With the change of the calendar to the tenth month of the year comes October. Playoff baseball. It is the time of the year where each pitch is as important as the next to come. Where lineups and today's starting pitcher are reviewed as the tale of the tape before a big fight. It is where each call, each bounce, and each inch can change an inning, a game, and a series. It is a month where baseball reigns supreme. A month where goats become heroes, and heroes can become legends. It is also a month where Bartman and Buckner happens. It is unpredictable, unfathomable, and downright the best sporting month of the year.
It's October. It's playoff baseball. And it cannot be scripted.
Nonetheless, part of the fun is attempting to do so, so here goes...
ALDS - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeat Boston Red Sox in four games.
Anaheim takes care of business out west before dropping game three in Fenway. Game 4 will see John Lackey take the hill and dominate the sox for eight innings clinching the series for the halos.
Series MVP - Francisco Rodriguez
ALDS - Tampa Bay Rays defeat Chicago White Sox in four games.
Tampa Bay will continue doing what they do best, and what got them to this point - speed, pitching and defense. Chicago will manage to steal one at "The Trop", but without their MVP in Carlos Quentin, Chicago will be out played throughout the series.
Series MVP - Carlos Pena
NLDS - Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Chicago Cubs in four games.
The heart of Cubs fans will be broken as Chicago's NL team will be eliminated by the surging Dodgers in four games. After splitting two in Wrigley, The Dodgers will continue to stay hot by taking care of business in LA.
Series MVP - Manny Ramirez
NLDS - Philadelphia Phillies defeat Milwaukee Brewers in five games.
This series will go back and forth with the each team having its moments. The loss of Brian Sheets will ultimately hurt them, and Brad Lidge will continue to be a magician by closing out games with thirty plus pitches, yet not blowing one save.
Series MVP - Cole Hamels
ALCS - Tampa Bay Rays defeat Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in seven games.
Tampa Bay will continue to surprise everyone with their ability to play with the uncrowned champion, Angels. The series will be dominated by small ball and pitching duels, which will come down to the bullpen. In the end, Tampa Bay wins game seven in Anaheim after Kazmir outduels Lackey, with Percival shutting the door on his former team's dreams of an AL pennant.
Series MVP - Scott Kazmir
NLCS - Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Philadelphia Phillies in six games.
Manny Ramirez will continue his tear on the National League by torturing the Phillies starting staff. However, Andre Ethier will have an even better series by continuing his hot hitting behind Manny Ramirez. Game four will see the best pitched game of the post season with Cole Hamels and Chad Billingsley each going eight, yet both getting a no-decision. Dodgers end game six with Clayton Kershaw shutting down the Phillies in long relief.
Series MVP - Andre Ethier
World Series - Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Tampa Bay Rays in six games.
The battle of David vs. Goliath in terms of history for these two teams. The series will be a showcase of great baseball with the stars of tomorrow on display, as well as those that needed the big stage to show the nation just how good they have been. In the long run, it will be the catalyst for the Dodgers playoff run, Manny Ramirez, who will be the difference in the series. An opportunity for him to stick it the Red Sox (and his case for a new contract), as the same with Joe Torre and Coaching company to the empire back East in the Bronx.
World Series MVP - Manny Ramirez
Happy October to all, and enjoy the games.
It's October. It's playoff baseball. And it cannot be scripted.
Nonetheless, part of the fun is attempting to do so, so here goes...
ALDS - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeat Boston Red Sox in four games.
Anaheim takes care of business out west before dropping game three in Fenway. Game 4 will see John Lackey take the hill and dominate the sox for eight innings clinching the series for the halos.
Series MVP - Francisco Rodriguez
ALDS - Tampa Bay Rays defeat Chicago White Sox in four games.
Tampa Bay will continue doing what they do best, and what got them to this point - speed, pitching and defense. Chicago will manage to steal one at "The Trop", but without their MVP in Carlos Quentin, Chicago will be out played throughout the series.
Series MVP - Carlos Pena
NLDS - Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Chicago Cubs in four games.
The heart of Cubs fans will be broken as Chicago's NL team will be eliminated by the surging Dodgers in four games. After splitting two in Wrigley, The Dodgers will continue to stay hot by taking care of business in LA.
Series MVP - Manny Ramirez
NLDS - Philadelphia Phillies defeat Milwaukee Brewers in five games.
This series will go back and forth with the each team having its moments. The loss of Brian Sheets will ultimately hurt them, and Brad Lidge will continue to be a magician by closing out games with thirty plus pitches, yet not blowing one save.
Series MVP - Cole Hamels
ALCS - Tampa Bay Rays defeat Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in seven games.
Tampa Bay will continue to surprise everyone with their ability to play with the uncrowned champion, Angels. The series will be dominated by small ball and pitching duels, which will come down to the bullpen. In the end, Tampa Bay wins game seven in Anaheim after Kazmir outduels Lackey, with Percival shutting the door on his former team's dreams of an AL pennant.
Series MVP - Scott Kazmir
NLCS - Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Philadelphia Phillies in six games.
Manny Ramirez will continue his tear on the National League by torturing the Phillies starting staff. However, Andre Ethier will have an even better series by continuing his hot hitting behind Manny Ramirez. Game four will see the best pitched game of the post season with Cole Hamels and Chad Billingsley each going eight, yet both getting a no-decision. Dodgers end game six with Clayton Kershaw shutting down the Phillies in long relief.
Series MVP - Andre Ethier
World Series - Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Tampa Bay Rays in six games.
The battle of David vs. Goliath in terms of history for these two teams. The series will be a showcase of great baseball with the stars of tomorrow on display, as well as those that needed the big stage to show the nation just how good they have been. In the long run, it will be the catalyst for the Dodgers playoff run, Manny Ramirez, who will be the difference in the series. An opportunity for him to stick it the Red Sox (and his case for a new contract), as the same with Joe Torre and Coaching company to the empire back East in the Bronx.
World Series MVP - Manny Ramirez
Happy October to all, and enjoy the games.