Since the Mets are MIA from the playoffs, I figured I'd make a few picks and predictions on what will happen in the first round.
NL:
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies
LA Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
AL:
Boston Red Sox vs. LA Angels of Anaheim
Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
MIL vs. PHI
I'm taking Philly here. The Brewers had to scrape together a starting rotation for the last week of the season, and now with Ben Sheets struggles, they'll have to continue to hope and pray for good starting pitching. Philly caught fire late, and has been rolling near the end. Their bullpen is far superior, as is their starting pitching, and offense. Philly in three.
LAD vs. CHC
Tough one. Cubbies in five. I think this will be the toughest fought out match-up. The Cubs are really good, so are the Dodgers. The Cubbies can rely on both their starters and their bullpen, plus they have a nasty offense. The same argument can be made for the Dodgers.
BOS vs. LAA
Angels in four. The Sox are good, but I think the Angels are going all the way. Their SP hasn't been the same, but it's kind of tough to pitch when you've locked up the division in early September. The Sox will miss not having Josh Beckett until game three. Angels are going to win it all, beating the Cubs in the WS.
CHW vs. TB
Tampa in four. A good run for the Pale Stockings, but it's going to have to end. They won three games against three different teams to close the season, but the Rays are going to come out and be running on all cylinders. Tampa is nasty. Go Scott Kazmir?
Thoughts? How do you see the playoffs breaking down?
Showing posts with label Postseason. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Postseason. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
If the Mets make the playoffs, will you be happy?
For me, yes. But it will be so bittersweet.
It looks as if the NL East is slipping away quickly. That leaves the Mets to contend for the Wild Card. A two team tango begins tonight, with the Mets and Brewers each having six games to play to finish out the regular season.
The Mets have a one game lead heading into tonight, with three more against the Cubs, and another three against the recently eliminated Marlins. The Brewers play three against the Pirates, starting tonight, and another three against the Cubs.
I still think the Mets can back into the playoffs. The Brewers have dominated the Pirates this year, and will look to win their 10th game in a row over the lowly Bucs. CC Sabathia was a blown call away from a no-hitter last time he faced Pittsburgh.
The Mets need the Pirates to play spoiler, and this would be the perfect team to do it. They've been held down long, so the Brewers might get a little complacent playing them. If they can come out strong and put up a fight, it might be enough to break the young Brewer team, especially with a new manager at the helm.
Even with a one game lead, the Mets shouldn't even worry about the Brewers, they have enough problems of their own. The Mets can't seem to get enough pitching together to get through nine innings of baseball, and can't seem to buy a win.
What the Mets need to do, for maybe the one millionth time I've written it on this blog, is win. Just win.
If they win, it won't matter what the Brewers do.
A strange case, something I am half-wishing for, is a one game playoff at Shea Stadium. That would only happen if the Mets and Brewers are tied at the of the regular season. Since the Mets won a coin-flip last week, the game would be hosted at Shea.
Could you even begin to imagine how crazy Shea would be that day?
If the Mets get to that point, and I half hope they do, and if they can pull off a win, it might be just the sort of momentum they need to roll into the playoffs.
Wishful thinking, I guess. The Mets still have to get to that point.
It looks as if the NL East is slipping away quickly. That leaves the Mets to contend for the Wild Card. A two team tango begins tonight, with the Mets and Brewers each having six games to play to finish out the regular season.
The Mets have a one game lead heading into tonight, with three more against the Cubs, and another three against the recently eliminated Marlins. The Brewers play three against the Pirates, starting tonight, and another three against the Cubs.
I still think the Mets can back into the playoffs. The Brewers have dominated the Pirates this year, and will look to win their 10th game in a row over the lowly Bucs. CC Sabathia was a blown call away from a no-hitter last time he faced Pittsburgh.
The Mets need the Pirates to play spoiler, and this would be the perfect team to do it. They've been held down long, so the Brewers might get a little complacent playing them. If they can come out strong and put up a fight, it might be enough to break the young Brewer team, especially with a new manager at the helm.
Even with a one game lead, the Mets shouldn't even worry about the Brewers, they have enough problems of their own. The Mets can't seem to get enough pitching together to get through nine innings of baseball, and can't seem to buy a win.
What the Mets need to do, for maybe the one millionth time I've written it on this blog, is win. Just win.
If they win, it won't matter what the Brewers do.
A strange case, something I am half-wishing for, is a one game playoff at Shea Stadium. That would only happen if the Mets and Brewers are tied at the of the regular season. Since the Mets won a coin-flip last week, the game would be hosted at Shea.
Could you even begin to imagine how crazy Shea would be that day?
If the Mets get to that point, and I half hope they do, and if they can pull off a win, it might be just the sort of momentum they need to roll into the playoffs.
Wishful thinking, I guess. The Mets still have to get to that point.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Dear Brewers...
A letter sent from the Mets to the Brewers.
Dear Brewers,
The Wild Card is yours for the taking.
We're going to roll over and die during the last week of the season again, so feel free to snatch it up if you really want it.
Enjoy October baseball!
Sincerely,
The Mets
Dear Brewers,
The Wild Card is yours for the taking.
We're going to roll over and die during the last week of the season again, so feel free to snatch it up if you really want it.
Enjoy October baseball!
Sincerely,
The Mets
Sunday, September 21, 2008
A terrible day for the Mets
Bad timing, Mets.
Mets lose 7-6.
Phillies win 5-2.
Brewers win 8-1.
That puts the Mets 1.5 games back of the Phillies in the NL East and their lead shrinks to 1.5 over the Brewers in the Wild Card.
This will be the week that the Mets prove themselves, or fall into obscurity (and the answer to another bad trivia question). The Cubbies come into Shea, a team that if they do make the postseason, they may have to play in either the first or the second round, depending.
If the Mets can beat the Cubs, it will not only vault them into the postseason, it will show the players and the fans that they are capable of beating a playoff caliber team.
Big week, without a doubt. Jason Marquis, Rich Harden, Carlos Zambrano, and Ted Lilly. Four excellent pitchers who have combined to go 50-26 on the season. Realistically, I'd hope for a split. A sweep is simply out of the question, with the Mets unable to beat up, or even win series over lowly teams.
Should be fun, if not frustrating.
Mets lose 7-6.
Phillies win 5-2.
Brewers win 8-1.
That puts the Mets 1.5 games back of the Phillies in the NL East and their lead shrinks to 1.5 over the Brewers in the Wild Card.
This will be the week that the Mets prove themselves, or fall into obscurity (and the answer to another bad trivia question). The Cubbies come into Shea, a team that if they do make the postseason, they may have to play in either the first or the second round, depending.
If the Mets can beat the Cubs, it will not only vault them into the postseason, it will show the players and the fans that they are capable of beating a playoff caliber team.
Big week, without a doubt. Jason Marquis, Rich Harden, Carlos Zambrano, and Ted Lilly. Four excellent pitchers who have combined to go 50-26 on the season. Realistically, I'd hope for a split. A sweep is simply out of the question, with the Mets unable to beat up, or even win series over lowly teams.
Should be fun, if not frustrating.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
A sweep would do wonders
The Mets will welcome the Braves for their final series in Shea, and a sweep would be wonderful.
If the team from New York can take both games today, then a win tomorrow would just be a bonus. It's tough to win two games on the same day, especially with a pitcher making his second start in the big leagues pitching in the night cap.
If the Mets can manage to take all three games, their magic number can be lowered to 11. If the Phillies lose any games, that number will dip even lower. The Mets don't have an off day between now and the end of the season, and if they are going to make the playoffs, it look entirely plausible that they will clinch at home.
Say they take two of three this series, their MN will dip from 14 to 12. Say the Phillies drop two to the Brewers, the number will be at 10 by Monday morning. The Mets then go on a seven game road trip, starting in Washington for a four game set, and then to Turner Field for three.
Let's err on the side of caution, and say the Mets win only four. The number drops to six. Say the Phillies win four over that same span. The number slips down to four, and it's September 22nd.
The Mets finish the season with seven in a row at home, facing the Cubs for four and the Marlins (again?!) for three to bring an end to the regular season. If all goes according to my plan, the Mets MN is four with the rest of their games at home. Seems logical, no?
The Mets lost a coin-flip to the Phillies, and any possible tie breaker will take place in Philly. So hopefully the Mets can get it done, and if they do get it done, they do it at home. Obviously, beggars can't be choosers and clinching is clinching, I don't care where they do it. I'd prefer it at home, but my heart won't be broken if they do it in Atlanta.
As it stands, all the Mets need to do is win. Simple as that. Easy on paper, a little harder to pull off, but the way this team is playing I think it's plausible and possible.
If the team from New York can take both games today, then a win tomorrow would just be a bonus. It's tough to win two games on the same day, especially with a pitcher making his second start in the big leagues pitching in the night cap.
If the Mets can manage to take all three games, their magic number can be lowered to 11. If the Phillies lose any games, that number will dip even lower. The Mets don't have an off day between now and the end of the season, and if they are going to make the playoffs, it look entirely plausible that they will clinch at home.
Say they take two of three this series, their MN will dip from 14 to 12. Say the Phillies drop two to the Brewers, the number will be at 10 by Monday morning. The Mets then go on a seven game road trip, starting in Washington for a four game set, and then to Turner Field for three.
Let's err on the side of caution, and say the Mets win only four. The number drops to six. Say the Phillies win four over that same span. The number slips down to four, and it's September 22nd.
The Mets finish the season with seven in a row at home, facing the Cubs for four and the Marlins (again?!) for three to bring an end to the regular season. If all goes according to my plan, the Mets MN is four with the rest of their games at home. Seems logical, no?
The Mets lost a coin-flip to the Phillies, and any possible tie breaker will take place in Philly. So hopefully the Mets can get it done, and if they do get it done, they do it at home. Obviously, beggars can't be choosers and clinching is clinching, I don't care where they do it. I'd prefer it at home, but my heart won't be broken if they do it in Atlanta.
As it stands, all the Mets need to do is win. Simple as that. Easy on paper, a little harder to pull off, but the way this team is playing I think it's plausible and possible.
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