Wide-”Ranging” MLB playoff predictions sure to brighten your Milwauk-tober
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Starting pitcher Shaun Marcum will need to step up for the Brewers if they hope to make it to the World Series
Matt Johnson, Sports Editor
October 5, 2011
Filed under Sports
Playoff baseball is once again in full swing. And I love it. Although these playoffs are full of the usual assortment of surprises and excitement, the wonderful Wild Card chaos at the end of the regular season added a little gusto to the MLB as it heads into its final stages this year. The last day of the season demonstrated once again that anything can happen in baseball, and with that in mind, here are my bold and beautiful picks for who will be playing deep into October:
AL Pennant Winner: Rangers
Texas’ ALDS win against the Rays is what really caught my attention and forced me to give this ballclub respect. I really doubted the Rangers’ ability to handle a team that finished 17-10 in September and rattled off a 6 wins in the final seven games of the season to roar into the playoffs. After the Rays’ 9-0 win in ALDS Game 1, I really believed that Tampa was on an unstoppable hot streak, that they would sweep the Rangers, and that they had a very good chance of winning the World Series. However, the Rangers stopped the Rays right in their tracks in Game 2 behind clutch performances from second baseman Ian Kinsler and red-hot catcher Mike Napoli.
I knew Ron Washington’s club had a potent offense—they had the highest regular season batting average in the majors at .283 and the third-highest run production. With mashers like Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Napoli, and Adrian Beltre (whose three homers in ALDS Game 4 carried Texas to their series-clinching win), you never know who will bring out his hittin’ shoes on any given night.
What I am now convinced of is that they have the pitching to compete with at least the other American League teams. Starters Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, and Matt Harrison all gave up 2 earned runs or fewer in their ALDS starts, and with Mike Adams, Alexi Ogando, and Neftali Feliz in the bullpen the Rangers have the arms they need to close out games.
The bottom line is that I don’t think the Yankees or Tigers would have been able to stop a team as hot as the Rays, but the Rangers neutralized Tampa’s threats and proved that they should be the favorite to win the AL Pennant.
NL Pennant Winner: Brewers
I really should go with my gut on this one, but I just can’t do it. Plus, I said I would be bold, right? The Phillies sure look as unstoppable as ever right now. Back in the middle of the season when I watched the Red Sox destroy the Mariners at Fenway Park, the Sox and Phillies were far and away the best teams in baseball. However, when the Red Sox faltered, the Phillies had the pitching to stay strong, and the acquisition of Hunter Pence solidified their offense.
Here’s where I surprise you. Despite the Phillies’ strength across the board, I’m going to go against the experts and pick Milwaukee to win the NL Pennant. This Brewers team has impressed me for a while, and it is hitting its stride at the right time. Ever since the middle of September I’ve noticed a fire in that team and their fans that no other club seems to have.
The key to the Brew Crew is their offense: if it stays hot as it has been lately and the dynamic duo of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder keep up their run production, Milwaukee has the ability to shell even the Phillies’ starters. If Nyjer Morgan and Rickie Weeks can support the sluggers, this team becomes even more dangerous. A team slugging percentage of .425—fifth in the majors—exhibits that the Brewers can hit for power, which they will need to do in order to outlast Philadelphia.
The key, however, will be third starting pitcher Shaun Marcum. First and second starters Yovani Gallardo and Zack Greinke can match up well enough against the Phillies’ top starters, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, but in a seven-game playoff series a third starter is crucial. Marcum was horrible against the Diamondbacks in the NLDS, giving up seven earned runs in 4.2 innings. If he can shake off this start and hold the Phillies to three runs or less, he will give his offense a great chance to outhit the Phils.
Miller Park will be rocking, and if the Brewers can take advantage of their home field and get one game on the road, they just might be able to pull this off.
There are my picks, bold and beautiful as ever. Let the debate begin!
(Stay tuned for my World Series picks, coming soon!)
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Go sox
[Reply]
So it’s Rangers and Tigers. I think the Rangers win in 6. I’m just going off the strength of their offense. But the Tigers have some great pitching in Verlander, Scherzer, and Fister. I think they made a mistake in the ALDS by not including set up man David Pauley on the roster, so I’m counting on their 7th and 8th inning men falling apart. Rangers seem to have the complete package and the experience. I think if Andrus can get on base the Rangers have a good shot of winning. Their bullpen is solid (Koji Uehara, Mike Adams, Alexi Ogando, and Neftali Feliz.) but it lacks a lot of the postseason magic from last year (Darren O’Day, Cliff Lee, Mark Lowe) but the new guys in the pen are more than good enough for the job.
The representatives for the NLCS is still up for grabs but with Carpenter and Halladay going tonight the edge has to go to Halladay. He’s just Halladay. He always has the edge.
Aces Ian Kennedy and Yovani Gallardo pair up tonight for Game 5 in Milwaukee. Advantage Gallardo. Last start out he was lethal. Kept everything down in the zone and he had a great start because of it. Brewers back end is solid with K-Rod and Axford. Kennedy hasn’t faced much diversity over the year (21-4 2.88 ERA) and this is his first postseason series. I would bet that he leaves pitches over the middle of the plate and the BrewCrew take the series.
Phillies would win in a series against Milwaukee just because their pitching is that lethal. They have solid left handed and right handed options in the bullpen (Bastardo, Lidge, Madson, Stutes) and their offense is HOT. I don’t think Ryan Howard will be a factor though. His scouting report is well known: Throw him curveballs. He broke the World Series record for strikeouts in 2009 against the Yankees.
In the World Series I would see the Rangers coming through against the Phillies. I just have a hunch. No logical explanation or statistics to back up my prediction.
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