Tagged: Rangers
And Then There Were Four
So things haven’t gone exactly as I had thought they would. Somehow the Yankee starters brought their A game. I know…CC always brings his A game…but the rest of the rotation has been fairly suspect since July. So, much to my surprise, the Bums from the Bronx are moving on.
In another shocking development, the San Francisco Giants overcame the Hinske Effect and defeated the Braves. It is a sad day for baseball. Bobby Cox has managed his last game, leaving baseball as one of the greatest managers of all time AND, for the first time since 2006, Eric Hinske will not be participating in the World Series. In one foul swoop, the Giants eliminated two long-standing mlb traditions.
I don’t think many were surprised that the Phillies advanced past the Reds. Led by great pitching and a balanced attack, the Phightin’ Phils had no problems getting by Cincinnati (and their suddenly struggling defense.) What can you say? When you start the playoffs with a no hitter, you know that things are going your way.
The last team to push their way into the next round surprised many. The Rangers rode newly acquired Cliff Lee into the ALCS. They managed to overcome the very talented Rays using the always popular combination of pitching, speed, power, and taking advantage of the other team’s mistakes. The play I loved the best in last night’s contest was when Andrus took two bases and scored on a dinky little grounder to first. AWESOME. It was a great, heads-up play that set the tone for the game.
So, although two of my predictions didn’t come to fruition (the Braves and Twins will have to wait until next year to prove their playoff mettle,) my World Series picks are still in full effect. Despite having to go through the Yankees, I do believe that the Rangers have what it will take to advance…pitching, power, speed, small ball, luck? The Phillies and the Giants series could be one for the ages. It could be seven straight games of one run baseball. There is a lot to like in both of their rotations.
In the end, who would have thought it? When the Phillies made their hotly debated move to trade Cliff Lee to the Mariners, who would have thought they would have to face him in the World Series? This could become reality very shortly. I love how October baseball has the habit of producing so much of it’s own drama.
Now that the first round is over and the dust has settled, I guess it would be appropriate to hand out a few congratulations. Congrats go to Bobby Cox for completing a great career. Enjoy the HOF, Bobby. Also a hearty congratulations to the Texas Rangers on winning their first ever playoff series. Now you have joined the very elite club of 29 other mlb franchises who have won at least one playoff series.
Pre Post Season Predictions
Here it is folks…the best time of the year is upon us. It’s playoff season. Everything starts over again for eight teams. It is always difficult to predict who will win it all because you never know who is going to get hot or go cold. But what the heck. I will give it a shot.
In the American League, the Twins are taking on the Yankees and the Rays are playing against the Rangers. I have to go with the Twins and the Rangers to advance to the next round.
The Twins have a history of getting knocked around by the Bronx Bombers come October.
I don’t believe that will be the case this year. The Yankees’ starting rotation has been awful since around the all-star break. The Yankees have a fearsome lineup but they can only put CC on the mound so often. Although the Twins will have to do without the services of Justin Morneau, they still have enough offense to get through provided their starters can do what they have been doing all year…winning. Personally, I really look forward to watching Pavano go up against his former team.
Tampa Bay has been a very good team for the last few years. How appropriate that they will face the Rangers, who are the new up-and-comer in the MLB. I have to give the edge in pitching to the Rays but then I give the edge in offense to the Rangers. This has the makings of a very good serie but in the end I just have to go with my gut and take Texas. The Rangers are the only current franchise who has never won a playoff series…EVER. That luck has to change one year and I think this is that year.
Over in the National league the Giants edged out the Padres to take on the Braves who edged out the Padres.
I love the Braves. Of all the teams in the playoffs, these are the guys I am rooting for and I think that they may have what it takes to get by the Giants. The Giants’ rotation is phenomenal but lacks playoff experience. The Giants are also the only playoff team that scored fewer runs than the Braves. Atlanta will also have an emotional edge because of Bobby Cox’s impending retirement. Nothing would provide a better send off than a nice playoff run in Bobby’s last year as the manager. Also the Braves have the secret weapon that basically guarantees them a berth in the World Series. They have Hinske who manages to make it to the big dance EVERY YEAR.
The other series in the NL have the Reds pitted against the Phillies.
The Reds have a nice team that should be good for years to come but the Phightin’ Phils have Doc Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels…and an all-star lineup that have been to the World Series the past two years. Advantage: Philly. The Reds just don’t have enough to move to the next round.
The ALCS between the Texas Rangers and the Minnesota Twins should be one for the ages but I believe that Texas will advance. Texas has the pitching to keep them in ballgames and they certainly have the offense to put up a lot of runs. If Morneau was healthy, I would have to reassess the situation but as it stands right now I think the Rangers have the edge.
The NLCS should be some great baseball. Divisional rivals Atlanta Braves squaring off against the Philadelphia Phillies could provide some of the best baseball of the year. The Phillies did win the season series between these two teams 10-8 but, as mentioned before, the Braves have the Hinske effect. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that Eric Hinske will be enough to beat Philly. Philadelphia’s rotation is just so good. The Phillies don’t have a problem at all with run production. As much as I would like to send Bobby Cox off to retirement with a World Series ring, I just don’t see it happening.
That puts my World Series at the Rangers and the Phillies. At the beginning of the year, not too many people would have thought that Texas would be playing in October. At the beginning of the year, not many people thought that the Phillies wouldn’t be playing in October. But here they both are.
Although the Rangers do have the power of Chuck Norris on their side (a power which I have heard is quite formidable) I don’t think it is going to be enough to get through Philly. The Phillies have a team that is built for the playoffs. Their top three starters are big game pitchers. Hamels proved it in the playoffs a couple of years ago and Oswalt and Doc have proved it over their entire careers. Their lineup has been here before and they know what to expect. The World Series title will be back in the City of Brotherly Love.
THREE HANDS DEAD 