NakamuraPostseason Predictions
If you haven't read the previous post, read it here, it goes into the details of events that have already been determined a bit further.
Prediction
NL West - San Diego Padres
NL Wild Card - Atlanta Braves
AL East - Tampa Bay Rays
AL Wild Card - NY Yankees.
NLDS
Phillies vs Padres - Phillies in 4
The Phillies have the better team and may have the best team in the Major Leagues. They have a rotation that would be amazing in the playoffs. Roy Halladay is the ace. If you get passed him, you still have to deal with Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels. Good luck beating this team. They have arguably the best infield in the majors, contested by only the Yankees. (Howard, Utley, Polanco, Rollins). Their weakest point is either their bullpen (Lidge has 5 blown saves), but Roy Halladay is a pitcher that can provide innings. This should eliminate many worries of the late innings. The Phillies might also end up having an advantage in Petco.
*Note: In my other post, I accidentally wrote Phillies vs Braves. I realized this wasn't possible because they're in the same division, despite the fact I put the Braves as the Wild Card winner and the Phillies have the best record in the NL. If the team with the best record is also the division in which the Wild Card team is from, they cannot play each other in the division series.
Braves vs Reds - Reds in 5
The Reds have a solid team. But going into September 29th, the Braves do have a better record. Both teams have rotations that can be questionable in the playoffs. Hudson-Hanson-Jurrjens/Lowe or Cueto-Arroyo-Harang. I give the edge to the Braves, but after Hudson we have no idea how it'll go. Hanson has never pitched in the post season before. However, the Reds have the highest batting average in the National League with .271. Should this be the playoff matchup, be prepared for a very good 5 game series.
ALDS
Yankees vs Twins - Yankees in 4
The Yankees have a good team. Their lineup has virtually no holes and their bench is stocked up as well, due to the deadline pickups of Berkman and Kearns. Their biggest flaw is their rotation. Sabathia is reliable but after that, questions are floating like balloons at a children's party. I would pick Andy Pettite as my #2 starter because of his post season resume. However, manager Girardi may pick Burnett, who has been awful as of late. The Twins' rotation is lead by Liriano and Pavano. Though pitching wise, they may match the Yankees, they don't have the power the Yankees do. The Twins' have a higher team batting average, but the Yankees have a higher team SLG and OBP (.438 and .350)
Rays vs Rangers - Rangers in 5
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.
LCS
Phillies vs Reds - Phillies in 5
The Phillies will win for the same reasons they will beat the Padres. They have so few weaknesses and so many strengths. The Reds are a solid team, but there's no way they can get passed a Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt trio.
Yankees vs Rangers - Rangers in 7
This series should be good. If both aces start game one, it would be Sabathia vs Lee, a repeat of last year's world series. Cliff Lee pitched admirably last year, so it would be interesting to see how he would do this year if he gets the opportunity. Here's my game by game prediction:
Game 1: Rangers 3-1 (W: LEE)
Game 2: Yankees 7-4 (W: Pettite)
Game 3: Rangers 9-7 (W: Feliz)
Game 4: Yankees 2-1 (W: Sabathia)
Game 5: Yankees 7-2 (W: Pettite)
Game 6: Rangers 6-3 (W: Hunter)
Game 7: Rangers 7-6 (W: Lee)
This is a series that would be filled with pitchers going on short days rest, pinch hitting, and specialist relievers. This series can honestly go either way. Both teams can slug their way to victory. Both rotations have flaws, but they can both be really good at times. The Rangers may be the underdog, but with Hamilton fully healed, I give this gave to the Rangers. Barely, but this series will be close. While writing this, I changed my mind about six times because I couldn't decide who would win.
World Series
Phillies vs Rangers - Phillies in 7
I'm going to wait until the World Series to write this.
Prediction
NL West - San Diego Padres
NL Wild Card - Atlanta Braves
AL East - Tampa Bay Rays
AL Wild Card - NY Yankees.
NLDS
Phillies vs Padres - Phillies in 4
The Phillies have the better team and may have the best team in the Major Leagues. They have a rotation that would be amazing in the playoffs. Roy Halladay is the ace. If you get passed him, you still have to deal with Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels. Good luck beating this team. They have arguably the best infield in the majors, contested by only the Yankees. (Howard, Utley, Polanco, Rollins). Their weakest point is either their bullpen (Lidge has 5 blown saves), but Roy Halladay is a pitcher that can provide innings. This should eliminate many worries of the late innings. The Phillies might also end up having an advantage in Petco.
*Note: In my other post, I accidentally wrote Phillies vs Braves. I realized this wasn't possible because they're in the same division, despite the fact I put the Braves as the Wild Card winner and the Phillies have the best record in the NL. If the team with the best record is also the division in which the Wild Card team is from, they cannot play each other in the division series.
Braves vs Reds - Reds in 5
The Reds have a solid team. But going into September 29th, the Braves do have a better record. Both teams have rotations that can be questionable in the playoffs. Hudson-Hanson-Jurrjens/Lowe or Cueto-Arroyo-Harang. I give the edge to the Braves, but after Hudson we have no idea how it'll go. Hanson has never pitched in the post season before. However, the Reds have the highest batting average in the National League with .271. Should this be the playoff matchup, be prepared for a very good 5 game series.
ALDS
Yankees vs Twins - Yankees in 4
The Yankees have a good team. Their lineup has virtually no holes and their bench is stocked up as well, due to the deadline pickups of Berkman and Kearns. Their biggest flaw is their rotation. Sabathia is reliable but after that, questions are floating like balloons at a children's party. I would pick Andy Pettite as my #2 starter because of his post season resume. However, manager Girardi may pick Burnett, who has been awful as of late. The Twins' rotation is lead by Liriano and Pavano. Though pitching wise, they may match the Yankees, they don't have the power the Yankees do. The Twins' have a higher team batting average, but the Yankees have a higher team SLG and OBP (.438 and .350)
Rays vs Rangers - Rangers in 5
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.
LCS
Phillies vs Reds - Phillies in 5
The Phillies will win for the same reasons they will beat the Padres. They have so few weaknesses and so many strengths. The Reds are a solid team, but there's no way they can get passed a Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt trio.
Yankees vs Rangers - Rangers in 7
This series should be good. If both aces start game one, it would be Sabathia vs Lee, a repeat of last year's world series. Cliff Lee pitched admirably last year, so it would be interesting to see how he would do this year if he gets the opportunity. Here's my game by game prediction:
Game 1: Rangers 3-1 (W: LEE)
Game 2: Yankees 7-4 (W: Pettite)
Game 3: Rangers 9-7 (W: Feliz)
Game 4: Yankees 2-1 (W: Sabathia)
Game 5: Yankees 7-2 (W: Pettite)
Game 6: Rangers 6-3 (W: Hunter)
Game 7: Rangers 7-6 (W: Lee)
This is a series that would be filled with pitchers going on short days rest, pinch hitting, and specialist relievers. This series can honestly go either way. Both teams can slug their way to victory. Both rotations have flaws, but they can both be really good at times. The Rangers may be the underdog, but with Hamilton fully healed, I give this gave to the Rangers. Barely, but this series will be close. While writing this, I changed my mind about six times because I couldn't decide who would win.
World Series
Phillies vs Rangers - Phillies in 7
I'm going to wait until the World Series to write this.
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