Playoff predictions

[Beaneater]

Well, now that the extended regular season is over, it's time to get out our crystal balls and goat entrails and predict the future. I absolutely stink at predictions (though I did go 7-for-7 in the 2007 postseason, for what that's worth). But I'll go ahead and be the first to make a fool of myself.

 

All the standard caveats apply: the playoffs are a crapshoot, blah blah blah. In the end, the Sox have the best record in the majors (tied with the Cards) in arguably the toughest division, and the best run diffie. We have a great postseason rotation and the ability to score runs by the boatload. There's no particular weakness in the team that dooms them to postseason failure. Which doesn't mean that they couldn't lose three straight to the Guardians, but that's not so probable. So the fact that I picked the Sox to win it all is probably equal parts "total homer" and "the Sox are really good". OK, 60% "total homer".

 

AL Wild Card

Rays over Guardians

Comment: Cobb vs. a team that can't beat good teams. I'd love the Guardians to win but I'm not feeling it.

 

ALDS #1

Sox over Rays

Comment: Handled them in the regular season and we will handle them in the postseason.

 

ALDS #2

A's over Tigers

Comment: If Scherzer throws one stinker or Cabrera isn't 100% right, the Tigers could be in trouble. I just see more failure modes for the Tigers than the A's.

 

ALCS

Sox over A's

Comment: The two best teams in the AL in an epic deathmatch. Should be fun!

 

NL Wild Card

Pirates over Reds

Comment: Reds are fading, it seems, and the Pirates are pretty dang good at home.

 

NLDS #1

Pirates over Cards

Comment: Yeah, the Cards are obviously going to win this series, but I have to pick an upset somewhere, don't I?

 

NLDS #2

Dodgers over Braves

Comment: Sniff. I pull for the Braves, but they probably don't have the horses to compete here. Truth be told, though, both the NL East and the NL West are total jokes. Who knows whether either of these teams are really any good? The weird thing is that the Dodgers actually finished with a losing record in the pathetic NL West but crushed the potent NL Central...

 

NLCS

Dodgers over Pirates

Comment: Which sets up...

 

World Series

Sox over Dodgers

Comment: Nick Punto makes the final out and Uehara gives high-fives whose seismic potency rattles the space-time continuum and ushers in the Mayan apocalypse 10 months late.

[BornToRun]

Sounds good to me. I'd really like to draw cleveland in round 1 but beating the rays and their old hipsterific douchebag of a manager would almost be as awesome as winning it all.

[mvp 78]

Rays over Tribe

A's over Tiggers

Rays over Sox

A's over Rays

 

Pirates over Reds

Cards over Pirates

Dodgers over Braves

Dodgers over Cards

 

A's over Dodgers, earthquakes happen in both the Bay Area and South Bay, CA falls into the sea, A's win game 7 in AZ right before Thanksgiving, AGon drinks too much Modelo and drowns in the pool in AZ's outfield and Mattingly grows his epic stache back. Everyone wins!

[sk7326]

Rays over Guardians - the Guardians 36-52 record against non-awful teams sticks out like a sore thumb. Francona has been magnificent but the roster doesn't stack up.

 

Tigers over A's - no reason to think it will be different this year. Tigers knockout starting pitching is the difference.

Sox over Rays - seen them a lot, lot of confidence. Tampa has the edge at top of rotation, Sox have edges in middle of rotation, bullpen, lineup

 

Pirates over Reds - Liriano has been amazing

 

Cards over Pirates - good series, lots of young pitching at work

Braves over Dodgers - not a lot of runs to be had in this series

 

ALCS: Tigers over Sox - Tigers starters just enough to edge out Boston

NLCS: Cards over Braves - just stronger all around

 

World Series: Tigers over Cards - more balance, better manager

[Orange Juiced]

I love this team, but I'll be the pessimist for the group.

 

AL

- Rays over Guardians

- Rays over Red Sox in 5 (Price pitching the clincher)

- Tigers over A's in 4

- Tigers over Rays in ALCS in 6

 

NL

- Reds over Pirates

- Cardinals over Reds in 4

- Dodgers over Braves in 4

- Cardinals over Dodgers in 7

 

- Cardinals over Tigers in 7 (no idea why....the Cards just seem to be able to get it done)

[Bellhorn04]

I love this team, but I'll be the pessimist for the group.

 

Looks more like you have to get in line.

[sk7326]

Picking the WS is a coinflip (as is most playoff matchups). That said, the AL has a tiny advantage with the application of the DH rule ... the AL team gains 2 edges - a better first hitter off the bench in the NL park and a better DH in the AL park.

[Thunder]

AL WC:

Guardians over Rays

 

NL WC:

Pirates over Reds

 

ALDS:

A's over Tigers in 4

Sox over Guardians in 4

 

NLDS:

Braves over Dodgers in 5

Cardinals over Pirates in 5

 

ALCS:

Sox over A's in 7

 

NLCS:

Braves over Cardinals in 6

 

I'll stop here.

[seabeachfred]

AL WC:

Guardians over Rays

 

NL WC:

Pirates over Reds

 

ALDS:

A's over Tigers in 4

Sox over Guardians in 4

 

NLDS:

Braves over Dodgers in 5

Cardinals over Pirates in 5

 

ALCS:

Sox over A's in 7

 

NLCS:

Braves over Cardinals in 6

 

I'll stop here.

 

My heart says the same thing you predicted Thunder; my head is a jumbled mess trying to figure this thing out. Certainly it is anybody's game. You know what I would really like if I was able to get my wish. The Pirates vs the Red Sox in the WS. What Pittsburgh did this year was terrific and their fans seem to finally ( though most likely temporarily) moved from football to baseball. I also like the way Clint Hurdle runs a baseball team. He should be hands-down Manager of the Year in the NL in my opinion.

[Thunder]

My heart says the same thing you predicted Thunder; my head is a jumbled mess trying to figure this thing out. Certainly it is anybody's game. You know what I would really like if I was able to get my wish. The Pirates vs the Red Sox in the WS. What Pittsburgh did this year was terrific and their fans seem to finally ( though most likely temporarily) moved from football to baseball. I also like the way Clint Hurdle runs a baseball team. He should be hands-down Manager of the Year in the NL in my opinion.

 

I feel the same way. My heart is rooting for the Pirates to go all the way, but they have a tough road to get there. Their city deserves good baseball, especially now with the struggles of the Steelers. I still believe that Pittsburgh is a hockey town first, but having a good team to fall back on during the summer would be great for them. Of course the Pirates would have to maintain this success. Unlike last year's Orioles, who got in with those crazy 1 run game stats, the Pirates didn't do any magical that got them here. They just won. That's a recipe for coming back again. Of course, they are going to have to contend with at least the Cardinals every year, maybe even the Reds too.

[User Name]

The Pirates are much better prepared for long-term success than the Orioles imo. Better pitching, worse division.

[Orange Juiced]

I love this team, but I'll be the pessimist for the group.

 

AL

- Rays over Guardians

- Rays over Red Sox in 5 (Price pitching the clincher)

- Tigers over A's in 4

- Tigers over Rays in ALCS in 6

 

NL

- Reds over Pirates

- Cardinals over Reds in 4

- Dodgers over Braves in 4

- Cardinals over Dodgers in 7

 

- Cardinals over Tigers in 7 (no idea why....the Cards just seem to be able to get it done)

 

Well, that didn't take long for me to be wrong.....

[Beaneater]

Well, that didn't take long for me to be wrong.....

 

And may you also be wrong on many of your other predictions!

[Dojji]

I predict that thanks to working up to midnight nearly every night, I will not get to watch or listen to a single minute of the playoffs, just like I had to catch the NHL playoffs on replay.

 

I have not gotten to watch very much baseball at all in the past year thanks to that job. Not that I'd prefer unemployment natch, but I wish I didn't have to sacrifice my passion for a chance to eat regularly.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Don't worry, I'll have those nights too,

[Jasonbay44]

Yeah I work in a restaurant, so Ill have those nights too, at least the game will hopefully be on one of the bar TV'S.

[mvp 78]

Don't worry, all be able to watch all the games for you guys!

 

[User Name]

Don't worry, all be able to watch all the games for you guys!

 

 

I second that. And even if i do have to work on a project, i have air conditioning, food, beer and MLB.TV at the office.

[Thunder]

Last year, I hated MLB Postseason TV. This year, it's the same, but it seems like a major improvement. I like the quad view, with the home, centerfield, and baselines. You get the TBS audio, but not any of the graphics.

[Dojji]

I second that. And even if i do have to work on a project, i have air conditioning, food, beer and MLB.TV at the office.

 

 

I'd settle for the games on the radio, but I work at a call center, and obviously my ears are going to be busy most of the night.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Rays over Guardians

Sox over Rays

As over Tigers

Sox over As

 

Pirates over Cardinals

Dodgers over Braves

Pirates over Dodgers

 

Sox over Pirates in 6.

[kapsis21]

Guardians over Rays

Sox over Guardians

 

As over Tigers

Sox over As

 

Cards over Pits

Dodgers over Braves

Dodgers over Cards -

 

Sox over Dodgers

[Palodios]

Can someone with mojo create a playoff game thread?

[BornToRun]

Can someone with mojo create a playoff game thread?

 

I call dibs. Anybody gets in the way of that and they lose a testicle.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Yeah, it obviously needs to be BTR.

[Thunder]

I call dibs. Anybody gets in the way of that and they lose a testicle.

 

Yeah, it obviously needs to be BTR.

 

Well since BTR has blessed my mojo eternally.....

 

 

Kidding!

[seabeachfred]

Well since BTR has blessed my mojo eternally.....

 

 

Kidding!

 

Thunder, strange as it seems I actually believe that this upcoming series with the Tampas might be a tougher one for us than taking on Oakland or Detroit should be prevail against them----which I certainly believe we can if we do not spot them leads as Texas and Cleveland did. The Rays are a very well managed team, they are resourceful, they have outstanding starting pitching and they are killers on defense. The Tigers are slow, and aside from Iggy, they are not good defensively. Neither is the A's with the glove and they are slow too and it has become home run or nothing with them. The Tigers are that way as well though both teams do have good starting pitching. It just seems to me the Tampas are a better well rounded team. I hope we get to see my theory thrown into action down the road.

[Thunder]

Thunder, strange as it seems I actually believe that this upcoming series with the Tampas might be a tougher one for us than taking on Oakland or Detroit should be prevail against them----which I certainly believe we can if we do not spot them leads as Texas and Cleveland did. The Rays are a very well managed team, they are resourceful, they have outstanding starting pitching and they are killers on defense. The Tigers are slow, and aside from Iggy, they are not good defensively. Neither is the A's with the glove and they are slow too and it has become home run or nothing with them. The Tigers are that way as well though both teams do have good starting pitching. It just seems to me the Tampas are a better well rounded team. I hope we get to see my theory thrown into action down the road.

 

It would be nice for our opponents to get weaker as we go along. I hope you're right.

[marklmw]

I missed the wild card games but from here on in it goes as such:

 

Tigers thrash the A's in 4

Sox over Rays in 5

 

Sox over Tigers in 7 epic series. Ellsbury is ALCS MVP

 

Dodgers beat Braves in 5

Pirates over Cards in 5

 

Dodgers over Pirates in 6 Hanley is NLCS MVP

 

Boston Red Sox over Dodgers in 7. Shane Victorino WS MVP

[seabeachfred]

It would be nice for our opponents to get weaker as we go along. I hope you're right.

 

It's all guesswork Thunder. MVP said that I and everyone else who made predictions were FULL OF s***!!!!! I can't remember any other time when someone said that to me that I didn't get mad, but this time I didn't because he was right. There is no way to know for sure what's going down, but I did get one prediction right about an hour ago. Dodgers up 2-0, runner on second and Gonzales up. I say to the TV, walk him and set up a potential force play while a righty is pitching to a righty. The Braves manager pitches to Gonzales......boom, two run homer. BTW, I stopped watching that game. Kershaw with a 5-0 lead? As they say in Boston, this game is OVA!!!!!!! However, trying to make accurate prediction is a losing proposition most of the time. I just hope I'm right this time out. I think the Tampans might be a tougher opponent than either Oakland or Detroit.