Playoff Predictions

It's the job of anyone who writes about sports (and I write mostly for myself, but hell I still write!) to sometimes make predictions.

So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to make predictions about who will win the World Series.

Sure, it's a silly thing to do. ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING can happen. But I can't help myself, and if I'm right, it'll be...uh...gratifying.

NLDS

Colorado vs. Philadelphia

Colorado has gone ballistic in the second half of the season, nearly catching the Dodgers. Philadelphia has been consistent all year, and have picked up Cliff Lee to help their rotation and compliment Pedro and Hamels. Their starters, plus their postseason experience and devotion to their great manager and any scheme he happens to cook up, means to me that Philly will find a way to beat Colorado.

L.A. vs. St. Louis

Sabrementric analysis suggests that St. Louis has faced weaker opposition this year than the Dodgers. I have to agree. The Dodgers held the best record in baseball for a long time, and seemed to slow down late in the season. St. Louis became the fashionable pick to win the NL pennant, mostly because of their excellent starting rotation. But I agree with the sabremetrics. The Dodgers have been a much better team on paper, and I expect them to win.

ALDS

L.A. vs. Boston

Angels fans must be dreading this one, and Boston fans must be savoring it. Well, they shouldn't. The Angels are just as good, if not better than they were last year. They'll have home field. And despite their recent struggles in the playoffs against the Red Sox, I think they'll play better this time. I think the Red Sox look weak this year, without all that reliable power in the middle of their lineup. After Beckett and Lester, there really isn't much. I think the Angels will beat the Red Sox and move on to the ALCS to play...

N.Y. vs. Minnesota

...the Yankees. This one is almost rigged in the Yankees favor. The Twins can't get their rotation alligned, can't get rest, and will be ambushed in NY by a powerful, healthy lineup and the 1-2 punch of CC and AJ. Maybe the Twins can push this thing to 4 or 5 games by riding the crowd noise in the Metrodome. But it shouldn't happen. And Yankees should win, and they'd better, or the wrath of the city of N.Y. will be upon them as never before.

ALCS

N.Y. vs. L.A.

The Angels are NY's nemesis. The Yankees have won 3 of the last 4 games they've played against the Angels. Two of those wins came in a huge 3 game set in Anaheim. As a Yankee fan I'm hoping that these are the signs that a new day in dawning in this rivalry, a day when the Yankees have finally figured out how to beat these guys. Fine, the Yankees win. But I'm not confident. I think the Angels are tough, and always seem to find ways to win these games.

NLCS

Philadelphia vs. L.A.

We could have an all-L.A. series. And we could have a Philly-Yankee series. Or a Torre-Girardi reunion. It's so hard to call this. The Phillies have championship confidence and poise. The Dodgers are a great team. So are the Phillies. This would be a rematch of last year's NLCS, in which the Phillies beat the Dodgers in 5 games. If the Phillies are to win this one, I think it will take more than that, 6 or 7 to finish off the Dodgers this year. Now I haven't had the chance to see these two teams play much this year. But my gut tells me that the Phillies are going to make it happen.

WS

N.Y. vs. Philadelphia

Wouldn't it be nice if the Yankees could just sweep the Phillies here? Maybe not. Maybe it will take 6 games, and the Yankees celebrating on horse-back around the field of the New Yankee Stadium. Maybe it'll look like that. I dunno. But I think that if the Yankees get past the Angels their most likely opponent, by a slim margin over the Dodgers, will be Philadelphia. Absolutely anything can happen. But I think with AJ, CC, Pettitte, a reliable bullpen and a group of 9 solid hitters (and speed on the bases when they need it), the Yankees have what it takes, as far as talent on the field, to win the whole damn thing. The question will be, as always, whether they'll be able to match the passion and intensity levels of their opponents. And whether they can get some bounces to go their way, and nobody melts down, people perform in the clutch...just play some Yankee Baseball. That's what it's going to take, and I wouldn't be a Yankee fan if I didn't say:

Yankees in 6 over Philly to win the World Series!

You heard it here first :).