MLB Playoff Thread

[beerman]

So the Twins win in an awesome game locks up the matchups:

AL
Twins-Yankees
Red Sox-Angels

NL
Cardinals-Dodgers
Rockies-Phillies

Fun fact, since the MLB playoffs expanded to 8 teams only 1 team that won 100 games in the regular season has gone on to win the World Series (98 Yankees).

So who ya got?

Yanks over Twins
Sox over Angels
Cards over Dodgers
Phils over Rocks

LCS
Yanks over Sox
Cards over Phils

WS
Cards over Yanks

[MWB]

Beat me to it... I was just about to make the same thread. I see you're trying the reverse jinx with the Yanks/Sox. That is a fun fact that I didn't know about the 100 win teams.

First round:
Yanks over Twins in 4
Sox over Angels in 4
Rox over Phils in 5
Cards over Dodgers in 4

[beerman]

Beat me to it... I was just about to make the same thread. I see you're trying the reverse jinx with the Yanks/Sox. That is a fun fact that I didn't know.

Honestly it's less of a reverse jinx and more of I really just don't think we can win 4 of 7 against you guys. I was pulling hard for the Tigers to win because I felt with Verlander going twice in games 2 and 5 they'd win the series.

But since May the Yanks have owned us, Beckett and Lester haven't pitched well against them and I'm not banking on Buchholz and Dicek doing enough to win it.

Edit: and I'd like to add my 2 posts in this thread make me want to vomit

[MWB]

Yeah, Beckett and Lester are the key. It would be a great series, but I'm hoping that the Angels knock them off. I'm not sure I could take another Yanks/Sox series yet.

[Idoit40fans]

I hope the Red Sox get swept...for the rest of their playoff existence.

[pens8771]

I'll go Yanks over Twins (in 3)... ya I agree with beerman, I thought the Tigers would have beaten them with Verlander going twice,
Sox over Angels(5)
Philly over Rockies(5)
Cards over Dodgers(4)

Sox over NYY(7)
Cards over Phillies(6)

Sox over Cards again but this time in 6 games

[mac5155]

i think the phillies repeat

yanks over twins
sox over angels
phills over rockies
dodgers over cards

sox over yanks
phils over LA

Phils over Baahston

[JoseCuervo]

I'm really pulling for the cards. Last time they won the world series I was too busy being drunk at Six Flags.

I've argued with idiot over the past over this, but the cards will only win if smoltz makes a successful transition to the bullpen. Carpenter, Wainwright, Pinero, and Lohse should be able to get it done against most teams. The bullpen needs some help though. Miller is the only one I trust in there until Franklin.

[Idoit40fans]

I'm really pulling for the cards. Last time they won the world series I was too busy being drunk at Six Flags.

I've argued with idiot over the past over this, but the cards will only win if smoltz makes a successful transition to the bullpen. Carpenter, Wainwright, Pinero, and Lohse should be able to get it done against most teams. The bullpen needs some help though. Miller is the only one I trust in there until Franklin.

This makes it sound like you might have been the one who thought Smoltz needed to be in the bullpen all along.

[JoseCuervo]

I'm really pulling for the cards. Last time they won the world series I was too busy being drunk at Six Flags.

I've argued with idiot over the past over this, but the cards will only win if smoltz makes a successful transition to the bullpen. Carpenter, Wainwright, Pinero, and Lohse should be able to get it done against most teams. The bullpen needs some help though. Miller is the only one I trust in there until Franklin.

This makes it sound like you might have been the one who thought Smoltz needed to be in the bullpen all along.

nope, it was all you. I thought he'd be a decent 4-5 starter, and he is. But he isn't a playoff starter. I'd rather have him helping in the pen.

[JoseCuervo]

for the record, idiot knows more about baseball than I do

[SolidSnake]

Rockies or Twins just for someone diff.

[Idoit40fans]

I'm really pulling for the cards. Last time they won the world series I was too busy being drunk at Six Flags.

I've argued with idiot over the past over this, but the cards will only win if smoltz makes a successful transition to the bullpen. Carpenter, Wainwright, Pinero, and Lohse should be able to get it done against most teams. The bullpen needs some help though. Miller is the only one I trust in there until Franklin.

This makes it sound like you might have been the one who thought Smoltz needed to be in the bullpen all along.

nope, it was all you. I thought he'd be a decent 4-5 starter, and he is. But he isn't a playoff starter. I'd rather have him helping in the pen.

Really the only point I had was that he wasn't necessary for them as a starter, and that he would be better off getting a couple months of work in the bullpen for them since that would be his value in the playoffs. Both off-day and game-day practice/workouts are far different for starters and relievers, and at that age, with those injuries, its not something you want to drastically and suddenly change.

[npv708]

wait...I thought baseball ended in Late September/Early October...no one ever told me they play past that....

[mac5155]

wait...I thought baseball ended in Late September/Early October...no one ever told me they play past that....

the pirates' season has ended in May the last few years..

[MWB]

Mike Greenberg is now asking if the Twins beat the Yankees in this series, would it be the biggest upset in pro sports of all time. That seems ridiculous. Obviously the Yankees are a pretty big favorite, but in a short series like this anything can happen.

[beerman]

Yeah, Beckett and Lester are the key. It would be a great series, but I'm hoping that the Angels knock them off. I'm not sure I could take another Yanks/Sox series yet.

Yeah, they're the wildcards for our playoff hopes. Hopefully Beckett reverts to 03 and 07 playoff form and we'll be just fine. I do have a really bad feeling the Angels are going to win this series though they're just due, but I couldn't pick us losing in the first round.

Yeah I'm not sure my heart can handle another Yanks/Sox series, after the Steelers run, the Pens playoff run I've been through enough tense sporting moments this year

[beerman]

Mike Greenberg is now asking if the Twins beat the Yankees in this series, would it be the biggest upset in pro sports of all time. That seems ridiculous. Obviously the Yankees are a pretty big favorite, but in a short series like this anything can happen.

Yeah I don't really consider anything that happens in a short 5 game series to be all that big of an upset. I'd love to see it happen though

[schreibdog]

Great Twins/Tigers game last night...that was an absolute battle. Too bad Raburn blew that one catch that turned into a triple and the tying run.

Yanks over Twins in 4 (As much as I want the Twins to win, I just don't think they have the pitching)
Red Sox over Angels in 4
Cards over Dodgers in 5
Rockies over Phillies in 5

[shafnutz05]

I pray to God the Rockies beat the Phillies in quick fashion...I am sick and tired of hearing about "Phillies Phever" down here. And the next time I have to hear "OMFG WE LUV U CHASE UTLEY!!!" I am going to freak

[Troy Loney]

I'm rooting for the cardinals....i'm not sure how the dodgers can win a playoff series w/wolf & padilla, especially considering the cardinals staff.

A phillies vs cardinals & yankees vs red sox in the NLCS & ALCS respectively would make some great television.

[beerman]

A phillies vs cardinals & yankees vs red sox in the NLCS & ALCS respectively would make some great television.

Yeah it would I'd love those matchups even though it would most likely kill me in the process.

[PghSkins]

Sox in 4
Spankees in 5
Cards in 4
Phils in 3

Spankees in 6
Phils in 5

Phils in 6

[MWB]

Yeah, Beckett and Lester are the key. It would be a great series, but I'm hoping that the Angels knock them off. I'm not sure I could take another Yanks/Sox series yet.

Yeah, they're the wildcards for our playoff hopes. Hopefully Beckett reverts to 03 and 07 playoff form and we'll be just fine. I do have a really bad feeling the Angels are going to win this series though they're just due, but I couldn't pick us losing in the first round.

Yeah I'm not sure my heart can handle another Yanks/Sox series, after the Steelers run, the Pens playoff run I've been through enough tense sporting moments this year

Sox pitching should be fine. I'd say their biggest concern is how much the Angels will try to run on them when they get on base. That's the only way I see the Angels winning... lots of walks/singles that get manufactured into runs combined with great pitching.

[beerman]

Yeah the running game will be interesting, I'm praying Tito starts V-mart every game even though Beckett's had better success with Tek behind the plate and is the only case I could see Tek getting a start. He better throw a two-hitter if Tek's back there or the Angels will have a field day.