It's finally here. After a 162 game regular season(an extremely long season as a Mariners fan yet again) we finally arrive at the most exciting part of the year, the MLB Playoffs. The postseason is where, for a month, I can put aside my disappointment in the Mariners and just enjoy the best teams playing elimination baseball. I could ramble on about how the Mariners need to choose a new manager. Or the fact that our former manager says that the reason he left has to do with "a fundamental disagreement with the GM, CEO, and President over the future direction of the team". Or I could vent my frustration about guys like Justin Smoak and Franklin Gutierrez, who always seem to play great in September....When we are sooooo far out of contention! But no, this article is just going to focus on the positive, exciting MLB playoffs ahead.
American League
Tampa Bay Rays@ Cleveland Indians Wildcard Round: Tampa Bay sneaks into the postseason on the backs of David Price, complete game effort, and Evan Longoria, 2-run HR, beating Texas. However, now they must travel to Cleveland, a team that has won 10 straight games, and 15 of 17. Without David Price in this game, I don't see the Rays beating the Indians.
Cleveland Indians vs Boston Red Sox: Both of these teams seemed to have magical seasons. The Red Sox were horrible a year ago under Bobby Valentine, but have rebounded with an explosive hitting team. Eight of their players have hit at least 12 Home Runs. Three more have hit nine homers. The point is, this team hits the long ball as well as anyone, and they drove in 50 runs more than the second best team. The Indians are also a team that scores a ton of runs, while being middle-of-the-road in pitching. With homefield going to the Red Sox, I believe they win this series. I trust their bats and arms more than those from the Indians. RED SOX in 3
Detroit Tigers vs Oakland A's: This has the makings of an incredible series. The Detroit Tigers, with triple-crown winner Miguel Cabrera, boast as stacked a lineup as you will see in baseball. They scored the second most runs this year. They have a CY Young pitcher, and this year it's not Justin Verlander. It's Max Scherzer. Oh, and they have Doug Fister and Annibal Sanchez behind them in the rotation. Without doubt, this is the most talented team, and on paper should win the world series, or at least make it there. And then there is Oakland. The team full of players that no one has heard about. Yet, they were fourth in runs scored, and seventh in ERA. Their team Batting Average is just mediocre but if you watch the A's you know that they're all about TIMELY hitting. It could be any one of 1-9 in the batting order that beats you on a given day. And I'm going to bet on that. This team scraps, fights, gets clutch hits when it has to, and their pitching keeps them in most every game. Give me Oakland in 5
Oakland A's vs. Boston Red Sox: In the League Championship series, I believe the Athletics magic will run out. While I truly believe in their ability to generate runs when they have to, I think that the Red Sox are going to put up way too many runs for the A's to match. The Red Sox pitching staff is finally healthy, and its a pretty good veteran crew to have in the postseason, with the likes of Clay Buchholz, Jake Peavy, Jon Lester, and John Lackey. Add in the fact that the Red Sox will have home-field advantage, and I believe it will be too much for the A's to overcome. Boston in 7
National League
Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: I would pick the Reds because I believe in their hitters more than the Pirates, but the Pirates are going to start Francisco Liriano in this elimination game, and he's had the Reds number as of late. Plus, the Pirates are at home, and although I think that their season is a bit fluky, I think the magic can last one game at least in the postseason.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals: I don't see this as a very difficult series for the Cardinals. These Cardinals are like the A's in the sense that they always come up with the big hit. The difference, however, is that this team is playoff-tested and more talented than the A's roster. Steady players Yadier Molina, Carlos Beltran, and Matt Holliday there's no way this team could lose to the Pirates. I will say the Pirates have some of that A's magic this year, and they pitch extremely well, but I'm not buying it for the playoffs. They have to prove it first. Cardinals in 4
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves: I was hoping this would be the LCS matchup, but we get treated to it in the divisional round. These two teams have without question the most talented teams in the national league. The Dodgers are led by Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez, and of course their dominating CY Young Winner Clayton Kershaw. The Braves boast the likes of Justin Upton, Freddie Freeman, Brian McCann, and one of the games best young shortstops Andrelton Simmons. For me, the lineups are so even that it's going to come down to which pitching staff do I believe in more. And I'm rolling with the Dodgers there. Aside from Kershaw, the Dodgers also have Greinke, Ryu, and Ricky Nolasco. Pitching wins in postseason play, and I believe the Dodgers will out-pitch Atlanta. Dodgers in 5
St. Louis Cardinals vs Los Angeles Dodgers: This would be a very intriguing series, with two supremely talented teams, but with two different ways of achieving their success. The Cardinals groom many of their players in the minor league system(guys like Molina, Carpenter, Wainwright come to mind). The Dodgers, however, spent boatloads of money to acquire nearly every major contributor, (Gonzalez, Ramirez, Greinke, etc.), but the one major farm system guy is Yasiel Puig. This series could go either way because I respect the heck out of the Cardinals and what they do once the postseason rolls around. Everyone in their lineup is capable of the big hit. But the Dodgers won 42 of 50 games during one stretch this season. Yasiel Puig brought magic to this team. Plus, I believe in their pitching a little more than I do St. Louis. Give me Dodgers in 6
World Series
Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Would this be a marquee matchup or what? Two of the biggest major markets in sports, with recognizable faces like David Ortiz and Yasiel Puig, this World Series has the potential to boost MLB ratings to levels they haven't seen for a while. With home-field advantage going to the American League this year, I'm going to go with the Boston Red Sox to win the World Series in 7 games. Purely a gut feeling.
