Playoff predictions

[seabeachfred]

It would be nice to see the Dodgers out of it.

 

 

Then send some good vibes the Cardinals' way Mark. I'm in kind of a dilemma. I was talking to Dave at Sports Travel today and gave him a $200.00 deposit for a trip to somewhere to watch the Red Sox in the playoffs.....MAYBE. Try this one out. I will call him tomorrow to see who we play. If it's the A's (doubtful at this point with the Tigers leading 2-0 and Verlander pitching perfect game after four innings), I will see a couple of games there. If not I will wait and hope there is a game six or maybe a game seven in Boston. I have no intention of going to that shithole city of Detroit, no way. If that scenario works out I will stay for the first two games of the World Series in Boston. I wonder if any other of my friends on this board plan on trying to go to these games

[User Name]

Comerica's pretty cool to catch a ballgame.

[Beaneater]

As the LCS round gears up, it's time to see how the predictions held up:

 

Rays over Guardians

Sox over Rays

A's over Tigers

Pirates over Reds

Pirates over Cards

Dodgers over Braves

 

4 out of 6 isn't bad, and the Pirates and the A's made life pretty difficult for the Cards and Tigers. My LCS and WS winners are still alive.

 

Just a quick look at the first pages of this thread indicates that no one has nailed all the winners so far. A lot of us picked the A's. With Verlander seemingly back in form, it's easy to wish that the A's had won. The Tigers are looking pretty impressive right now... then again, the Tigers are probably looking at us and saying that the Sox look pretty impressive too.

 

Almost time to break out a new bucket of Rolaids!

[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 my WS teams are still alive, though obviously I hope at least one in particular is gone by this time next week.

[seabeachfred]

Well my WS teams are still alive, though obviously I hope at least one in particular is gone by this time next week.

 

Well don't beat yourself over the head with it Juice. Remember, when it really comes down to really knowing how something is going to play out almost all of us don't know crap about it because there are too many variables and much luck involved with it. To be honest though, I don't like the teams you have in the WS---well maybe I can take the Cards since that means they have taken care of the Dodgers, a job that I could only consider an A1 accomplishment.

[Beaneater]

OK, how did we do in the LCS series?

 

Sox over A's

Dodgers over Pirates

 

One out of two isn't bad, unless you're a parachute packer I guess.

 

I am feeling pretty good about this line explaining why I thought the Tigers would lose to the A's in the ALDS:

 

I just see more failure modes for the Tigers than the A's.

 

We saw pretty much all the Tigers' failure modes. Starting pitching wasn't going to be a problem, but they lost due to defense, base-running, bullpen, and (to some smaller and unquantifiable degree) coaching. And lack of beards.

 

OK, just one prediction left to go. Go prove me right, Sox!

[sk7326]

Tigers lost due to two swings of the bat by hitters who basically did diddly squat the rest of the series ... it was an epic series, just the darndest finish. Farrell seriously out-thought himself in the 6th inning with Buchholz, but fortunately Prince Fielder helped avert a potential disaster.

 

I always say betting the AL in the World Series is generally a good option all things being equal. That said, Cards are probably the most complete club the Red Sox will face this run, and their young pitching has really dominated during the postseason. In the reverse jinx spirit, I will pick the Cards in 6.

[jung]

Tigers lost due to two swings of the bat by hitters who basically did diddly squat the rest of the series ... it was an epic series, just the darndest finish. Farrell seriously out-thought himself in the 6th inning with Buchholz, but fortunately Prince Fielder helped avert a potential disaster.

 

I always say betting the AL in the World Series is generally a good option all things being equal. That said, Cards are probably the most complete club the Red Sox will face this run, and their young pitching has really dominated during the postseason. In the reverse jinx spirit, I will pick the Cards in 6.

 

I don't wonder if Prince will ever be allowed to recover from this in Detroit where he has a lotta' years left on his contract. Rarely have we seen a player fail so miserably in big moments and look so much like he could care less all at the same time.....a remarkable multilevel achievement.

 

I would not be surprised if Prince's tendency to look like he cared less was really a reaction masking from the public that he really cared a very great deal...almost the way some folks laugh or giggle at the most tragic of events or circumstances purely as a reaction that masks their true feelings. I just don't want to believe that a ballplayer would care that little even if he is the enemy.

 

That said, nothing less than winning it all may be required for Price to wash the stain of this one away. One encouraging sign is that the fans of Detroit do not appear unwilling to give the Sox their due. They are not happy but neither are they for the most claiming the Tigers to be the better team or more deserving than the Sox in any way, at least it does not appear that way from what I have been reading.

[sk7326]

I don't wonder if Prince will ever be allowed to recover from this in Detroit where he has a lotta' years left on his contract. Rarely have we seen a player fail so miserably in big moments and look so much like he could care less all at the same time.....a remarkable multilevel achievement.

 

I would not be surprised if Prince's tendency to look like he cared less was really a reaction masking from the public that he really cared a very great deal...almost the way some folks laugh or giggle at the most tragic of events or circumstances purely as a reaction that masks their true feelings. I just don't want to believe that a ballplayer would care that little even if he is the enemy.

 

That said, nothing less than winning it all may be required for Price to wash the stain of this one away. One encouraging sign is that the fans of Detroit do not appear unwilling to give the Sox their due. They are not happy but neither are they for the most claiming the Tigers to be the better team or more deserving than the Sox in any way, at least it does not appear that way from what I have been reading.

 

Generally it is not smart to intuit "caring" from a player's countenance, you are right about that. After all, Kevin McHale could always joke with officials and other players the way Larry Bird never could - but it doesn't mean he did not bleed as much (1987 finals on a broken foot and all).

 

I don't doubt Prince's professionalism. That said, I do think there is something about guys like Prince, or Barry Bonds, or JD Drew or Ken Griffey Jr - guys who really grew up around the game at a high level. They don't necessarily have the same relationship to baseball that fans have - for most of us we'd give anything to be good enough to play in that sphere (or at least dreamt it as kids), but for them it's the family business and being good at it is sort of preordained. The ballpark is a place they have always known - so it's hard to get that visbly excited about it, even if you put in all the work to be good at your job.

 

Detroit fans from what I can tell have been giving the Sox their due. After all, the grand slams DID happen - and Leyland's decisions with the pitching staff were all reasonable. An area where Boston was better than Detroit (the pen) shined. And there was no guarantee that Detroit hangs a big inning up in the 6th. That said, clearly Fielder's mistake robbed Detroit of a golden chance to pounce on the biggest mistake of the game to that point, which was Farrell's movements with the 'pen. But I think it might be a little easier to live with since Detroit DID still have the lead, and still controlled their own fate.

[Orange Juiced]

Well don't beat yourself over the head with it Juice. Remember, when it really comes down to really knowing how something is going to play out almost all of us don't know crap about it because there are too many variables and much luck involved with it. To be honest though, I don't like the teams you have in the WS---well maybe I can take the Cards since that means they have taken care of the Dodgers, a job that I could only consider an A1 accomplishment.

 

Well, I got the Cardinals right, and the Red Sox wrong (Yay!!!!). So we have the Cards v. Sox in the WS. And, folks, this ain't your 2004 Cardinals. This team is much better, IMO, and will provide a much stiffer test than what we faced in '04.

[Orange Juiced]

I don't wonder if Prince will ever be allowed to recover from this in Detroit where he has a lotta' years left on his contract. Rarely have we seen a player fail so miserably in big moments and look so much like he could care less all at the same time.....a remarkable multilevel achievement.

 

I would not be surprised if Prince's tendency to look like he cared less was really a reaction masking from the public that he really cared a very great deal...almost the way some folks laugh or giggle at the most tragic of events or circumstances purely as a reaction that masks their true feelings. I just don't want to believe that a ballplayer would care that little even if he is the enemy.

 

That said, nothing less than winning it all may be required for Price to wash the stain of this one away. One encouraging sign is that the fans of Detroit do not appear unwilling to give the Sox their due. They are not happy but neither are they for the most claiming the Tigers to be the better team or more deserving than the Sox in any way, at least it does not appear that way from what I have been reading.

 

Prince Fielder was, without question, the biggest goat of the ALCS for Detroit this year. Consider:

 

- He was 4-22 (.182/.280/.227/.507), just one run scored and ZERO rbi.

- He made a colossal baserunning blunder in game 6 that cost them dearly.

- He dropped a crucial foul ball in game 2 that opened the door for the Red Sox to win.

- Moments before, he should have come off the base to block an errant throw by Iglesias, but instead it got by him and Gomes went to 2nd (he would score on Salty's hit following Fielder's dropped foul popup).

 

I mean, that's a whole lotta suck, especially for a guy making $23 million (and will be making $24 million a year through 2020!!).

[Beaneater]

A final check-in for gloating purposes:

 

Sox over Dodgers

 

Got the opponent wrong but the important part right! 6 out of 9 correct winners picked, which is not bad for me. Doesn't look like anyone else did way better or worse.