MLB Playoffs

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. That's right. The Cubs won their division and are in the playoffs. One of two things has to happen for such a feet. Either a team has to be really good to make the playoffs, or the rest in the division have to REALLY SUCK... hhhmmm.... I wonder which one it was for them? I'll just let you figure that one out.

So, we have the Cubs (85-77) vs. the D-Backs (90-72).
Either the Rockies or the Padres (both went 89-73) vs. the Phillies (89-73).
The Angels (94-68) against the Red Sox (96-66).
The Yankees (94-68) vs. the Indians (96-66).

I just want to point a few things... first off, the D-Backs are the only team in the NL to have 90 wins in 162 games. Either the Rockies or the Padres will knock down 90 today. Only four did it in the AL and all went to the post-season. I want the Tribe to rip apart the Yankees. They really need to... and should. As far as the San Diego and Colorado game today, I hope for Colorado to take that one. I guess it is because they are closer? I don't know. I don't have time to dissect the game to make a guess. D-Backs will tear apart the Cubs. Who-ever wins today will be tired and the Phillies will take an early lead in the series. It will cripple the winner and the Phillies go to the NL Championship.

It's really tough to say who is the better of the AL teams. I pick the Tribe over the Yankees... just because. If you've read any of my posts, you should know my stance on the NY team. Anyone who plays them is GOLDEN in my book. Not to mention that the Yankees kept getting embarrassed by Tampa Bay this year, that should be enough to say they have GREAT choking ability.

And the Angels and BoSox... that should be the best series to watch of these four games, I think. That one could really go either way. I will say this, the Angels have more youth, if I am not mistaken. The BoSox have experience, recently winning the World Series a couple of years ago. It should be a fun series to watch. I will take a gander and say that the BoSox will win that series and move to the AL Championship.

BoSox and the Indians - I would take the Tribe as a surprise and upset the favored BoSox.

D-Backs and the Phillies - It would be hard not to take the Phillies, since they are a Cinderella team. People just love to pick the Cinderella team, but I honestly would not take them in this series. I would pick the D-Backs. Why? I'll tell you later.

In the world series, we have the Indians and the D-Backs, with the house favorite being the Tribe (since the AL won the All-Star game, right?). This series would not seven games, not six, but I will call it in five favoring the...

Tribe. Yep. The D-Backs make an amazing run, but peter out in the Series.

Game SIX of the NLCS

Game SIX of the NLCS

Houston (3-2) vs. Saint Louis (2-3)

Oswalt vs. Mulder – Oswalt is a 20 game winner. Mulder won 16. Mulder has only a 3-3 playoff record despite an impressive 1.91 ERA in six starts, having walked eight and struck out 27 in 37 2-3 innings. Oswalt is 3-0 in six career postseason outings. Though St. Louis beat the right-hander twice this season, including once in July when they defeated Andy Pettitte, him and Clemens in order, Oswalt has beaten the Cardinals with strong seven-inning efforts the last two times he's faced them -- both at Busch Stadium. Oswalt has been better than Mulder, with fewer walks in the reg, more K’s, and a better ERA. Mulder, this season is 1-1 with a 2.48 ERA against the Astros, and the Astros hit only .215 this year. Oswalt, this year, is 1-2 with a 5.21 ERA against the Cards. Oswalt is a feast market for the Cards. Pujols does the most damage, but there are plenty others on the list who do him harm. The meat of the Astros lineup does pretty well against the Cards, as well. This could be who has the worst pitching for the game tonight, but if they start to stink it up, I would say the manager is going to pull them quick. And to be honest, I don’t see them stinking it up. Numbers don’t lie except to me, based on my predictions history… oh well, but when I am not wrong, then I am right, right? So the intangibles would be this: The Cards are a little hot after being lucky in Game 5, but I don’t see another breakdown in Lidge or the Astros. Mulder may be impressive, but he isn’t all that lucky in the playoffs. Oswalt plays well in the pressure, based on his 3-0 mark in the post. I say that Houston wraps up this one tonight. And as for a prediction on the score, let’s say 5-2. Houston hasn’t scored more than 4 runs in this series, and tonight they will truly break out the offense, along with the pitching and D muscles they have already flexed.