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When the baseball season started, we made our playoff predictions and were pretty close. In the National League we got Philly and Atlanta right, while missing on San Francisco and Cincinnati, picking L.A. and St. Louis instead. We fared much better in the American League, hitting on the Yankees, Twins and Rangers and missing only the Rays, having picked Boston.
When the Division Series came along, we hit on three out of the four. We were right with Philadelphia, San Francisco and Texas, while missing badly on Minnesota over the Yankees. Our predictions for the League Championship Series:
(4) New York Yankees vs (3) Texas Rangers
Starting Pitching:
Cliff Lee is just unreal. The man becomes superhuman when the playoffs start. CJ Wilson is a solid number two and Colby Lewis and Tommy Hunter can hang with anything the Yankees throw out there. The Bombers have CC Sabathia and the legend of Andy Pettite. Hughes threw a decent game in the ALDS but Minnesota was in the midst of an epic choke, so we don't put much stock in that outing.
Edge: Rangers
Bullpen:
Who would you rather have: Kerry Wood, Boone Logan and Joba Chamberlain or Darren O'Day, Darren Oliver and Dustin Nippert? Yeah, pretty much a wash, with O'Day tipping the scales in our eyes. But then you get to the closers. Mariano Rivera vs Neftali Feliz. In two years -- hell, may be one, this goes to Feliz. But not yet.
Edge: Even
Infield:
The Rangers have nothing at first and lose the matchup at second (Cano over Kinsler). Although we think his dropoff in numbers this season is overrated, we still give Elvis Andrus the nod over Derek Jeter at shortstop. A-Roid and Michael Young are a wash.
Edge: Yankees
Outfield:
Texas has the power, New York the OBP. Both have good defenders but Texas takes this one with their speed and youth. Barely.
Edge: Rangers
Designated Hitter:
Lance Berkman was a nice pick up and Marcus Thames had a very nice ALDS. But you know how we love our dealry departed Expos. How can we go against the last legitimate possible future Montreal Hall of Famer in Vladmir Guerrero?
Edge: Rangers
Bench:
A few months ago, with Thames against a group of scrubs, this would have been a slam dunk for the Yankees. But with the midseason acquisitions of Jeff Franceour and Jorje Cantu, the Rangers made it closer.
Edge: Even
Coaching:
Not even close. Joe Girardi did a great job with the lowest payroll in baseball while in Florida then won the World Series last year with the highest. Ron Washington should be given credit for overcoming personal issues and for the cohesiveness of his team. But he is a horrible x's and o's coach, whose enslavement to the lefty-lefty, righty-righty school of thought cost his team Game 3 of the ALDS and is the biggest thing that could lose this series for Texas.
Edge: Yankees
Fan Base:
Texas will have home field advantage but the Yankees have enough experience that it won't bother them. Can the young Rangers avoid being wowed by the Hallowed Grounds? There is no mystique to the Ballpark in Arlington, although most of their long-suffering fans have supported the team with 2Million + attendance numbers, win or lose.
Edge: Yankees
PREDICTION: Rangers in 6
(2) San Francisco Giants vs (1) Philadelphia Phillies
Starting Pitching:
Halladay, Hammels, Oswalt and Blanton vs Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez and Baumgartner. Yes, the Giants have a nice pitching staff. Yes, they have pitched the Phillies well. However, Halladay has two no hitters -- this season, Hammels and Blanton have a World Series ring and Oswalt has been a National League champion. Experience wins playoff games.
Edge: Phillies
Bullpen:
Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge have been lights out for the last six weeks. Durbin and Conteras have een solid. Romero is terrible and Baez ain't all that great, either. The Phillies have not had to use their bullpen much as of late. And that is a good thing. If their starters can throw 7, the Phils are good to go. Maybe 6. If the G-Men get to the 'pen earlier than that, it's not good for Philly. Brian Wilson is a superb closer and the San Francisco relievers did well against Atlanta in the NLDS.
Edge: Giants
Infield:
Howard over Huff, Utley over Sanchez and Rollins over Uribe are pretty easy to pick. Placido Polanco is banged up though, battling an elbow issue all season and now his back is having issues. Mike Fontenot had a solid NLDS and might sway things San Francisco's was at third though.
Edge: Phillies
Outfield:
Shane Victorino has taken the leadoff spot for the Phillies and run with it (no pun intended). Jason Werth is in a contract year and plays a great right field. Raul Ibañez may be 314 years old, but so is the Giants' Pat Burrell. So they even each other out. Andres Torres and Jose Guillen are nice players but are no equals to Victorino and Werth.
Edge: Phillies
Bench:
Wilson Valdez has been incredible off of the Philadelphia bench. He filled in Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco at different times this season and the team saw no drop off. Mike Sweeney delivered nicely after his midseason acquisition, though Ross Gload has been unimpressive. The Giants got nice production from Aaron Rowlan and Edgar Renteria though and have a nice blend of offense and defense.
Edge: Phillies
Coaching:
Charlie Manuel has a ring, Bruce Bochy does not. Both are good baseball men. Both have a good staff. Davey Lopes may be the key here.
Edge: Phillies
Fan Base:
We love our Philly peeps but San Francisco was loud during the NLDS. Both teams have wonderful stadiums and their fans provide a legitimate home field advantage.
Edge: Even
PREDICTION: Phillies in 5
And with that, we bid you adieu.
Until next time,
Keep the Faith
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