The football Giants had a bye in week 4, so even though I was watching the games, I really didn’t care all that much. I saw their NFC East rivals smack the AFC East around pretty easily, so when we get our chance next week against the Dolphins, I hope the trend continues. But until then, it’s time to talk baseball.
Now I must confess I haven’t followed the game as closely as I have in past years. As a Mets fan, my season ended around May. But I did pay attention to the phenom known as rookie pitcher Dontrelle Willis down in Florida, the batting exploits of Albert Pujols in St. Louis, the surprising streaks of such perennial bottom feeders as the Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox. The fight for playoff spots went right down to the final week.
So now there are eight, who will play the divisional series starting this week, before the league championship series, and ultimately the World Series sometime around late October. In the American League, the Minnesota Twins face the New York Yankees, while the Boston Red Sox will play the Oakland Athletics. Over in the National League, the surprising Florida Marlins play the San Francisco Giants, while the equally surprising Chicago Cubs will face the Atlanta Braves.
Because I haven’t followed the game that closely this year , my “predictions” will be based more on who I like than any statistical evidence. But because anything can happen in a short series, they’re as good as anybody else’s.
Let me get this out of the way. If the Cubs face the Red Sox for the World Series, nobody will win. Two totally hapless franchises, the latter hasn’t won a W.S. since World War I, the former since 1908. Cubs fans have been stoic throughout this long drought, while Bostonians are annoying whiners. I hope they never win the championship so those mutton heads can keep crying in their beer.
But the Cubs are good this year, and have good pitching which counts in post season. The Braves had the best regular season of any team in the playoffs, but that hardly means anything now. And considering their annual post season collapse over the last dozen years, don’t be surprised if they falter again. Cubs in 6 games.
I could be very happy if the San Francisco Giants won the whole thing this year. I’ve been a closet Giants fan since I was a kid rooting for Willie Mays. They got close last year, and with a managerial change and some new faces, they managed to get back again to post season. Florida is young and hungry, but I don’t think they’re ready for this…yet. Giants in 5.
The Yankees have the Twins’ number this year, winning all of their head to head matchups. New York is older though and their bullpen has been suspect at times. But they also have a level of veteran experience unmatched by any of the other teams. And there is that expectation the world’s most successful sports franchise has every year. Yankees in four.
The Red Sox and A’s are playing good ball. Both have good pitching and hitting. The Sox are a scrappy bunch that can manufacture runs. But they’re still the Boston Red Sox, and as sure as the sun rises in the east, they will find a way to self destruct, leaving their pathetic fans to whine even louder. Athletics in 5.
I’ll get back to my first love, football, in a few days, but for now, play ball!