Fall is a great time of year. Everyone is still excited for the start of school (which lasts until the realization you have to spend $432 on books), reconnecting with old friends, and looking forward to Duck games. But in the chaotic time at the start of school, one thing gets lost in the hustle and bustle: baseball.
Most college students may be glued to their televisions every Saturday watching college football, but the real excitement is actually on the diamond. People tend to lose interest in the marathon that is Major League Baseball at about the All-Star break, but it doesn’t even begin to get exciting until the start of September. That’s when the pennant races start heating up and teams that are still in the playoff picture start making their pushes for October.
That dramatic playoff game between the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins set the stage for what is sure to be a historic post-season. The Chicago Cubs enter October as the favorites and are looking to erase 100 years of losing to capture their first World Series title since 1908. The Tampa Bay Rays are newcomers to the playoffs and the classic underdog story. And for the first time in 13 years, the New York Yankees will not be in a playoff game.
The list goes on and on about why this post-season can be distinguished from others, but recapping is a waste of time. What everyone wants to see are predictions – especially ones they can later e-mail me about to explain why I’m an idiot. So, here we go! These are my predictions that are sure to be wrong:
American League Division Series
Boston Red Sox (95-67) vs. Anaheim Angels (100-62), Boston in 5: This is a sticky series to predict. Two of the best teams in the AL are playing in the first round. The defending champion Red Sox are the AL Wild Card team and, statistically speaking, are underdogs to the Angels. Both teams have won titles this decade and both feature depth in the bullpen as well as on the field. The most intriguing match-up for me will be Francisco Rodriguez, record-holder for saves in a season, against David Ortiz, Sean Casey and Kevin Youkilis in the late innings. I take the Red Sox because of their tendency to turn it up a notch in October.
Chicago White Sox (89-74) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (97-65), Tampa Bay in 4: The amazing story that is Tampa Bay will continue into the American League Champion Series. No team has ever made such an improvement in one year. Last year the Rays were 66-96 and had the worst record in baseball. One year later they are not only AL East champions, but have the second-best record in the American League.
National League Division Series
Milwaukee Brewers (90-72) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (92-70), Phillies in 5: The shortened series will help the Brewers, who will be able to pitch CC Sabathia twice if need be, in games two and five. But with the injury to ace Ben Sheets, the Brewers’ playoff appearance will be short-lived. The Phillies just have too much offensive production to overcome.
Los Angeles Dodgers (84-78) vs. Chicago Cubs (97-64), Cubs in 3: Sorry to all you Dodger fans that I see walking through campus sporting the LA hats, but this is Chicago’s year. Los Angeles is the champion of the worst division in baseball, and outside of Manny Ramirez, the offensive production has been sparse the second half of the year. On the flip side, the Cubs have a great pitching lineup, with four starters with over 10 wins.
American League Championship Series
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay in 7: This series can go either way. Boston is 8-10 against the Rays and have had major trouble playing at Tropicana Field, where Tampa Bay is 57-24. With the Rays owning home field advantage, a potential game seven would be in Florida. On one hand, there is the youngest line-up in baseball led by rookie Evan Longoria and on the other, the experience of Josh Beckett (who has a strained oblique).
National League Championship Series
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Chicago Cubs, Chicago in 5: Chicago is a juggernaut. The Cubs are 55-26 within the friendly confines of Wrigley Field and have out-scored their opponents by almost 200 runs. Philly has the pitching, led by Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer, but Chicago has the firepower to undo any good rotation.
World Series
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago Cubs, Chicago in 6: Yes, that’s right, Chicago fans: The Cubbies will no longer be the lovable losers. The Rays are a good story, but they are so young – I look for the upcoming years to be the Ray Dynasty. One-hundred years of futility will be wiped away by one series, and Chicago will riot in the streets – followed by another 100 years of losing.
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Baseball playoffs in full swing; make your picks
Daily Emerald
October 1, 2008
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