2009 MLB Playoff Predictions - ALDS and NLDS
It's the most...wonderful tiiiiime of the year!!!!
October baseball baby, and while the Mets ain't in it, the Angels are. So, there's some joy in Mudville.
The 8 teams are set for the Division Series, so imma gonna break it down...
AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES:
New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
Yo Kanye, imma let you finish, but the Twins are playing Game 1 of the ALDS less than 24 hours after winning the greatest tiebreaker game of all time. OF ALL TIME!!!! Their bullpen is certainly going to be tired, even if the players say they're ready to play after celebrating the AL Central win.
The Twins went 0-7 against the Yankees during the regular season, AND they're likely going to be worn down. Since 2002, the Twins have gone 3-22 when playing in Yankee Stadium. 2-2 in postseason games there. The odds don't look good for Minnesota. The one positive? The 18-4 streak they're riding into the playoffs.
Sure, they might feel better and rejuvenated by Game 2, but in a short series, that could be too late. Add to that the Yankees have Sabathia, Burnett, and the postseason-experienced Andy Pettite in the short series against a relatively unimpressive Twins rotation of Brian Duensing, Carl Pavano, Nick Blackburn and Scott Baker. And then there's that Mariano Rivera, who is still just as unstoppable as he's ever been. Twins closer Joe Nathan has not fared nearly as well against the Yankees over his career.
When these two teams have met in the ALDS before in 2003 and 2004, the Yankees won both series in 4 games.
It won't take them that long this time around.
My prediction: Yankees in 3 games.
AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES:
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Boston Red Sox
These teams have met in the postseason 4 times so far. 1986, 2004, 2007, 2008. Boston won all of them, and in the last 3 ALDS, the Angels only won one game against Boston. History is certainly not on the side of the Angels.
The Angels have a very potent offense, but the Red Sox have even more potent pitching. The Angels' bullpen is not what it used to be in years past anchored by Frankie Rodriguez. It's not that Brian Fuentes isn't a competent closer, but he has been up and down all year, and the rest of that bullpen is even less reliable. The Angels' bullpen posted a 4.49 ERA during the regular season, the highest of the 4 AL teams in the postseason.
Is this the year the Angels can finally shake the Boston monkey off their back with their own rally monkey? Unfortunately, as much as I want to see that happen, I don't think it will.
My prediction: Boston in 4 games.
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies
A rematch of the 2007 NLDS between these two teams where the Rockies swept the Phillies in 3 games as they rode a September hot streak straight into the World Series. That is, until they faced Boston, and got swept in 4.
Colorado is once again riding a hot streak into the postseason,
The defending 2008 World Series champions are not as good as they used to be, most notably in their bullpen. The once-perfect Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge has been anything but this season, saving 31 games while blowing 11. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is probably going to have to play closer-by-committee/situation between Lidge and Ryan Madson.
But even the Phillies starting pitching isn't as strong as it was a year ago. Jamie Moyer is injured and out for the postseason. Pedro Martinez is questionable, Cole Hamels regressed this year. The Phillies are going to have rely on the pitching of Cliff Lee to get them through this postseason, although he's not looked good on the mound over the last two months, posting a 5.53 ERA in September-October.
The Phillies are going to have rely on their offense to get them past Colorado. Except the Rockies are quite underrated, with a postseason starting rotation of Ubaldo Jimenez, Aaron Cook, Jason Hammel and Jason Marquis if necessary. With Huston Street anchoring the Rockies' bullpen, the Rockies are a more well-balanced team for the postseason than the Phillies are.
Of course, anything can happen in these best-of-5's.
My prediction: Colorado in 4 games.
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
This is an NLDS rematch of 2004, when the Cardinals won in 4 games. It was the Dodgers first postseason game victory since 1988. The Dodgers fared far better in the 2008 postseason, but not enough to get to the World Series.
It's often said that pitching and defense is what a team needs to win in the postseason. The St. Louis Cardinals not only have the pitching and defense, but the offense too, anchored by Albert Pujols.
The Cardinals have Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and Joel Pineiro. The Dodgers have Randy Wolf, Clayton Kershaw and Vicente Padilla. The Cardinals' biggest weakness is in a 7-game series where they have to go to a 4th starter, and there's a significant dropoff in quality after their big 3. But that's not to worry about here.
The Dodgers have a superior bullpen to the Cardinals, with Jonathan Broxton and George Sherrill leading the charge. It's the best bullpen in the majors with a 3.14 bullpen ERA. They do have the depth after 6 innings, but can they defeat St. Louis' starting pitching? Manny Ramirez has had an abysmal September, and while other Dodgers like Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp have picked up the slack, they're going to need Manny to revert back to his postseason performance in 2008 where he hit .520 with 4 HRs in the NLDS and NLCS.
If the Dodgers are to survive against the Cardinals, the best shot they have is against St. Louis' iffy middle relief.
My prediction: St. Louis in 5 games.
