COLUMN: Semi-educated predictions for the MLB playoffs
Warmin’ up the bench: Dan Phelps
Editor’s note: This article was written on Tuesday afternoon after Game 1 of the Twins vs. Yankees series.
Now that October has come upon us, so has the opportunity to play for the World Series. When I found out I was getting the opportunity to write this article, I felt like Chunk when he found all that Rocky Road ice cream in the cellar.
Then I realized how foolish I might look if my predictions don’t go as I have planned. If this is the case, then I would feel like Chunk when he got locked in the cellar’s freezer with that dead guy.
Here goes nothing:
Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics
This series will be a match-up of Boston’s bats against Oakland’s pitching. Having a lineup with Manny Ramirez, Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller, David Ortiz and the Unfrozen Caveman Center Fielder (AKA-Johnny Damon), to name a few, the boys from Bean town will win games.
The question is will it be enough against a stacked pitching staff from M.C. Hammer’s hometown? On paper?
Yes.
In the postseason?
No.
But in the postseason against Oakland?
You bet.
Oakland’s arms of Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Keith Foulke will be a challenge, but the A’s don’t seem to have enough in the end. It’s a shame, sadly. They deserve to get past the ALDS.
Boston in four.
Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees
The Yankees have had Minnesota’s number all season long, taking all seven games they played against each other during the regular season. But that was the regular season.
Under the tutelage of manager Ron Gardenhire, the Twins will battle with the best of them, especially when the series takes them into the Metrodome. Now their fans will actually show up. When they do, they’ll bring the noise.
This is New York’s seventh consecutive appearance in the postseason. During this span, they’ve gone to the World Series five times and have celebrated four championships.
The Yankees are the best team money can buy. Their batting lineup runs deep and their pitching staff (sans Jeff Weaver) is firing on all cylinders.
If there’s an upset to be had in this postseason, it’ll happen in this series. I’m going to refrain from making this bold prediction and sticking with the safe bet, the “easy money” Yankees.
New York in five.
Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves
There are two teams I hate in baseball and both of them are in this series.
The Cubs are the rivals of my beloved hometown team, the St. Louis Cardinals. I love the Cardinals like a fat kid loves cake. Rooting for the Cubs is like rooting for BYU. Don’t get me started on either of these
topics.
Not to be counted out, I dislike the Braves. Around these parts, the Braves are liked a lot because Dale Murphy played for them 13 years ago (he played for the Rockies too, you know).
Another thing about the Braves: They’re like the Jamaican bobsled team from Cool Runnings. They’ll have a great run and impress everyone, then surprisingly the bolts come loose and they fall apart in the end.
With the exception of 1995, it happens all the time, so it’s no longer surprising. I don’t even want to delve into these lineups.
To summarize, the Braves will hold it together long enough to get past the Cubs.
Atlanta in four.
Florida Marlins vs. San Francisco Giants
Beware of the teams who catch fire going into October. In this case, beware of the Marlins.
Florida has come up big in their last few games, winning seven of their last 10, to clinch the NL Wild Card spot.
Getting adequate amounts of offense, some great defensive plays and having some quality pitching out of slightly-above-average players, not to mention a 72 year-old skipper at the helm, the Marlins are giving everyone around the league more surprises than General Motors gives out pink slips.
Meanwhile, the Giants have been right where you remember them: first place. They got an extra day’s rest by forfeiting a make-up game against the Dodgers, so San Francisco is ready to roll … and roll they will.
Not to disrespect those three faithful Marlins fans of Cache Valley, but Florida is inexperienced.
The Giants were one Barry Bonds home run away from winning the World Series last year. They have experience. They have solid pitching. They have Pac Bell Park. Most importantly, they have Barry.
Having all those, San Francisco will take the Marlins.
San Francisco in four.
I’ll be back next Friday to follow up on my predictions and make new ones for the Championship Series’.
Dan Phelps is a senior majoring in public relations. Comments can be sent to djphelps@cc.usu.edu.