Playoff/World Series Picks

[Sloopy45]

A.L.:

ALDS: Anaheim over Boston in 5.
Colon is a proven big-gamer & is pitching his best ball of the season. Vlad the Impaler is on fire, Pedro is collapsing, home-field advantage, more-balanced team, and defense leads the Angels over the Red Sox regardless of Schilling.
ALDS: Yankees over Twins in 4.
The Yankees have the Twins number, big time. Santana wins a game, but the Yankees roll.

ALCS: Anaheim over New York in 6.
The Yankees will win two games because the Angels won't have time to reset the staff before the Series starts. Other that that, New York's pitching sucks & is in awful shape. Men amongst boys in this Series. Anaheim rolls.

NLDS: Houston over Atlanta in 3.
Houston is on fire, and Atlanta isn't that good (they won an awful division). Get out the brooms.
NLDS: St.Louis over Los Angeles in 5.
St. Louis' dominant regular season should be enough to win the 1st round. Plus, never trust Jeff Weaver in a big spot. Brad Penny's health is a question mark too.

NLCS: St. Louis over Houston in 6.
Can't see Houston shutting down the Cards' right-handed bats in Enron Field.

World Series: Anaheim over St. Louis in 7.
Have no feel for this, but I expect a close series, so I'm going with home-field advantage in Game 7.

World Series Champs: the Anaheim Angels.
The Angels have a lot of gamers: Erstad, Glaus, Vlad, Colon, K-Rod, Percival.

[AKAKBUCK]

Sounds about right- I actaully think the Astros have cashed their check to get in... Dunno if they beat the Braves or not... But neither one of them should beat St Louis.

If the Dodgers take the Cards to 5 games... well I'll be surprised.

Anahiem and St Louis would be a fun one... They are the two best teams right now...

[Sloopy45]

AKAK: "Anahiem and St Louis would be a fun one... They are the two best teams right now..."

I think a lot will change if the Red Sox can beat the Angels in the DCS. However, I don't see it. I will be glued to the two A.L. 1st Round Series.

[tibor75]

Watching the Red Sox fall short again will be hilarious to watch as always. what new tricks does the Bambino have in store? A balk to lose a game?

[AKAKBUCK]

However, I don't see it.

Of course... anything can happen... but I don't see it either.

[Sloopy45]

AKAK: "Of course... anything can happen... but I don't see it either."

Well, here's the thing. Boston has been awful on the road this season (the team is really built for Fenway Park). Games 1, 2, & 5 are in Anaheim. However, Schilling will pitch 1 & 5 and Game 1 is against Jarrod Washburn, who's been bad as of late.

So that's the X Factor. We'll see. I might as well get some satisfaction out of this season before the Yanks get bounced in the LCS.

[AKAKBUCK]

The red Sox jsut don't bring the "pitching and defense" part of the equation to the table... past Schilling I think they're in trouble... if they don't win game one.. I think they're in a bunch of trouble.

[Sloopy45]

AKAK: "The red Sox jsut don't bring the "pitching and defense" part of the equation to the table"

I agree with most of what you said, except for this part: the Red Sox' defense is a lot better than you think since the Nomar trade. They used to be atrocious, but they're actually a pretty solid team in the field now.

However, the pitching is in bad shape: Lowe got moved to the 'Pen in the last week of the season (a horrible sign), and rounds out the rotation with Arroyo and Wakefield. Throw onto that suspicions that Foulke's arm is hurt and he's never been great in a big spot anyway.

[AKAKBUCK]

They used to be atrocious, but they're actually a pretty solid team in the field now.

I'm not sure solid is they way I'd describe it... but yes.. they are better. The Pitching staff is a disaster.

[Savante]

Can I get a Dodger win? Please? I wouldn't mind seeing the Cards do something (it's been a while), but please, ghost of Sandy Koufax... we need you!

[Sloopy45]

Savante: "Can I get a Dodger win? Please?"

I can't see it, my man. The trade deadline deal they made was in hopes of landing Randy & Charles Johnson, and they got neither. It was ridiculous to give up Mota without being assured of getting the Unit in return. Plus, the best guy they did end up getting back (Penny) has been hurt. It was a big lose-lose for L.A.

Mota is the best set-up man in baseball, and those guys are like gold in the playoffs. Plus, he allowed the Dodgers to coddle Gagne. Since, Mota's been gone, Gagne has melted down and developed arm pains. Don't think that Gagne's streak didn't have a lot to do with Mota, because it did.

[AKAKBUCK]

Looks like the Ghost of Sandy Kaoufax is enjoying a cocktail in Bora Bora.

Well-- at any rate he wasnt' at Buschhhh today.

[tibor75]

[Savante]

Originally Posted by Sloopy45

Savante: "Can I get a Dodger win? Please?"

I can't see it, my man. The trade deadline deal they made was in hopes of landing Randy & Charles Johnson, and they got neither. It was ridiculous to give up Mota without being assured of getting the Unit in return. Plus, the best guy they did end up getting back (Penny) has been hurt. It was a big lose-lose for L.A.

Mota is the best set-up man in baseball, and those guys are like gold in the playoffs. Plus, he allowed the Dodgers to coddle Gagne. Since, Mota's been gone, Gagne has melted down and developed arm pains. Don't think that Gagne's streak didn't have a lot to do with Mota, because it did.

I understand that, bro. I hear ya, and after today I'm totally sure we don't have much of a chance. I'm just a Dodger fan from way back (my first baseball memory was Kirk Gibson at like age 6 against the Oakland A's, so while the Tribe is my TEAM, I still love 'em), and they haven't done jack or [censored] since I started liking them.

Regardless, great analysis overall, your posts are great to read, man.

[Sloopy45]

Tibbs: Good stuff, my man. That's funny. Santana is real good. Hopefully Emperor George can throw some green at him and get him to 'turn to the Dark Side' one day, if you catch my drift. What a game last night. That's what baseball is all about.

Savante: "my first baseball memory was Kirk Gibson at like age 6 against the Oakland A's"

Believe it or not, I went to sleep in the 7th or 8th Inning of that game because I thought it was over. I woke up in the morning thinking that the A's won in a romp, and my Dad puts the newspaper on the kitchen table with Gibby's arms in the air on the back page. I was like, "What the F***?"

"Regardless, great analysis overall, your posts are great to read, man."

Thanks very much. I appreciate that.