Twenty-two major league baseball teams have just finished the 2007 season. Over 650 players’ coaches and managers have just finished clearing out their lockers, offices and clubhouses. Some of those players will never see their teammates again in their lives. Others will see their teammates next week on the golf course. One way or another the game is over and their season has halted. Some teams, like the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have known this day was coming for weeks. Others like the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres were stunned by it in the final hours of the regular season.
Then there are the eight other teams whose baseball life has just begun. They have earned the right to extend their play into the 2007 MLB Post Season. Four of them could be eliminated as early as this weekend (my least favorite aspect to the Division Series playoff format). Two more teams will be gone after a maximum of twelve total games. The final two will go to the final days of October. One will raise above all the rest. One will emerge victorious. One will be crowned Baseball’s 102nd Champion. One team will win the 2007 MLB World Series.
So with the post season about to begin I figured I would take a few minutes to make some October picks. These are my winners and losers for the Division Series and the road to the Fall Classic. These picks also reflect how I will be placing my bets while in Vegas in 10 days.
Central Cleveland Indians
Score some major points for the Tribe when it comes to the starting rotation! C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona are as good a one two punch this October as any other out there. Both throw in the mid 90’s and have very good control keeping the ball at the hitter’s knees. Getting beyond these two pitchers will be one of the biggest hurdles to climb for the Yankees this post season. The Cleveland offense is like any other. Its all contingent on Grady Sizemore and Asdrubal Cabrera getting on base to set up Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez. But beyond the Indian’s two prized starters and their one thru four in the batting order, plenty of gaps can be found on the Cleveland Post Season Roster. And don’t dismiss this key stat. The Yankees have defeated the Indians all six times they played one another in the regular season. Including two losses for Carmona.
Wild Card New York Yankees
With the Jaba Rules on the back burner, the bullpen is as solid as any of the other seven teams still alive. When Jaba emerged into the Yankee bullpen in August, he became arguably the greatest secret weapon in Yankee history. No pitcher has bridged the cap to the Yankee closer this well since now closer Marino Rivera had the job. In 1996 Rivera’s role with the Yankees was to pitch the sixth and seventh innings and turn the ball over to then closer John Wettland. So if the Yankees hold the lead going into the seventh, it is almost a sure thing! The starting rotation although not without injury, is pretty deep and sound going into the Division Series. What the Yankees need most of all for post-season triumph is a consistent and productive offense. The Yankees score runs in bunches, and in bunches of games. They need to hit in bunches to win.
P.S. Leave A-Rod Alone!
My Pick- Yankees in four games.
West Anaheim Angels
Sound sound team. Fundamentally strong, fast and productive. The pitching in particular starting pitching is not the best; and they could be reduced in quality. The key losses to the entire outfeild are not helping either. Vladimir Gurrerro has a strained tricep and will be unable to play in right field. Gary Matthews was left off he post season roster due to injury. And Garett Anderson, although playing, as pink eye. To make matters worse, the Angels don’t match up well against the Red Sox either. Playing solid defense, and manufacturing runs will not help get past the overwhelming offense and defense in Bean town.
East Boston Red Sox
This is by far the best team on paper going into the playoffs. The bullpen is the best in the business. The starting rotation has three great arms, and three great backup arms. Then there is Manny and Big Papi, maybe the greatest three and four clutch hitters since Ruth and Gerhig. Josh Beckett will pitch every big game for Boston until are eliminated, or until his arm falls off. They have a ton of offensive winners in the batting order that are noting more then pesky threats. These guys are well rested, well prepared, and have been on their game since April.
My Pick- Boston Sweep.
ALCS
Be ready, because it’s coming like a freight train through a spider web. The Yankees and the Red Sox will be playing in their third ALCS in the last five years. It’s the rubber match of the trifecta!
Central Chicago Cubs
Who would have thought the Cubbies would be the first National League team pouring champagne on one another in a National League clubhouse. Sweet Lou Pinella has done it again. Lou successfully took the Chicago Cubs to the post season in his first year in Wrigley Ville. This team can score runs with Lee and Soriano. Since they shook things up back in early June and traded away catcher Micael Barrett, the Cubs have been playing first place ball. About the same time Lou lost his famous temper and was fined and suspended by MLB. The Cubs have a great attitude, and a tremendous fan base, and enough talent to overcome the Diamondbacks.
West Arizona Diamondbacks
This is the one team that I just don’t have a good gage for. To me they seam like a fluke, yet they have the best record in the National League fifth best in all of baseball. Not one single player in their starting line up is hitting .300. With the exception of Brendan Webb, no pitcher has won more the 13 games. And the team’s ERA is over .350. On the road this season the Diamondbacks are only a game over .500. Yet everyone seems to think they are the hot hand.
My Pick- Cubs in Four.
East Philadelphia Phillies
Way back in April Jimmy Rollins said that the Phillies of Philadelphia were the team to beat in the National League East. But when the Phillies fell eight games behind the Mets on May 30th and were still seven games out on September 6th. Everyone figured J-Ro was all hot air, with no action. Well it took all 162 games but Rollins was right! Not only were the Phillies the team to beat in the NL East, now they are in my opinion the best team in the 2007 National League Post Season. Rollins and Utley and Howard are hitting machines and run producers. Then there is the 15-5 junior sensation Cole Hamels. With the most dominating change up of any left-hander in the game today Cole is well rested and ready for his first career post-season start. But the key ingredient to these Phillies, momentum. Momentum has been on the side of the Phillies for weeks now, winners of five of their last six, and fifteen of their last twenty.
Wild Card Colorado Rockies
Who the Hell are these guys!?! Most baseball fans know Todd Helton, and many have at least heard of Matt Holliday. But names like Troy Tulowitzki and Yorvit Torrealba and the Dragon Slayer Josh Fogg are all news to me! Here is what I do know. The Rockies are winners of 14 of their last 15 games. They are a team united unlike anything I have ever seen. And if I think the Phillies have momentum, then the Rockies have an inconceivable energy yet to be beaten. This first round match up between the Phillies and Rockies will be the best Division Series Baseball to be found in the first round. A battle of conflicting momentum.
My Pick- Phillies in Five
NLCS
A battle of the pinstripes! The two love able losers of the National League will do battle to fight for a trip to the 2007 World Series. The Philadelphia Phillies against the Chicago Cubs.
As for the World Series………….
