Double’s Division Series Predictions
ALDS
Yankees at Angels
Yankees bats are on fire; Randy seems invincible and is just purely dominating. The X factor is what Moose can give in Game 1, and see if starting Wang instead of Chacon in Game 2 will pay off. That could ultimately do the Yankees in. Chacon has pitched brilliantly in his last 3 games; has pitched 8 innings in 2 of the 3 outings, and 7.2 in his final appearance of the season, allowing a total of only 1 ER and winning all 3 contests. Why not have him out there? So the question is if the Angels pound on the Moose early that will force them to the weary bullpen. But if Moose can give them over 6 quality innings and somehow get to Flash, and then Enter Sandman plays, it’s over.
As for the Angels, they have their best pitcher going, Bartolo Colon, in Game 1, which is an advantage over Mussina. But in Colons only outing against the Yankees this year, he pitched poorly allowing 5 ER in 4.2 innings. But that was back on April 26. He is a different pitcher since then. The Angels offense has been erratic. They can get hot at anytime, but this isn’t the offensive juggernaut it was back in 2002 when they won the World Series. Vlad will have to carry them offensively in this series in order for them to win. But he also did that last year, and couldn’t get past the Boston Red Sox.
Prediction: Yankees in 4
I believe the Yankees lineup are all on the same page, all cylinders are spinning right now. And watch out for Tony Womack, if he is put on the post-season roster. He can be this year’s version of Dave Roberts.
Red Sox at White Sox
This is going to be a battle of pitching versus hitting. And they say good pitching will shut down good hitting. That will have to be the case in order for the White Sox to win. The key for the Red Sox is Johnny Damon. If he can get on base, he will be a nuisance on base, forcing the pitchers to pay attention to him, which will give Renteria, Ortiz and Manny the advantage. And we all know there is no pitching around Ortiz with Manny behind him.
So in order for the White Sox to win will be based on their pitching, just like it was all season long. They will try to keep it to low scoring games, as 94 of their 162 games played this year were decided by 2 runs or less. The Sox best pitcher right now is Jose Contreras, but Contreras has a history of not performing well in the post-season. The most important batter in the White Sox lineup is Scott Podsednik. He has stolen 3 bases in his last 3 attempts. He is looking healthy. If he can stretch his singles into doubles by swiping a few bags that will allow for small ball to play in favor for Ozzie Guillen, especially if the pitching is able to shutdown the Red Sox lineup.
Prediction: Red Sox in 4
I am not confident in the White Sox pitching, but I am not confident in the Red Sox pitching either. So it’s going to be based on offense, and the Red Sox has the better, more productive offense.
NLDS
Padres at Cardinals
Padres were lucky to be playing in the NL West this season. That division absolutely, without question, Stunk. The only reliable pitcher on the Padres staff is Jake Peavy. If he can pitch lights out in Game 1 and then again in Game 4 or 5 (probably game 4 if Padres can pull out a win in there), then they have a shot. But the Padres do not have anyone that can hit the long ball at anytime. Giles is their most dangerous hitter, but he has Mark Sweeney batting behind him, sometimes Klesko. That doesn’t bode well, because that means if he catches fire, they can pitch around him.
The Cardinals on the other hand are the most complete team in any league. They have very good starting pitching in Carpenter (although hasn’t been good in his last 4 starts), Mulder (possibly the piece they were missing a year ago, along with Carpenter), Suppan and then if LaRussa decides to, he can also go to either Matt Morris or Jason Marquis (my guess is he would opt with Marquis). The Cardinals also have an offense that does everything. They are clutch, have speed and of course, have the best all around hitter in the game, Albert Pujols.
Prediction: Cardinals in 3
Cardinals pitching is too good. Even though they will be without Al Reyes, their best middle relief pitcher, they can do without him. I expect their offense to tear apart the Padres pitching, except for Peavy, who could give them some trouble. But LaRussa has had his team playing hard all year, even after they clinched the division. This is a hard nose team that plays the game the right way.
Astros at Braves
This is the most intriguing match-up of any for either Division Series. This is all about pitching. Not too much offense. 2 of the best post-season pitchers ever will be taking the mound, but unfortunately, not facing one another like first reported. Smoltz, who is the most successful post-season pitcher of all-time, will take the mound in Game 2, and Hudson has been given the nod in Game 1, but to face off post-season great Andy Petitte. Hudson does not have a good track record in the post-season, but I blame that on Art Howe and Ken Macha. Hudson hasn’t pitched poorly in the post-season, but the way his former managers set up the rotation, and the Oakland offense failing to score him runs cost him post-season games.
The Astros have the best 1-2-3 pitching combo in all of baseball, hands down. Pettite, Clemens and Oswalt make up a triple threat and will pose big problems to the young Braves lineup. In order for the Astros to be successful is to make sure their pitchers can get to Lidge. The Astros offense needs Willie Taveras to get on base and will need to move him over and make sure that Ensberg and/or Berkman will drive him in.
Prediction: Astros in 5
This will be a great series. A pitchers duel. A baseball enthusiast’s dream come true. I just believe the Astros pitching will prevail and the Astros offense will be able to squeeze out just enough offense in this series to get past the Braves. Due to the great starting pitching of both teams, I truly believe it will come down to the bullpen, and that’s the Brave’s weakness. We will see how well Kyle Farnsworth can handle the post-season pressure as the closer. I can really see this series going down as one of the great ones.
Yankees at Angels
Yankees bats are on fire; Randy seems invincible and is just purely dominating. The X factor is what Moose can give in Game 1, and see if starting Wang instead of Chacon in Game 2 will pay off. That could ultimately do the Yankees in. Chacon has pitched brilliantly in his last 3 games; has pitched 8 innings in 2 of the 3 outings, and 7.2 in his final appearance of the season, allowing a total of only 1 ER and winning all 3 contests. Why not have him out there? So the question is if the Angels pound on the Moose early that will force them to the weary bullpen. But if Moose can give them over 6 quality innings and somehow get to Flash, and then Enter Sandman plays, it’s over.
As for the Angels, they have their best pitcher going, Bartolo Colon, in Game 1, which is an advantage over Mussina. But in Colons only outing against the Yankees this year, he pitched poorly allowing 5 ER in 4.2 innings. But that was back on April 26. He is a different pitcher since then. The Angels offense has been erratic. They can get hot at anytime, but this isn’t the offensive juggernaut it was back in 2002 when they won the World Series. Vlad will have to carry them offensively in this series in order for them to win. But he also did that last year, and couldn’t get past the Boston Red Sox.
Prediction: Yankees in 4
I believe the Yankees lineup are all on the same page, all cylinders are spinning right now. And watch out for Tony Womack, if he is put on the post-season roster. He can be this year’s version of Dave Roberts.
Red Sox at White Sox
This is going to be a battle of pitching versus hitting. And they say good pitching will shut down good hitting. That will have to be the case in order for the White Sox to win. The key for the Red Sox is Johnny Damon. If he can get on base, he will be a nuisance on base, forcing the pitchers to pay attention to him, which will give Renteria, Ortiz and Manny the advantage. And we all know there is no pitching around Ortiz with Manny behind him.
So in order for the White Sox to win will be based on their pitching, just like it was all season long. They will try to keep it to low scoring games, as 94 of their 162 games played this year were decided by 2 runs or less. The Sox best pitcher right now is Jose Contreras, but Contreras has a history of not performing well in the post-season. The most important batter in the White Sox lineup is Scott Podsednik. He has stolen 3 bases in his last 3 attempts. He is looking healthy. If he can stretch his singles into doubles by swiping a few bags that will allow for small ball to play in favor for Ozzie Guillen, especially if the pitching is able to shutdown the Red Sox lineup.
Prediction: Red Sox in 4
I am not confident in the White Sox pitching, but I am not confident in the Red Sox pitching either. So it’s going to be based on offense, and the Red Sox has the better, more productive offense.
NLDS
Padres at Cardinals
Padres were lucky to be playing in the NL West this season. That division absolutely, without question, Stunk. The only reliable pitcher on the Padres staff is Jake Peavy. If he can pitch lights out in Game 1 and then again in Game 4 or 5 (probably game 4 if Padres can pull out a win in there), then they have a shot. But the Padres do not have anyone that can hit the long ball at anytime. Giles is their most dangerous hitter, but he has Mark Sweeney batting behind him, sometimes Klesko. That doesn’t bode well, because that means if he catches fire, they can pitch around him.
The Cardinals on the other hand are the most complete team in any league. They have very good starting pitching in Carpenter (although hasn’t been good in his last 4 starts), Mulder (possibly the piece they were missing a year ago, along with Carpenter), Suppan and then if LaRussa decides to, he can also go to either Matt Morris or Jason Marquis (my guess is he would opt with Marquis). The Cardinals also have an offense that does everything. They are clutch, have speed and of course, have the best all around hitter in the game, Albert Pujols.
Prediction: Cardinals in 3
Cardinals pitching is too good. Even though they will be without Al Reyes, their best middle relief pitcher, they can do without him. I expect their offense to tear apart the Padres pitching, except for Peavy, who could give them some trouble. But LaRussa has had his team playing hard all year, even after they clinched the division. This is a hard nose team that plays the game the right way.
Astros at Braves
This is the most intriguing match-up of any for either Division Series. This is all about pitching. Not too much offense. 2 of the best post-season pitchers ever will be taking the mound, but unfortunately, not facing one another like first reported. Smoltz, who is the most successful post-season pitcher of all-time, will take the mound in Game 2, and Hudson has been given the nod in Game 1, but to face off post-season great Andy Petitte. Hudson does not have a good track record in the post-season, but I blame that on Art Howe and Ken Macha. Hudson hasn’t pitched poorly in the post-season, but the way his former managers set up the rotation, and the Oakland offense failing to score him runs cost him post-season games.
The Astros have the best 1-2-3 pitching combo in all of baseball, hands down. Pettite, Clemens and Oswalt make up a triple threat and will pose big problems to the young Braves lineup. In order for the Astros to be successful is to make sure their pitchers can get to Lidge. The Astros offense needs Willie Taveras to get on base and will need to move him over and make sure that Ensberg and/or Berkman will drive him in.
Prediction: Astros in 5
This will be a great series. A pitchers duel. A baseball enthusiast’s dream come true. I just believe the Astros pitching will prevail and the Astros offense will be able to squeeze out just enough offense in this series to get past the Braves. Due to the great starting pitching of both teams, I truly believe it will come down to the bullpen, and that’s the Brave’s weakness. We will see how well Kyle Farnsworth can handle the post-season pressure as the closer. I can really see this series going down as one of the great ones.
posted by Mark D. Miller at 11:01 AM
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