Nakamura2010 Playoff Preview: Revised for Division Series
The regular season has come to an end! The playoffs begin Wednesday, are you ready? Have you made your bets? You better hurry, cause baseball isn't waiting. October's underway and soon, one team will be crowned World Champion. (Bold indicates prediction)
NLDS:
Philadelphia Phillies (97-65) vs Cincinnati Reds (91-71)
The Phillies will go with their top 3 starters: Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels. Good luck finding a team that can beat that trio.
The Reds will start with Edinson Volquez in Game 1. Though a good pitcher, he's no Doc Halladay. GAME 1: PHILLIES 6-2
San Francisco Giants (92-70) vs. Atlanta Braves (91-71)
The Giants will go with ace Tim Lincecum as their Game 1 starter. With a 3.43 ERA this year, he hasn't been as powerful as he has in years' past. He is a good pitcher, but there's one thing that cannot be forgotten. The Braves had the highest team OBP in the National League. Any walks could mean trouble for Lincecum. With a sub-par bullpen, innings provided by the starting pitcher could be the deciding factor for the Giants.
The Braves will go with Derek Lowe since Tim Hudson started the last game of the season against the Padres. Both Lowe and Lincecum finished with 16 wins and are going into the playoffs strong. (Lowe with a 1.62 ERA in his last 3 starts, Lincecum with 1.80). The Giants are at home so I give Game 1 to the GIANTS 4-3 (Note: The Braves and Giants are the only two teams that will not play on Wednesday. Instead, they will play their first game on Thursday)
ALCS:
Yankees (95-67) vs. Twins (94-68)
The Twins have a good team, but with Morneau being shut down for the postseason, it's hard to see them getting past the Bronx Bombers, let alone winning it all. The Yankees will go with Sabathia in Game 1 while Liriano will pitch for Minnesota. Weather should be an interesting factor while in Minnesota. With the new field and the absence of... a roof... Minnesota can get awfully cold. If mother nature wants the Twins to win, the Yankees may have trouble playing in sub-zero temperatures. Otherwise, the Yankees have this series, starting with Game 1: YANKEES: 6-4
Rays (96-66) vs. Rangers (90-72)
The Rays can pitch. 2 lowest ERA in the AL (3.82). But the Rangers actually aren't that far behind. They're 5th at 3.94. But pitching isn't what will win this series for the Rangers. The Rangers have the highest batting average in the MLB with .276. The Rays are 24th... at .250. Thought the Rangers' rotation is weak, they do have Cliff Lee. So if you can shut down the bats, you will most likely still have to face fairly good pitching for two of the five games.
The Rangers will go with Cliff Lee in Game 1. The Rays will go with David Price. A matchup between two great southpaws, this game should be nothing short of great. A control pitcher against a speed team. A power pitcher against a power team. But with the way Cliff Lee pitched last year in the playoffs, I have to give the first game to the RANGERS: 5-1
Phillies vs Reds - Phillies in 3
Giants vs Braves - Braves in 5
Yankees vs Twins - Yankees in 3
Rays vs Rangers - Rangers in 5
NLDS:
Philadelphia Phillies (97-65) vs Cincinnati Reds (91-71)
The Phillies will go with their top 3 starters: Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels. Good luck finding a team that can beat that trio.
The Reds will start with Edinson Volquez in Game 1. Though a good pitcher, he's no Doc Halladay. GAME 1: PHILLIES 6-2
San Francisco Giants (92-70) vs. Atlanta Braves (91-71)
The Giants will go with ace Tim Lincecum as their Game 1 starter. With a 3.43 ERA this year, he hasn't been as powerful as he has in years' past. He is a good pitcher, but there's one thing that cannot be forgotten. The Braves had the highest team OBP in the National League. Any walks could mean trouble for Lincecum. With a sub-par bullpen, innings provided by the starting pitcher could be the deciding factor for the Giants.
The Braves will go with Derek Lowe since Tim Hudson started the last game of the season against the Padres. Both Lowe and Lincecum finished with 16 wins and are going into the playoffs strong. (Lowe with a 1.62 ERA in his last 3 starts, Lincecum with 1.80). The Giants are at home so I give Game 1 to the GIANTS 4-3 (Note: The Braves and Giants are the only two teams that will not play on Wednesday. Instead, they will play their first game on Thursday)
Let the chase begin!
ALCS:
Yankees (95-67) vs. Twins (94-68)
The Twins have a good team, but with Morneau being shut down for the postseason, it's hard to see them getting past the Bronx Bombers, let alone winning it all. The Yankees will go with Sabathia in Game 1 while Liriano will pitch for Minnesota. Weather should be an interesting factor while in Minnesota. With the new field and the absence of... a roof... Minnesota can get awfully cold. If mother nature wants the Twins to win, the Yankees may have trouble playing in sub-zero temperatures. Otherwise, the Yankees have this series, starting with Game 1: YANKEES: 6-4
Rays (96-66) vs. Rangers (90-72)
The Rays can pitch. 2 lowest ERA in the AL (3.82). But the Rangers actually aren't that far behind. They're 5th at 3.94. But pitching isn't what will win this series for the Rangers. The Rangers have the highest batting average in the MLB with .276. The Rays are 24th... at .250. Thought the Rangers' rotation is weak, they do have Cliff Lee. So if you can shut down the bats, you will most likely still have to face fairly good pitching for two of the five games.
The Rangers will go with Cliff Lee in Game 1. The Rays will go with David Price. A matchup between two great southpaws, this game should be nothing short of great. A control pitcher against a speed team. A power pitcher against a power team. But with the way Cliff Lee pitched last year in the playoffs, I have to give the first game to the RANGERS: 5-1
Phillies vs Reds - Phillies in 3
Giants vs Braves - Braves in 5
Yankees vs Twins - Yankees in 3
Rays vs Rangers - Rangers in 5
Pro Sports Wrap
Orble Sport Blog
Baseball Author
Tech Poke
Writing Edition
Anything or Everything?