Geez Louise, it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to
write for SportsAlert. Sorry.
Let me ask you a question: If a “round” of playoffs is the
same length as a regular-season game – in other words, if a “round” lasts only
one game – and if a team loses in that “round,” did that team actually make the
playoffs? Hell, no! So congratulations to the Tampa Bay Rays and
the Pittsburgh Pirates for reaching the “real” playoffs (specifically
Pittsburgh, which is in for the first time in 21 years. The postseason drought, in fact the consecutive number of seasons below .500,
was old enough to drown its own sorrows in beer). Now, will these Wild Cards make some noise in
the playoffs? Not this year.
American League
Boston Red Sox (97-65)
vs. Tampa Bay Rays (92-71): So all it took for the BoSox to go from a cellar-dwelling
embarrassment back to one of the power clubs of Major League Baseball is to
change managers from one who tried to shut down Chicken-and-Beer Nights during
games (9/11 blame-layer Bobby
Valentine) to a guy who’s said to have the players’ backs (John Farrell)? Guess that’s good enough for me. For all the talk of how the Bay Rays continue
to use its young corps to overachieve, this will be yet another instance where
small ball is no match for getting what you pay for. Tampa’s young starting rotation is awesome,
but they’ll cool off here. Boston in five.
Oakland Athletics
(96-66) vs. Detroit Tigers (93-69): And speaking of small ball. … The A’s are in a good spot, also contending
with great players young enough (and willing) to compete for cheap for at least
a couple years. And Tigers Manager Jim
Leyland says that their superstar, Miguel Cabrera, is “playing in a lot of pain.” No matter; I think it’s a smokescreen. As long as Detroit’s starters can give
Leyland at least seven innings with the lead (and that includes ace-turned-weak
link Justin Verlander), I don’t see the Athletics mounting a challenge against
a team fortified for the postseason. Detroit in four.
So what happens if two lucrative teams play each other? This is where Cabrera’s injury, especially if
the American League Championship Series goes the distance, affects
Detroit. As should the Tigers’ longtime
weakness, the bullpen. Jose Valverde is
no longer there to eff things up, but the team has found no answers for their
mediocre bullpen crew. And assuming
there are no surprise injuries to Dustin Pedroia or David Ortiz, expect the Red
Sox to come from behind and win one or two games. Boston
in six.
National League
St. Louis Cardinals
(97-65) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (94-68): While it’s nice to hear more
recognition that PNC Park rivals Baltimore’s Camden Yards and San Francisco’s
AT&T Park as The Most Beautiful Ballpark in Baseball, credit really should
go to those who lauded the stadium’s beauty (I think it’s the skyline, in
particular the Roberto Clemente Bridge, that helps PNC stand apart) back when
the Buccos sucked. A stadium’s
resplendence is timeless; the Pirates are now just being an outfit worthy of
playing in it. Saying that, I have a
feeling that the Cardinals’ balance and veteran experience will dispatch the
Pirates rather quickly. No shame,
really; I think Pirates fans are just happy that they’re in the “real”
playoffs. St. Louis in five.
Atlanta Braves (96-66)
vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (92-70): There are three reasons why I’m picking
the Dodgers. One, Clayton Kershaw, who should
be automatic enough to win two games and could win a third if need be. Two, the Braves are no longer playing in the
regular season. And three, first base
coach (and Braves legend) Terry Pendleton grabbed and
shoved third baseman Chris Johnson after a loss to the Philadelphia
Phillies Saturday. Initial speculation
was the fiery, old-school Pendleton didn’t care for Johnson trying to beat out Phillies
shortstop Jimmy Rollins’s fantastic throw to first by sliding instead of
running through. But apparently Johnson
threw down his helmet after going back to the dugout, and that helmet hit
Pendleton, which led to the grabbing and shoving. I’m not saying that is a sign of disunity;
Johnson and Pendleton have met nice and let bygones be bygones. But hey, it’s something to keep an eye out
for. Los Angeles in seven.
I’m not sure if I like the fact that Edward Mujica lost his
job as closer for the Cardinals. He hasn’t
been playing well late in the season, and Trevor Rosenthal has been good in
Mujica’s place. But, sabermetrics aside,
I can easily see Rosenthal blowing a couple leads to the Dodgers’ timely
hitting. In a matchup of My Two Favorite
Teams After the Minnesota Twins, I have to give it to the city of my alma mater. Los
Angeles in six.
World Series
Well, well, well, it’s a matchup of two teams
that made a blockbuster of a trade just over a year ago. This is one of those rare deals that turned
out to be beneficial for both sides.
That it has paid dividends for both teams so quickly and at the same
time is rarer still. By trading away
Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, the Red Sox were able to clear the way for key
pieces such as Daniel Nava, Stephen Drew and Xander Bogaerts. And the additions of Gonzalez and Crawford,
widely panned (including by me) last year when they went bust, have
jump-started the lineup. Expect Yasiel
Puig to run around the bases like a combination of Jackie Robinson and Ricky
Henderson. Nick Punto – yes, that Nick
Punto – will make one diving stop in the hole to preserve a one-run lead late
in a game. And Most Valuable Player
Kershaw will shut down the Red Sox and shut up the Fenway Park faithful in the
last game of the 2013 season as The Bastard Brooklyn Dodgers win their sixth
title. Los Angeles in five.