2008 Playoff predictions

[M2]

There's probably a playoff prediction thread staring me in the face and I didn't notice it, but I don't see one in the queue, so I'm starting one here. Time to see if FCB's still got the magic eye.

NLDS

Dodgers vs. Cubs

Yeah, I know the story line. This is the Cubs' year. Yet I've been alive long enough to understand that no year is the Cubs' year. In fact, this matchup proves it. The Dodgers have the RHPs to subdue the Cubs offense and Manny Ramirez is flat out unstoppable right now. The Dodgers also have a manager who knows a thing or two about how to manage in October. Torre's 2-0 against Lou. If there was one team in the NL the Cubs didn't want to see, it was the Dodgers. And looky who they got. Enjoy 100 years in the weeds North Side.

Dodgers 3-0

Brewers vs. Phillies

Oh the homers that will be hit in this series. Expect to see pitchers cry. The Phillies have a massive bullpen advantage and the Brewers don't have Ben Sheets. Under normal circumstances, that and a good offense should be enough to advance to the next round. Yet the Brewers do have C.C. Sabathia and that might be two wins right there. I like that the Brewers have lived to read their obits. So I'm going against reason here. Milwaukee pull the upset.

Brewers 3-1

NLCS

Brewers vs. Dodgers

It's been nearly 50 years since Milwaukee and L.A. played for N.L. dominance. The Dodgers won back then and I'm thinking we're about to get visits from the ghosts of Charlie Neal and Larry Sherry. Sloppy fielding creates a mess the Brewers can't bang their way out of.

Dodgers 4-1

ALDS

White Sox vs. Rays

Chicago's still got a fair number of guys from their 2005 championship team. Meanwhile Tampa Bay has been running around in Cinderella slippers all year long. Yet without Carlos Quentin, the ChiSox have an offense that the Rays pitching can handle. This is a case of youth (with kids like Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton) bringing too much energy to the park for an opponent that's getting a little long in the tooth.

Rays 3-1

Red Sox vs. Angels

The Angels are a paper tiger. The offense doesn't get on base well or have much power. The starting pitching is all right, but nothing special. We've seen this movie before. The Sox pitching will let the Angels hitters get themselves out and the Sox offense is plenty potent enough to get to the Angels starting pitching. Mark Teixeira isn't enough to tip the scales and K-Rod will be waiting for save chances that never come.

Red Sox 3-0

ALCS

Red Sox vs. Rays

These two teams don't like each other, not even a little bit. It should make for great television. The Rays will be playing for respect. The Red Sox will be playing for immortality. The difference will be the Sox pen holds while the Rays pen doesn't.

Red Sox 4-2

World Series

Dodgers vs. Red Sox

The league offices will be pleased with this matchup. It pretty much sells itself. Two storied franchises from big markets. The return of Manny, Nomar and Lowe. Joe Torre's chance to cement himself as one of the great managers in history. The Red Sox on the cusp of dynasty. Josh Beckett looking to become perhaps the most feared postseason pitcher ever. All the storylines are in place for a classic.

And they'll get a classic. It goes the distance. Finally, the All-Star really did count.

Red Sox 4-3

[OnBaseMachine]

NLDS:

Dodgers over Cubs
Brewers over Phillies

NLCS:

Dodgers over Brewers

ALDS:

Rays over White Sox
Angels over Red Sox

ALCS:

Rays over Angels

World Series

Rays over Dodgers in seven games.

[*BaseClogger*]

NLDS

Dodgers vs. Cubs

The Cubs pitching falls apart and the Dodgers bullpen takes control of the series.

Dodgers 3-1

Brewers vs. Phillies

Just like the Twins when they made the playoffs with Santana, the Brewers will get good but not great performances from Sabathia but the Phillies will crush their bullpen.

Phillies 3-0

NLCS

Phillies vs. Dodgers

Now the Phillies run up against some good pitching and the Dodgers score by timely hitting rather than waiting for the walk and home run like the Phillies. ;)

Dodgers 4-2

ALDS

White Sox vs. Rays

The White Sox are old and their best pitcher, John Danks, isn't ready to pitch in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Rays have a devastating pitching staff and the ChiSox catch Matt Garza on one of his good days.

Rays 3-1

Red Sox vs. Angels

Josh Beckett forgets his magic tricks and because no one can explain why the Angels and Twins keep winning.

Angels 3-2

ALCS

Angels vs. Rays

K-Rod's arm falls off and he blows a save, and the Rays young arms rack up the strikeouts as they keep the Angels offense at bay.

Rays 4-2

World Series

Dodgers vs. Rays

The Dodgers bullpen and veteran starting pitchers are the key while sports writers get the story they are looking for as the Dodger's "experience" trumps the youthful Rays.

Dodgers 4-3



[I would never forget the]...

[mth123]

I'll bite.

Cubs over LA. LA has Manny, but I'm pretty skeptical of the Dodgers and the Cubs have lots of guys who seem like those unheralded types who have the great postseason runs to lead their team (a la Billy Hatcher in 1990). I'm guessing the Cubs overcome Manny's heroics with a hot series from some one like Mark Derosa or Mike Fontenot.

Phils over Brewers This should just be a HR derby style contest where only HRs count and the team with the most HR wins, but pitching will come into play. Hamels matches CC and the Phils win because of Brad Lidge.

Cubs over Phils Better pitching, period. Phils have Hamels, but the rest of the rotation match-up favors the Cubs IMO and the other than Lidge, the Cubs have a deeper pen. Guys like Marmol, Howry and Wuertz tip the scale. With all those power bats, the middle of the pen will come into play more than usual in a short series and the Cubs have the goods there.

Rays over White Sox Rays pitching handles the declining stars (Griffey, Konerko) and questionable bats (Wise, Uribe) in Chicago with ease. Thome has a big series, but its not enough.

Angels over Red Sox As flakey as Manny was, and as good as Youkilis and Ortiz have always been, Manny was the backbone of that offense IMO. With Beckett and Lowell in question, the Angels just look like a better all around team. Vald and Tex tee off and nearly tear down the Green Monster.

Rays over Angels Two deep rotations but the Rays have more dominance at the top (Shields, Kazmir, Garza). The Angels superior depth has been their advantage all year, but it may not come into play in a short series.

Cubs over Rays Get your affairs together and get right with your maker. This could signal the end of the world. Rich Harden is series MVP.

[reds44]

NLDS:
Cubs over Manny
Cubs are just too good

Phils over CC
No Sheets, Brewers makes an early exit

ALDS:
Sox over Rays
Sox ride momentum to get game 1, win 3 and 4 at home

Angels over Sox
Angels are the best team in the majors

NLCS:
Phils over Cubs
Cubs going to World Series? I lol'd
Angels over Sox
payback for a few years ago

WS:
Angels over Phils

[Screwball]

NLDS:

Cubs over Dodgers
Brewers over Phillies

NLCS:

Cubs over Brewers

ALDS:

Red Sox over Angels
Rays over White Sox

ALCS:

Rays over Red Sox

WS:

Rays over Cubs

[Mario-Rijo]

NLDS

Dodgers vs. Cubs

The Cubs offense is much too complete for the Dodgers to handle, meanwhile the Cubs pitching pitches around Manny to get to...pretty much no one.

Cubs 3-0

Brewers vs. Phillies

Defense, pitching & timely hitting....do either of these teams do enough? Phillies squeak by in a tight series.

Phillies 3-2

NLCS

Phillies vs. Cubs

Again I think the Cubs possess too much offense for the Phils but I think this is a slightly closer contest overall.

Cubs 4-2

ALDS

White Sox vs. Rays

My brain says Rays but my gut says not this year. White Sox win due to experience and momentum and because they will hit in this series.

White Sox 3-2

Red Sox vs. Angels

Red Sox have too much overall for the Angels, when you are not hitting you have to be patient and the Angels aren't patient enough.

Red Sox 3-1

ALCS

R Sox vs. W Sox

The White Sox just got taken too the limit bye the youthful Rays and father time catches up with them, along with Red Sox pitching.

Red Sox 4-1

World Series

Cubs vs. Red Sox

Wow, just a few short years ago who would have ever thought these 2 would be at this place at the same time. I still like the Cubs to take them too the limit but the Sox send them back to the proverbial drawing board to start their next 100 years.

Red Sox 4-3

[lollipopcurve]

NLDS
Cubs 3-2
Phils 3-1

ALDS
Angels 3-2
Rays 3-1

NLCS & ALCS
Phils 4-2
Angels 4-2

WS
Phils 4-2

[jojo]

The Rays will win it all because, well, I want them too. :cool:

BTW since the Redsox ruined baseball by actually winning a World Series (ok, they didn't ruin it, they just made baseball less interesting), the Cubs really are the last Moses. If the Cubs win, then it might be a sign that there is no God (or he's boycotting baseball due to it's insane blackout restrictions).

[cumberlandreds]

NLDS
Cubs over Dodgers
Phils over Brewers
ALDS
Angels over Sox,the Red variety
Rays over Sox,the White variety

NLCS
Cubs over Phils
ALCS
Angels over Rays

World Series

Cubs over Angels

I have a feeling all season this is the Cubs year and they have shown me nothing to think otherwise. The goat will finally be sacrificed.

[bucksfan2]

Im rooting for a Tampa Milwaukee world series. Nothing gives the middle finger to baseball and the large market cities like seeing two of the smallest markets playing for the world series.

[RedsManRick]

Cubs over Dodgers
Phillies over Brewers

Angels over Red Sox
Rays over White Sox

Cubs over Phillies
Rays over Angels

Rays over Cubs

[Danny Serafini]

PHI over MIL 3-1
CHI over LA 3-1
ANA over BOS 3-1
TB over CHI 3-0

PHI over CHI 4-2
ANA over TB 4-3

ANA over PHI 4-1

[Reds Fanatic]

Phillies over Brewers 3-1
Dodgers over Cubs 3-1

Angels over Red Sox 3-2
Rays over White Sox 3-0

Phillies over Dodgers 4-2
Angels over Rays 4-2

Angels over Phillies 4-1

[*BaseClogger*]

Im rooting for a Tampa Milwaukee world series. Nothing gives the middle finger to baseball and the large market cities like seeing two of the smallest markets playing for the world series.

Me too... :D

[Johnny Footstool]

My predictions:

Ratings that are "down from last year".

Proclamations that baseball needs to do something to attract fans.

Complaints about the length of the season forcing the World Series to be played in temperatures in the 40s.

An All-Chicago World Series, with the workmanlike Southsiders upsetting the pretty boys from Wrigleyville.

[rotnoid]

NLDS:

Dodgers over Cubs
Phillies over Brewers

NLCS:

Dodgers over Phillies

ALDS:

White Sox over Rays
Angels over Red Sox

ALCS:

Angels over White Sox

World Series

Angels over Dodgers in six

[MWM]

Cubs over Dodgers 3-1
Brewers over Phils 3-2

Cubs over Brewers 4-2

Angels over Red Sox (Beckett's oblique strain will not allow him to pitch effectively) 4-3
Rays over White Sox 3-2

Rays over Angels 4-3

Rays over Cubs 4-2

I also predict I will not be attending a World Series game for the first time in 3 years and that blows.

[Chip R]

My predictions:

Ratings that are "down from last year".

Proclamations that baseball needs to do something to attract fans.

Complaints about the length of the season forcing the World Series to be played in temperatures in the 40s.

An All-Chicago World Series, with the workmanlike Southsiders upsetting the pretty boys from Wrigleyville.


People will complain about Tim McCarver.

[BRM]

People will complain about Tim McCarver.

As they should.

[Red in Chicago]

People will complain about Tim McCarver.

Perhaps

Over/under on the number of times he says "perhaps"

[RedLegSuperStar]

NLDS:

Dodgers over Cubs
Brewers over Phillies

NLCS:

Dodgers over Brewers

ALDS:

White Sox over Rays
Red Sox over Angels

ALCS:

White Sox over Red Sox

World Series:

White Sox over Dodgers

[vaticanplum]

Im rooting for a Tampa Milwaukee world series. Nothing gives the middle finger to baseball and the large market cities like seeing two of the smallest markets playing for the world series.

And if that happens, prepare to hear that exact argument against a salary cap for the next 10 years. I'm not passing judgment either way...just pointing out that you should be careful what you wish for.

Anyway, my guesses, and the last few years I've been pretty horrendous at this:

ALDS
White Sox over Rays in 5
I call this to be one of the best series in the whole playoffs. The Rays are a much better team and deserve to win, I'm just calling momentum and a gut feeling for the White Sox.
Angels over Red Sox in 4
I know everybody's going to think I'm biased here, and on paper I'd never pick the Angels to beat the Red Sox. But I've been favoring the Angels all year long so I'll just go with it.

NLDS
Dodgers over Cubs in 4
I'd love a sweep, myself.
Brewers over Phillies in 4

ALCS
Angels over White Sox in 4
Snoozefest

NLCS
Dodgers over Brewers in 6

WS
Angels over Dodgers in 4

So there you have it, I have what I myself would consider two of the worst playoff teams competing for the World Series. But series by series, that's just how my predictions played out. I hope I'm wrong (except the Cubs, I hope I'm totally right on the Cubs).

[westofyou]

Any World Series that has the Brewers vs the Angels or Rays would be the first WS to not have an original 16 franchise in it.

That's what I'm rooting for.. that and good baseball, but I predict I'll hate TBS and their rock n roll intro by 5 this afternoon.

[Joseph]

NLDS

Dodgers vs. Cubs

The Cubs will find a way to lose, they always do, its pretty simple. Dempster is a solid pitcher and I kick myself everytime I hear the story about how he wanted to stay with the Reds because he felt he owed them something and they wouldn't sign them. He'll be the only bright spot in this series for the Cubs.

The first hundred down, let the second hundred begin now.

Dodgers 3-1

Brewers vs. Phillies

Lot of Brewer love flying around and with CC on the hill its no surprise. Problem is the Phils have Brad Lidge, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and some dude named Utley who is maybe the best player in baseball.

Phils 3-1

NLCS

Phils vs. Dodgers

Manny is a comet flying across the Hollywood sky. He and Torre are enough to get it done.

Dodgers 4-2

ALDS

White Sox vs. Rays

Dewayne Wise is in the Sox lineup. I think that says enough for me. I will be rooting like a fan for Junior Griffey, but he won't get his ring this season either.

Rays 3-1

Red Sox vs. Angels

The Angels are an enigma perhaps, some say the best, some among the weakest. All I know is they've got John Lackey, K-Rod, and Texieria.

I also like Halos.

Angels 3-0

ALCS

Angels vs. Rays

You coulda had Boston and Chicago, major markets. Instead you get Anaheim and Tampa.

Rays 4-2

World Series

Dodgers vs. Rays

Cinderella had to be home before midnight, and this series will linger on well into the night. Still the experience the Dodgers have will rule the day.

Dodgers 4-3

[*BaseClogger*]

Joseph, we almost made the exact same picks all the way down to the series W/L split... :)

[gonelong]

NLDS
Dodgers vs. Cubs
Brewers vs. Phillies

NLCS
Brewers vs. Cubs

ALDS
White Sox vs. Rays
Red Sox vs. Angels

ALCS
Red Sox vs. Rays

WORLD SERIES
Brewers vs. Rays

Rays complete the dream season.

GL

[15fan]

Im rooting for a Tampa Milwaukee world series. Nothing gives the middle finger to baseball and the large market cities like seeing two of the smallest markets playing for the world series.

That's fine to root for Tampa.

But Milwaukee?

No no no no no no no no no and no.

That's Bud Selig's franchise. They are the absolute last franchise that anyone should ever be rooting for.

I'll be rooting for (1) Junior, (2) the Red Sox and Brewers to lose as soon as possible, and, um, that's about it.

[cincrazy]

NLDS
Dodgers over Cubs

Ryan Dempster is a good pitcher. But he's not an ace, and he'll stumble under the pressure of Game 1. With that being said, Zambrano isn't exactly up to the task of handling big game pressure either. Cubs fall behind 0-2, and lose the series in four.

Phillies over Brewers

The Brewers are a mess. A questionable bullpen. A below average defense. Sheets is done for the year and their rotation is a mess. Sorry CC, but you can't do it on your own. Phillies in four.

ALDS
Rays over White Sox

The White Sox are an older team, without home field advantage. Tampa's energy and the enthusiasm generated by that Tampa crowd will be enough to carry the Rays to the ALCS. Rays in five.

Red Sox over Angels

I want to pick the Angels. I really do. I'm tired of all things Boston. The Red Sox are without Manny, and they're banged up, but with that being said, I'm still picking Boston. M2, I liked your quote, calling the Angels a "paper tiger." That sums it up nicely. I don't think they're as dangerous on the field as they look on paper. The Red Sox pull it out in five.

NLCS

Dodgers over Phillies

Joe Torre's cool hand will lead the Dodgers to a World Series run that just a month or two ago looked impossible. Manny will put enough runs on the board to make the difference, and the Dodgers pitching will stymie the fantastic Philly offense. Dodgers in six.

ALCS

Red Sox over Rays

They're a nice story. But the clock will strike midnight for Cinderella. They don't have the experience, or the bullpen, to deal with Boston. The Red Sox have a deeper lineup, a three headed rotation monster in Beckett-Lester-Daisuke that nobody can match, and they are, after all, the defending champs. Red Sox in seven

World Series

Boston over LA

The Red Sox finally get their payback on Man-Ram. This team just flat out knows how to win in October, and three titles in five years will put them dangerously close to the run of the Yankees in the late 90's. In a year where there appears to be no clear cut, dominant champ, I'll give the edge to the defending champs, who will keep the crown in Boston