Labor Day Post-Season Crystal Ball
Just for the fun of it, I’m going to play Labor Day Post-Season Crystal Ball.
No…I’m not talking about trying to become a 60-year old D.H in the playoffs. I’m talking about taking a stab at how the post-season may go down this October.
Now, remember, this is just for fun. OK? Here goes…
First, we start with the League Division Series…
ALDS I: Tigers and Yankees.
ALDS II: (WC) Red Sox and Angels.
NLDS I: Phillies and Dodgers.
NLDS II: (WC) Rockies and Cardinals.
In the A.L., the Red Sox will beat the Angels – because they always do, for some reason. And, the Yankees will take the Tigers – because, if they don’t, the Yankees Universe will implode.
In the N.L., the Phillies will beat the Dodgers – because Joe Torre, without Don Zimmer to help him in October, will blow the series. And, the Cardinals will get past the Rockies because Dave Duncan is a genius.
This brings us to the following match-ups in the League Championship Series:
ALCS: Red Sox and Yankees.
NLCS: Phillies and Cardinals.
In my perfect world, the Yankees will lose the first three games of the ALCS against the Red Sox – getting pounded in Game 3. And, in Game 4, they will be losing, late in the game, and then stage an improbable comeback to take the contest. And, New York will springboard off that victory to win the next three games in a row – and reach the World Series. Really, it has to happen this way, at least for me.
The Phillies will beat the Cardinals in the NLCS because Tony LaRussa is not a genius. And, this will lead to:
World Series: Phillies and Yankees.
Prediction: A lot of homeruns – due to the new Yankee Stadium and Citizens Bank Park. And, Mets fans will go nuts wanting both teams to lose – because, just like Yankees fans had no one to root for in the 1986 World Series, it’s a no-win situation for them. And, in the end, while the Yankees will have fun with Pedro Martinez in the game he pitches, the Phillies will win in six games…because their starting pitching does a better job than the Yankees starting pitching. Cliff Lee and Jayson Werth will share the Series MVP Award.
How about you? How do you see October shaking out this year?
I agree with your projected first round matchups. I expect the LAA to beat BOS this year. The Angels are a good team (forget their recent troubles) and the Red Sox do not have the intangibles this year. Their bullpen is not shut down. They don’t have the big boppers at 3-4 like they used to. And the team is not as playoff-experienced as it used to be. It’s just a very different team that is looking to find an identity. The Angels speed and defense will matter more in the post season.
If the Yanks and RS play in the ACLS then the Yanks lose only if they beat themselves. (which could happen).
Yankees will beat the Tigers.
Angels will beat the RedSox.
Dodgers will beat the Phillies.
Cards will beat the Rox.
So, when its Yankees vs. Angels, and Dodgers vs. Cards, what’s the final matchup and who takes it all?
Yanks over Tigers … Sox over Angels
Dodgers over Phils…. Cards over Rox/Giants
Sox over Yanks (reverse jinx)
Cards over Dodgers
Cards over Sox (am hoping here)
IMO, the x-factor in a Phils-Yanks WS would be Lidge. A lot of Philly fans I’m buddies with have slim to no confidence in his ability to close a game.
I could definitely see a few more helpings of pie being doled out there.
FWIW, Lidge is toast this year.
I’d love to see Lidge become part of our Yankeeography this year, lol.