Skip to main content

Attempting to Script October: The 2009 MLB Playoffs

It’s that wonderful time of the year again – October. And with October comes non other than playoff baseball. And although the nation is up in mayhem over Bret Favre, the National Football League, and other things football, October is baseball. And much like years past, October is unpredictable. However, much like last year (Attempting to Script October: The 2008 MLB Playoffs), I will attempt to predict the happenings in this tenth month of the year, two thousand and nine. And hopefully, I’ll be more accurate than last year’s predictions.

After all, it's October. It’s playoff baseball. And it cannot be scripted.

Nonetheless, here goes…

2010NLDS

NLDS – St Louis Cardinals defeat Los Angeles Dodgers in Four Games

This series will be decided by the Cardinals top two pitchers (and possibly best 1-2 punch in baseball) in Carpenter and Wainwright. The Dodgers will manage to sneak a win in game three in St. Louis, only to be closed out in Game 4. Manny will have an anti 2008-like postseason, and will struggle throughout this series.

Series MVP – Chris Carpenter

NLDS – Philadelphia Phillies defeat Colorado Rockies in Three Games

These two teams have met before in the post-season under similar circumstances. The Rockies charging into the post-season, riding a hot streak. However, the Phillies are a completely different team than the one in the past that let the Rockies run all over them, and are primed to defend their title. The Phillies offense will be too much for Colorado, and will close this series out early.

Series MVP – Jayson Werth

2009_ALDS

ALDS – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeat Boston Red Sox in Five Games

The Red Sox, who have had the Angels number throughout post-season history will suddenly see a change in 2009. The Angels, who are due, will battle the Red Sox to the brink, and finally break their curse per say. Jon Lester will emerge as the Red Sox ace of the future, but the speed game of the Angels will be the deciding factor in this series.

Series MVP – Bobby Abreu

ALDS – New York Yankees defeat Minnesota Twins in Four Games

After dominating the series in the regular season (7-0), this season will resemble the same. The Yankees offense will be too much for the Twins coming off an emotional win for the AL Central Title. The Twins will manage to get one win in game three to avoid the sweep, but will be eliminated in the fourth game.

 

2009_NLCS

NLCS – St. Louis Cardinals defeat Philadelphia Phillies in Seven Games

This series will be filled with great pitching from the starters on both sides, and will ultimately be decided by the bullpen. The series will also see the return of Brad Lidge, who will come through in several situations, including returning a receipt to Albert Pujols for the 2005 horror homerun. Game seven will see Carpenter and Cliff Lee both pitch seven innings of shutout ball. The winning run will be driven in by trade deadline pickup, Matt Holliday.

NLCS MVP – Adam Wainwright

2009_ALCS

ALCS – New York Yankees defeat Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Six Games

The Angels like they always have, will give the Yankees all they can handle in this series. Bobby Abreu will continue his hot post-season as he sticks it to his former team. The series will also see two stellar pitching performances by A.J Burnett which will eventually become key contributions to the Yankees series win.

ALCS MVP – A.J. Burnett

2009_World_Series_6

World Series – New York Yankees defeat St. Louis Cardinals in Six Games

This series, much like the post season, will be dominated by pitching. Carpenter and Wainwright will shut the Yankees down in the first two games. However, will head to St. Louis split, 1-1. In game three, Andy Pettitte will put together a vintage gem that will get the Yanks the 2-1 lead. In game four, the Cards will blowout the Yanks, a game where Rick Ankiel will go 4 for 6 with 4 RBI. The Yankees will then win the next two games, which will be tightly contested games, and closed out by the great Mariano Rivera.

World Series MVP – Robinson Cano

Recently Read Posts

A Product of Us: Thoughts on Durant Trade

I said back in July when Kevin Durant rocked the NBA world with his trade request, that he "showed us who he was".  It wasn't a negative comment, but one that encompasses his entire career being a product of our current sport climate - success and focus on legacy. We emphasize the value of a career on rings, and thus, Durant has too. Why wouldn't he?!  Upon waking up and realizing that Durant will don the purple and orange for the Phoenix Suns in what is clearly now a team to watch come the NBA Playoffs, I find myself further pondering if Kevin Durant is the prime result of what we - yes, us! - have done to the modern athlete.  Today, Durant is one of the greatest basketball players I've ever seen. EVER. The dude is rare. He's a seven-foot magician which makes defending him even more difficult based on how damn efficient he is on the basketball court. It's downright poetic and beautiful to watch Durant play. And yes, I'm romanticizing his game. I belie

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 3/19/23

3 Up 1. Migrant Help - So much is facing our nation right now. The Migrant crisis is one of them. For me - and again, just me - as I know how easy narratives are to roll right into personal politics these days, you rarely hear about solutions. It wasn't a huge story this week, but it definitely impacted me. We need more of this.  2. College Athletics - From March Madness and so many upsets along with the new landscape of college athletics taking shape, to the NCAA Wrestling Championships - this week was fun. Shout out to Caitlyn Clark who continues to be awesome. Farleigh Dickinson making history. And Matt Ramos gave us the biggest shock of the year - pinning 3-time National Champion, Spencer Lee.  3. World Baseball Classic - People seriously think "no one cares about this tournament". Like, really? The WBC alone is awesome. At the very core of it, I'd take this over Spring Training any year.  3 Down 1. Big Tech Layoffs - Big Tech continues to downsize, with this wee

CM Punk's Return - Perfect Timing for the Symbol of Anti-WWE

Looooooooook in my eyes, what do you see?! The lyrics to Cult of Personality, especially that first bar,  never felt so fitting for CM Punk as it did last night.  For the most part, everything that is CM Punk's return to wrestling last night at AEW Rampage ties directly into my latest thoughts on pro wrestling - the company is making it must-see destination television, an element desperately needed from pro wrestling.  Last night was incredible as again, it was another moment that made wrestling feel alive - with a wild and energetic pulse. It was one of the coolest moments in pro wrestling that you knew was coming, expected, anticipated, and it was everything and more. Again, MUST-SEE television. That's hard to do.  For me, it wasn't just Punk's return to pro wrestling, but the mere presence and voice of his inclusion in today's space. We know that Punk can deliver on the microphone - probably his best and most signature attribute. We also know that yes, he can

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 3/26/23

3 Up 1. Aid Workers Freed - After six years of captivity, an American aid worker who served as a missionary and as a humanitarian aid worker was freed in Niger. The story is one that surely places life in perspective.  2. Shoehei Ohtani - Ohtani sure is fun on the big stage, huh? MLB has one of the most entertaining athletes on the globe. Let's hope they can capitalize on that.  2a. Team Japan - I won't get into the wars of baseball here, but it sure was fun to watch Japan's approach to baseball throughout the tournament. There's a lot to be said about how they play the game, more so, how they teach the game.  2c. World Baseball Classic - Ohtani vs. Trout to end the tournament. You couldn't have drawn up a better script. I completely expect the next one to be just as good.  3. Adam Sandler - Say what you want about Sandler - fan or not - receiving the Mark Twain Prize for his almost-three decades of work is pretty remarkable. I actually had the privilege to meet Sa