Anderson and Vlad for the Angles and Ortiz and Manny for the Bosox. Both teams have speed guys with Damon, Roberts, Eikstien and Figgins. Really both offenses are almost mire images of each other. One thing that's a good and bad thing for the Bo Sox are the difference in their hitting when there in Fenway and not in Fenway because there's a dastric difference in the team averages
Even

Bullpen- You could argue that the Angles have the best bullpen in baseball. They can actually play a six inning game with Donnely, Shields, K-Rod and Percival. The Red Sox are now slouch either with good righty leftie guys with Timlin and Embre and a great closer in Foulke.
Advantage- Angles because of a deeper bullpen.

Defense- The Angles are pretty solid at all positions but losing Guillen could hurt, because of his cannon arm. The Red Sox are much improved with their trades and now their defense is a strength which wasn't the case earlier in the year.
Even

Managers- As much as a hate Schosa(sp?) he's a damn good manager which I can't say the same about Francona as he has been questioned by the Boston faithfull a lot this season.
Advantage- Angles

My prediction- Red Sox in 4
I think the inconstitent Angle starting pitching is going to be their undoing.

Yankees vs Twins

Starting Pitching- With aces Santana, Radke and the durable Silva the Twins clearly have the advantage. The Yankees have the clutch El Douqe and everybody else. The Yanks have to hope Mussina will show up or they will be in big trouble.
Advantage- Twins in a land slide

Hitting- There's nothing that I need to explain about the Yanks offense that hasn't been already said, just plain Powerfull. The Twin's rely on hit and run and stealing bases for offense. Their not great, but with their pitching they don't need very much offense anyways.
Advantage- Yankees in a land slide

Bullpen- This is a tough one to call. The Twins have the deeper bullpen with Rincon, Romero and Nathan but I still have worries about them. It will be interesting to see what Nathan will do with some pressure on him as he didn't do well in clutch situation's with the Giants. The Yankees aren't as deep with Quantrill arm falling off, but once it gets to the 8th it's over. With Gordon and of course Rivera the Yankees have more experience at the end of games.
Advantage- Yankees but not by much

Defense- The Twins are one of the better defenses in the league, while the Yankees are good in spots and bad in others. The Yankees biggest weakness is if both Bernie and Lofton are in the outfield as both have very weak throwing arms.
Advantage- Twins

Manager- Joe Torre, nuff said.
Advantage- Yankees

My prediction- Yankees in 5
While the Twins look better on paper, the Yankees still will have some postseason suprises that stats can't comprehend.

I'll post my NL predictions tomorrow as I have a big math test tomorrow and I need my beauty sleep. 😖leep:

yea im in the same boat with the M's blowing and the giants not making it go sox.. and its gotta be them and NY in the alcs and sox can take them in a series

I agree with your AL predictions, and I am very curious as to what your NL predictions are...Here is mine

Dodgers VS. Cardinals

Starting Rotation:

Game1: Perez(7-6) VS Williams(11-8)
Game2: Weaver(13-13) VS Marquis(15-7)
Game3: Lima(13-5) VS Morris(15-10)

The Cardinals rotation would be better than the Dodgers if Chris Carpenter was going to be playing (he's out for the entire NLDS), and if Matt Morris wasn't struggling. With that said, I think the starting pitcher's will matchup well. All three pitchers for the Dodgers can have great success...but all 3 can also be out of the game within the first 3 innings. It's hard to tell with those guys, they aren't consistent. Lima is prolly throwing the best right now.
Advantage: Even

Hitting:

Cardinals obviously have the best offense in the Majors. They hit for power, average, and can clutch hit. The Dodgers have an offense that could be one of the best, if they were more consistent, and didn't rely on late inning heroics.
Advantage: Cardinals

Bullpen:

If the Dodgers wouldn't have traded Mota, and Gagne was 100%, then I might give the edge to the Dodgers. However, that is not the case. The Cardinals have Isringhausen and others who have performed well under pressure...but some of the relievers are also known to choke.
Advantage: Even

Defense:

Dodgers have made less errors (I believe) and have a better Fielding Percentage (not by much). Besides errors, the numbers almost match.
Advantage: Dodgers, slightly

Managers:

Jim Tracy has done a swell job with the Dodgers this year. His playoff experience isn't much...and if they plan on making late inning comebacks, they will have already lost.

Tony La Russa has playoff experience, and is a definite Hall-of-Famer. If he continues to manage the way he has all year, the Cardinals should be just fine.
Advantage: Cardinals

Prediction: Cardinals in 4

Astros VS. Braves

Ahhhh Atlanta...the team I have followed since I was 7, since they lost the 91 World Series. This year was the year the Braves were sposed to find themselves in 3rd place, behind the Phillies and Marlins...but no, that didn't happen. Supreme coaching has led them back to the playoffs for the 13th consecutive year. The Astros are on a very
hot streak...but we all know streaks will end. Roger Clemens won't be 100% on Wednesday, no matter what he says.

Starting Rotation:

Game1: Clemens(18-4) VS Wright(15-8)
Game2: Oswalt(20-10) VS Thomson(14-8)
Game3: Houston hasn't made a dection VS Hampton(13-9)

Wright and Thomson were both huge surprises this year in their success. They have done well, and I think they will
both do well in the playoffs. I will never doubt Clemens, whether he is 100% or not, but I think that he will matchup perfectly with Wright(remember, Wright has post-season experience with the Indians). Although the Astros look better statistically, historically the Braves have dominated the Astros in October. I think that out of all
the series to watch, this none will be the most fun.
Advantage: Even

Hitting:

Phew, Biggio, Bagwell, Burkman, Beltran...scary! I would not want to face these guys. If the Astros continue to
hit the way they have since the end of August, only the Cardinals will be able to match them. However, I have a feeling that the Astros are losing steem. Chipper Jones is supposedly ok, after being hit on the hand with a Carlos Zambrano fastball on Saturday. With both teams healthy, and Clemens and Wright on the mound for game 1, I think the bats of both teams will be tamed. Also, Oswalt has either killed the Braves, or the Braves have killed Oswalt. The Braves have better pinch and clutch hitting, while the Astros have a better 1-8 lineup (statistically).
Advantage: Astros, slightly

Bullpen:

Sure, Brandon Lidge has done awesome as the closer for Houston. But does he compare to Smoltz? Simply put,
no. As far as relievers, Juan Cruz, Antonio Alfonseca, and Chris Reitsma all can go 2 innings for the Braves. I think this is where the Braves must succeed...in getting the Astros into their bullpen by the 6th inning. The Astros bullpen is probably their Achilles Heel. Also, the Braves have the best ERA in the NL(possibly majors?).
Advantage: Braves

Defense:

The Braves first half was horrible. All baseball fans know that. A lot of their errors came in the first half. Once Chipper Jones returned to 3rd, and Charles Thomas and Eli Marrero took over in Right Field, these guys become solid by mid-August. The Astros have a good defense, but it's just that - it's good. The Braves have an awesome defense. They have the fastest outfield in the majors, led by the 2nd best center fielder to ever play the game, Andruw Jones (Willie Mays will be the best until Jones retires, when their numbers will be compared). The Braves are top 3 in turning double plays (I think they have turned the most, but I'm not positive).
Advantage: Braves

Managers:

Phil Garner took over around the All-Star Break for Jimmy Williams. He has done a good job, but I don't credit the Astros success to him. I credit it to the Cubs! If the Cubs wouldn't have went into the Astrodome, acting "tough" one might say, then the Astros Players wouldn't have kicked it into high gear for the final 60 games of the season. The Cubs/Astros scuffle that occured lit a fire in Houston.

Bobby Cox. Need I say more?
Advantage: Braves by far

Overrall:

I think the Braves play better as underdogs...they proved it all year. With Andy Petite out, I think the Braves have the overall edge over the Astros. As long as the Braves can get into the Astros bullpen, there is no reason this shouldn't be over in 3 games. But then there is Roger clemens and Roy Oswalt. If they both pitch to their
abilities, this will go to game 5.

Braves in 4

Originally posted by Shaolin Monk
I agree with your AL predictions, and I am very curious as to what your NL predictions are...Here is mine

Dodgers VS. Cardinals

Starting Rotation:

Game1: Perez(7-6) VS Williams(11-8)
Game2: Weaver(13-13) VS Marquis(15-7)
Game3: Lima(13-5) VS Morris(15-10)

The Cardinals rotation would be better than the Dodgers if Chris Carpenter was going to be playing (he's out for the entire NLDS), and if Matt Morris wasn't struggling. With that said, I think the starting pitcher's will matchup well. All three pitchers for the Dodgers can have great success...but all 3 can also be out of the game within the first 3 innings. It's hard to tell with those guys, they aren't consistent. Lima is prolly throwing the best right now.
Advantage: Even

Hitting:

Cardinals obviously have the best offense in the Majors. They hit for power, average, and can clutch hit. The Dodgers have an offense that could be one of the best, if they were more consistent, and didn't rely on late inning heroics.
Advantage: Cardinals

Bullpen:

If the Dodgers wouldn't have traded Mota, and Gagne was 100%, then I might give the edge to the Dodgers. However, that is not the case. The Cardinals have Isringhausen and others who have performed well under pressure...but some of the relievers are also known to choke.
Advantage: Even

Defense:

Dodgers have made less errors (I believe) and have a better Fielding Percentage (not by much). Besides errors, the numbers almost match.
Advantage: Dodgers, slightly

Managers:

Jim Tracy has done a swell job with the Dodgers this year. His playoff experience isn't much...and if they plan on making late inning comebacks, they will have already lost.

Tony La Russa has playoff experience, and is a definite Hall-of-Famer. If he continues to manage the way he has all year, the Cardinals should be just fine.
Advantage: Cardinals

Prediction: Cardinals in 4

Astros VS. Braves

Ahhhh Atlanta...the team I have followed since I was 7, since they lost the 91 World Series. This year was the year the Braves were sposed to find themselves in 3rd place, behind the Phillies and Marlins...but no, that didn't happen. Supreme coaching has led them back to the playoffs for the 13th consecutive year. The Astros are on a very
hot streak...but we all know streaks will end. Roger Clemens won't be 100% on Wednesday, no matter what he says.

Starting Rotation:

Game1: Clemens(18-4) VS Wright(15-8)
Game2: Oswalt(20-10) VS Thomson(14-8)
Game3: Houston hasn't made a dection VS Hampton(13-9)

Wright and Thomson were both huge surprises this year in their success. They have done well, and I think they will
both do well in the playoffs. I will never doubt Clemens, whether he is 100% or not, but I think that he will matchup perfectly with Wright(remember, Wright has post-season experience with the Indians). Although the Astros look better statistically, historically the Braves have dominated the Astros in October. I think that out of all
the series to watch, this none will be the most fun.
Advantage: Even

Hitting:

Phew, Biggio, Bagwell, Burkman, Beltran...scary! I would not want to face these guys. If the Astros continue to
hit the way they have since the end of August, only the Cardinals will be able to match them. However, I have a feeling that the Astros are losing steem. Chipper Jones is supposedly ok, after being hit on the hand with a Carlos Zambrano fastball on Saturday. With both teams healthy, and Clemens and Wright on the mound for game 1, I think the bats of both teams will be tamed. Also, Oswalt has either killed the Braves, or the Braves have killed Oswalt. The Braves have better pinch and clutch hitting, while the Astros have a better 1-8 lineup (statistically).
Advantage: Astros, slightly

Bullpen:

Sure, Brandon Lidge has done awesome as the closer for Houston. But does he compare to Smoltz? Simply put,
no. As far as relievers, Juan Cruz, Antonio Alfonseca, and Chris Reitsma all can go 2 innings for the Braves. I think this is where the Braves must succeed...in getting the Astros into their bullpen by the 6th inning. The Astros bullpen is probably their Achilles Heel. Also, the Braves have the best ERA in the NL(possibly majors?).
Advantage: Braves

Defense:

The Braves first half was horrible. All baseball fans know that. A lot of their errors came in the first half. Once Chipper Jones returned to 3rd, and Charles Thomas and Eli Marrero took over in Right Field, these guys become solid by mid-August. The Astros have a good defense, but it's just that - it's good. The Braves have an awesome defense. They have the fastest outfield in the majors, led by the 2nd best center fielder to ever play the game, Andruw Jones (Willie Mays will be the best until Jones retires, when their numbers will be compared). The Braves are top 3 in turning double plays (I think they have turned the most, but I'm not positive).
Advantage: Braves

Managers:

Phil Garner took over around the All-Star Break for Jimmy Williams. He has done a good job, but I don't credit the Astros success to him. I credit it to the Cubs! If the Cubs wouldn't have went into the Astrodome, acting "tough" one might say, then the Astros Players wouldn't have kicked it into high gear for the final 60 games of the season. The Cubs/Astros scuffle that occured lit a fire in Houston.

Bobby Cox. Need I say more?
Advantage: Braves by far

Overrall:

I think the Braves play better as underdogs...they proved it all year. With Andy Petite out, I think the Braves have the overall edge over the Astros. As long as the Braves can get into the Astros bullpen, there is no reason this shouldn't be over in 3 games. But then there is Roger clemens and Roy Oswalt. If they both pitch to their
abilities, this will go to game 5.

Braves in 4

I agree with everything you said with the Cards Dodgers series. The Cards are better than every facet, but one thing that sould be interesting with the Cardinals bullpen guys having a history of chocking that could be trouble with the Dodgers offense late inning heroics and how are the Cards going to do with playing a meaningfull game which they really haven't played one all year, but I still see it Cards in four.

Braves Astros is a tough one to call for me. Both are pretty evenly matched, but the Astros have a better hitting team and they can throw out two aces and the're the hottest team going into the playoffs which in years past have propelled teams far into the playoffs. Also correct me if I'm wrong as you know more about the Braves than I do, hasn't Smoltz somewhat struggled recently. I see it Astro's in five in a very close series.

Also welcome to KMC, it's always nice to see more baseball fans on this site. 😄

for me its awesome to see baseball fans PERIOD lol...I rarely find someone who actually talks baseball, without the "oh my team is better than yours, your team sux, even though I don't know what a Balk or Hit and Run is" mentality

Smoltz was struggling in late August, early September. His last 4 appearences were good. Reitsma is the main person I am worried about. He has been SO inconsistent. He could go 5 games, and throw perfect. Then the next 10 games he could throw without being able to get more than 1 out. Then 5 games of escaping other pitchers from jams. Then a game or two of giving up 4 hits in a row. He's just really inconsistent. He's not even consistently bad...which could be a worse sign.

I am hoping that he will come through, he has the stuff, just needs to be consistent..one way or another lol.

But Smoltz's last outings of the season were good. He picked up the save Saturday over the Cubs, and I was glad he pitched so that we could see how he was throwing. Hopefully it carries over to the post-season, and he doesn't pull a Reitsma LOL

oh, btw...I just found out Mike Hampton is getting the start in Game 2 of the NLDS for the Braves. Thomson has a strained muscle "in his side" is what it says on atlantabraves.com . Hampton is 11-1 in his last 14 appearences, so thats good!

AL predictions

Twins over Yankees in 5. Yankees don't have anybody to match Santana or Radke, nuff said

Boston over Anaheim in 4. Angels don't have the pitching to keep with the Red Sox

ALCS

Twins over Red Sox in 6. Santana over Schilling, Martinez and Radke are equal, Carlos Silva over any of their back end starters

NL predictions

Cardinals over Dodgers in 4. Dodgers just don't match up with the Cardinals in anyway.

Astros over Braves in 5. This series will be the best. No team has that big of edge over on another, but that being said, I think the Astros have a little bit more offense which will push them past the Braves.

NLCS

Cardinals over Astros in 6. Cardinals are just a much better overall team.

World Series

Twins over Cardinals in 7. This series is going to be just as good as the 87' series between these two teams. Once again though, the Twins pitching pushes them past the Cardinals.

Originally posted by cal31
AL predictions

Boston over Anaheim in 4. Angels don't have the pitching to keep with the Red Sox

Schilling smack the Angels good in game 1. Washburn wasn't so bad what cause him the lost were the errors Figgycommited. Man! Mike should have never put him on 3rd. Bad decision. Anyways, the best match-up is for game two. Martinez and Colon. That one is going to be much more competitive.

I agree, Martinez isn't the pitcher he used to be but he is still a good pitcher, and Colon has really come on in the second half.

today was almost exactly how I think a lot of us expected it to go, excluding the die-hard Yankee fans who assume they will continue their post-season success, pre-2001

Cardinals/Dodgers game:

I was surprised at how bad Woody Williams was pitching the first few innings. He had a lot of balls up, and ran a lot of 2 ball counts. The Dodgers simply didn't take advantage of that. Most of their hits were Texas Leaguers. Odalis Perez actually had good stuff, until the 2 out tear the Cardinals went on in the 3rd.

Red Sox/Angels:

Schilling continued his post-season success, and I think Francona was smart in starting him in Game 1 instead of Martinez (some of the "experts" disagreed with Francona).

Like WindDancer said, Washburn wasn't pitching bad at all (he got that low strike called on Ramirez, in the 3rd I believe?). If Figgins woulda made a good throw to home, he gets the out, and the Sox don't get all those runs. Washburn probably would have stayed in the game longer.

Yankees/Twins:

Twins defense was awesome. I don't credit most of the double plays to the middle infielders though...sure, they turned the double plays, but those should be routine. Santana made the pitches that forced the batters to hit ground balls right at em. Hunter did make that awesome catch though to rob A-Rod. (Which is why he's 2nd best to Andruw Jones, and not Jim Edmonds.)

I cannot stand the Fox commentators for the post-season. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver should not be commentating. Sure, they work for Fox, but that shouldn't give them rights to the post-season. I think that the commentators that work the teams regular season games should get to work the playoffs. They deserve it too!

Pffft, they tried saying Mussina was out-pitching Santana, the inning after Jacque Jones hit the home run. Are they retarded? Their numbers were pretty close, excluding the 2 earned runs Mussina gave up. I thought they both pitched well, but Santana and the bullpen were able to shut the Yanks down.

Can't wait for tomorrow, my team plays! Good Luck Braves!

I know what you are talking about with Joe Buck and Mcarver, that was annoying the hell out of me when they said Mussina was outpitching Santana when it's 2-0. How do you out pitch someone when you give up 2 runs including a homerun, and the other guy doesn't even give up a run when he doesn't have his best stuff. Won't have to listen to that much longer though, 2 more games and the Yankees are done.

lmao, hell yeah cal31! I really think the Twins can sweep the Yankees, but I don't know if they belive it. They have an awesome chance, with Radke going today, and then heading back to play in "The Dome"...loudest place on earth lol...

don't get your hopes up. They aren't going to take 3 in a row from the Yankees. ❌

oh, and that doesn't matter anyways. Angels are going all the way. 😛

Twins in 3 over the Yankees, I watched the game last night with Santana... awesome.

Shaolin.... I like Tori better... but thats cause i hate the Braves cause I'm a Phillies Fan.... And my fiend is a Yankees fan and I alaway say something to him when they lose and heres what he said..... "Who cares? It just one game. And the only reason they won is because Santana was pitching. Now its Lieber vs. Radke and we're going to win cause Lieber is way better than Radke." HAHA.... Leiber better than Radke! Yeah right.

Yeah, Radke is a 20 game winner and was in the top ten ERA in the AL this year, but I guess Jon Leiber in his first year back with a 4.33 ERA is better, ha!

Originally posted by Shaolin Monk
lmao, hell yeah cal31! I really think the Twins can sweep the Yankees, but I don't know if they belive it. They have an awesome chance, with Radke going today, and then heading back to play in "The Dome"...loudest place on earth lol...

Yup, I'm gonna be at the game on Friday, that place is going to be rockin, especially after they complete the sweep. 🤘 🤘 💃 💃

Are you from minneapolis Cal31? Its been a while since I've been to a dome game...

Yeah, I live around Jordan if you know where that is.

5-5 going into the bottom of the 8th. Nice comback by the Twinkies. I was suprised that Rivera went with his fastball so much instead of the cutter since the cut-fastball is his bread and butter pitch.