Playoff Preview
By Blake VandeBunte • Oct 1st, 2008 • Category: 2008 seasonSadly (in my opinion) the Chicago White Sox will be a part of the playoffs this season. The Tigers couldn’t do their part to keep their most hated rival out of the playoffs so now we have to deal with watching at least three more of their games and listen to Ozzie Guillen say crazy stuff. I’ll move on.
I love the playoffs. I think that baseball has the most exciting playoff format of all of the professional sports. First, it’s the hardest playoff to be a part of. Here’s how the “major” sports shape up as far as qualifying for the playoffs:
- NBA: 16 of 30 teams (53%)
- NHL: 16 of 30 teams (53%)
- NFL: 12 of 32 teams (37.5%)
- MLB: 8 of 32 teams (25%)
I think that makes it all the more exciting. It seems like almost any team can make the playoffs in the NBA and NHL. I like that the Mets and Yankees won nearly 90 games this year yet they were still on the outside looking in. As a matter of fact, I like that the Tigers won 88 games last season and didn’t make it. Heartbreak is fun.
The playoffs kick off today in Philadelphia. There will be at least two games a day until some teams begin to be eliminated and it makes for some pretty great drama. The playoffs are literally where baseball heroes are made. You can come up with one big hit (Joe Carter, Luis Gonzalez, Kirk Gibson), make a great defensive play (Endy Chavez), make a dominant pitching performance (Mariano Rivera, Josh Beckett) or be a goat (Mitch Williams, Bill Buckner) and be remembered forever. There will be new heroes and new goats made in the next week and over the next month and it will make for some amazing drama.
I’m going to do my best now to preview and predict the first round playoff match ups. However, you never really know what’s going to happen in the playoffs, that’s part of what makes them so great.
Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers: The Phillies (NL East champs) have the home-field advantage here over the Wild Card winning Brew Crew. The Brewers had to all they could just to make the playoffs and could be a bit gassed as they have now reached the big show. Starting game one for the Brewers is Yovani Gallardowho has made four starts all year due to an injury. Gallardo and the Brewers will be going up against Phillies Ace, Cole Hamels in game one. The Brewers had the better starting pitching for most of the season but they will be without starter Ben Sheetsfor at least this round. The Phillies have the deeper line up and a vastly superior bullpen. I love that the Midwestern Brewers made it this far but I really don’t think they have much of a chance. Phillies in four.
Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs: I dislike the Cubs. I don’t care for the whole “woe is me” attitude that surrounds that team and fan base. It’s annoying. They clearly have more talent than the Dodgers. The Cubs finished the season 97-64 while the Dodgers won the NL West with a record of 84-78. Not exactly an even match as far as records are concerned. Something to keep in mind here though, the Dodgers have some decent pitching. Derek Lowe is going game one and has a boat load of playoff experience and is coming off one of his better seasons. They also have a budding ace in Chad Billingsley and pretty strong bullpen. The Cubs on the other hand have an iffy Carlos Zambrano and Kerry Wood closing games. Both of those guys could be totally fine, but I wouldn’t put it past them to blow this thing. The Dodgers also have a re-charged Manny Ramirezwho has hit nearly .400 since joining the Dodgers on July 31st. I think in the end the Cubs will win in five games. However, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they lost this series.
Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox: The Angels sport the best record in all of baseball at 100-62 and the Red Sox have won two World Series in the last four seasons. Hmm. The Red Sox made short work of the Angels in the playoffs last season. However, since then the Angels have added Mark Teixeira and Torii Hunter to their line up. In other words, they have added some pop. I think the Angels have the better team, they have the healthier team. Josh Beckett is not 100% and Jonathan Papelbon has not looked as invincable as he has in the past. However, this is the sort of situation where you just cannot go against the team that keeps winning. The Angels have yet to prove they can get over the hump and Red Sox have to prove that they can’t get over the hump. Red Sox in five.
Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago White Sox: I don’t the the White Sox are very good. They have a homer friendly ball park and some sluggers, that’s how they made it to the playoffs. They also got some great pitching from their young starters. However, the White Sox have playoff experience, they won the whole thing in 2005 and have many of the same players from that team on their current roster. The Rays finished 8.5 games ahead of the White Sox and are getting players back from injury at the right time. They too sport a young pitching staff and a team that is inexperienced in the playoffs. I just don’t think the White Sox have enough pitching to hang with the upstart Rays. The Rays have power and team speed. They play terrific defense and have one of the best bullpens in all of baseball. Tampa Bay in four.
There you have it. If you listen to me these will be our Championship Series match ups:
- Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs in the NLCS
- Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS
Don’t take my word for it though. The playoffs are often full of surprises. There really is now way to tell what will happen over the next month. That’s why you just have to watch.
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I think one of the more interesting aspects of this year’s slate of playoff teams is that both Chicago teams AND both Los Angeles teams are in the playoffs. So, there could potentially be two different inter-city World Series matchups. Personally, I’ll be pulling for the Dodgers, mainly because they are not the Phillies. Never mind that they won the weakest division in all of baseball.
Wow, that is a great picture. As Travis would say, hellarious. Great stuff Blake.
Not going ahead with a World Series prediction right now though? The Brewers are the only team I really like. I would be fine with Tampa Bay if the city deserved to have a team.
Also, sort of interesting that the Big Apple had both teams miss the playoffs, while LA and Chicago had both of their teams make it in.
Yeah, I’d like to see the Dodgers win it as well. I would enjoy seeing Joe Torre win it all and then say a bunch of smug things in interviews that would irk the Yankees. The only teams in baseball I really dislike are the Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, and the Cubs. I would be cool with any other team winning.
the only reason why i wouldn’t mind seeing the cubs win it all is then it might shut up some of the “woe is me” crap. i’m pretty tired of it too…the cubs do well…and then all of a sudden everyone seems to be a cubs fan. ridiculous.
then again…i don’t think anything will quiet cubs fans - and i’m kind of enjoying seeing the cubs completely fall apart right now.