ALCS Prediction - Merry Breadmas
The Divisional Series may have ended quickly with three sweeps, but that doesn’t mean that they were without excitement or drama. Several unlikely 9th inning comebacks kicked off these playoffs with a bang, and wouldn’t you know it, I was on the right side of almost all of them! It sure feels good when things work out that way. Now that Holliday is on holiday, there shouldn’t be anymore dropped flies to put a dent in my winnings. I’m just getting started.
The National League gets their party started on Thursday when Philadelphia visits the Dodgers. I’m going to be honest with you, I truly have no clue which of these teams is going to advance to the World Series. After extensive studying, research, analysis of all available data and visiting a psychic, I still just ended up staring at my monitor for about 20 minutes with a faraway glare on my face. Clueless. L.A. is a slight favorite at -125, with the Phillies at +105. If you have a better read than I, have at it. It should be a great series either way.
Now the ALCS, they’re not getting off so lucky. There is a wheelbarrow full of money somewhere out there that is making its way to my pockets. Baby Jesus had three wise men to bring him Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. I have some Costa Rican dude bringing me cash in a wheelbarrow. Merry Breadmas.
Bring me that money, Esteban
ALCS Series
New York Yankees -180
Los Angeles Angels +160
New York Yankees -180
Los Angeles Angels +160
Oh goodie goodie! On Friday at 7:05 pm, what promises to be a super series kicks off in The Bronx. I enjoyed watching the Angels bounce the Yankees out of the postseason in 2002 and ’05 as well. And guess what? I’m fixing to pull up the biggest tub of beer battered popcorn that I can find and take monetary and personal pleasure in it once again. I’m not even slightly afraid either. (OK, that part was a tiny exaggeration.)
When the Angels rallied at Fenway on Sunday for a 7-6 victory, and sweep of Boston, my smile grew wider, my accounts grew fatter, and it made all of my wildest dreams come true. It was that great. I even called a temporary truce with one of the forum’s most pitiful posters, Nicky Santoro. The Angels filled the black hole in my heart with love. Can you feel it?
Later on that same evening, the Yankees carried out their own late game comeback, complete with exciting finish, against the outmatched Minnesota Twins. They make a return to the League Championships for the first time since 2004. That will always be remembered as the series that Boston overcame an 0-3 hole to send New York packing. It took them awhile, but they are finally back.
I’m sure that the networks and casual fan would’ve been happier to have another Bos-NYY series. Those of us in the know are grateful to have been spared that debacle, as Boston would’ve been decimated. New York and L.A. split the 10 games that they faced each other this year, and that competitive element will fuel this matchup to high levels.
Could this be the year that Alex Rodriguez finally squashes the stigma of choking in the clutch? He’s off to a crazy start in his three games against the Twins, hitting .455 with 2 HR and 6 RBI. Those two bombs didn’t come in the late innings of a blowout as one might expect. Both shots were to tie the Twins late in the game, and propelled his team to a 3-game sweep. I hate to admit it, but he looks like a star. I’m not saying I’d date him or anything, but I’ll stop whatever I’m doing when he comes to the plate.
Of course before A-Rod can bat, you have to pitch to the ex-Angel, Mark Teixeira. In his first season in New York, Tex hit .292, with 39 HR, driving in 122 runs and scoring 103 times. These are two tough outs at any point in the game, but when I see them due up in the later stages of a close game, it puts the fear of Brian Cashman in me. Angels closer Brian Fuentes’ job becomes infinitely easier if he’s pitching to Hideki Matsui, Nick Swisher and Melky Cabrera for the save, instead of the beasts in the top of that lineup. Please Lord, let it be so.
ALCS SBR Fist Dap!
There is another Yankee who has been clutch for 15 years running. Is there a worse sinking feeling in sports than needing a team that is down one to New York in the 9th, and seeing Mariano Rivera jogging in from the bullpen? There can’t be many that top that. Maybe Shaq at the line, or a barefoot college kicker.
Rivera was successful in 96% of his save opportunities this year (44-2) and a key player in the Yankee’s final two games to close out Minnesota. When the tight finishes arrive, L.A. would be better served being on the right side of the scoreboard to keep Rivera where he is least effective- in the bullpen.
So far this sounds like a ringing endorsement to take the Yankees. Not so fast. The Angels have the personnel to counter New York. The names might not be as heralded, the tradition may not be as steep, but the Angels have what it takes to beat the best team that money can buy.
Have you ever heard of Kendry Morales? I have. He’s the other superstar first baseman in this series not named Mark Teixeira. His numbers were equally as impressive. His .306 avg., 34 HR and108 RBI have Angel fans very excited about the future of this young player. I expect him to become a household name in the next couple of weeks.
Everyone knows what Vladimir Guerrero is capable of, and he put it on display once again this past Sunday, coming up with the game tying and winning RBI’s with two outs to complete the Boston sweep. The fact is that unlike in New York, they have very little tail off from the top of their batting order to the bottom. Erick Aybar (.310), Torii Hunter (22 HR), Chone Figgins (42 SB), Bobby Abreu (103 RBI) and Juan Rivera (25 HR) can all wreak havoc on opposing pitchers.
Game One is on Friday, and it will pit Aces C.C. Sabathia (20-8, 3.31 ERA) against John Lackey aka Skinny Garren (12-8, 3.68 ERA). The Yanks are -166 favorites in the opener, but CC has struggled in both of his starts against the Angels this year. He came out on the losing end of both games, allowing Nine earned runs and 17 hits in 13.3 IP. I’m banking that L.A. keeps treating him like an overweight redhead stepchild and steals Game One.
One other thing to keep an eye on as these playoffs progress is the game totals. Pitching has dominated the playoffs as the Under has cashed in 8 of the 13 games. With the arms of Sabathia, Lackey, Rivera, Fuentes, Joe Saunders, AJ Burnett, Jered Weaver and Joba Chamberlain set to go, this trend could easily continue for the ALCS.
