World Series Picks
The post-season line-up in baseball is all set with Houston earning the last berth today. Thanks to a stunning late season run (not to mention a horrendous and sad collapse by the Cubs), the Astros nailed down the wild card spot. Read on as I make my predictions for the World Series.
Most everyone likes the St. Louis Cardinals, who finished the season with the best record in baseball and boast a power-packed line-up. I don't. They don't have the dominant pitching that typically wins. In the NL, I'll go with the smoking Astros. Led by the Rocket and Roy Oswalt, who both can stake a claim to being the NL's best pitcher this year, they have the type of one-two pitching punch that propelled the Diamondbacks to the 2001 World Series title. They also boast a solid line-up led by one of the most underrated but best players in the game: five-tool stud outfielder Carlos Beltran.
No one in the AL overwhelms me. All the teams have major flaws. I will go with a dark-horse pick that, of course, will foster cries of me being a homer: the Yankees. Although their pitching has been shaky all season, on paper they have the most dominant group of starting pitchers of the A.L. contenders. Note that I didn't say the most dominant pitcher - that title belongs to Johan Santana with Curt Schilling a close second. But no other team boasts the potential depth of the Yankees, who can trot out the Moose, Kevin Brown, and Javy Vazquez. They have a bullpen led by the best closer in baseball history and a set-up man (Flash Gordon) who would close for most other teams. Put that together with a versatile offense that has shown it can manufacture runs when needed, and it adds up to another Series berth.
So now the World Series. Gadzooks, as much as it pains me to go against my team, I say that the Rocket and Oswalt shut down the Yankees like Arizona did in 2001 and Florida did last year. The Astros not only win their first playoff series ever this year but win the whole thing. I can only hope that I'm wrong, and that the Yankees pull it out.
Let the debate (and mockery of me) begin.
Comments
I'd like to add a comment about who didn't make the playoffs - the Giants. Everyone has been commenting on the personal cost to Barry Bonds by his being walked so often intentionally, non-intentionally, intentionally non-intentionally, etc., etc. It goes beyond that, though. The Giants have, almost certainly, been denied a playoff spot by this gambit. I don't have the answer, but something needs to done because this is carrying the intentional walk to absurdity. I think that it damages the sport when a team is penalized to that extent for having baseball's dominant offensive player. What does anyone else think?
Posted by: SS | October 3, 2004 09:47 PM
It's a team game, and that's the way it's always been played. No rule change. Since Edgar is no more the DH should be canned too. What a travesty.
As for the Astros, they may yet make a sage out of me. I predicted a World Series showdown between The Rocket and one of his old teams at the beginning of the season.
Posted by: exile | October 3, 2004 10:22 PM
I don't think that "it's always been that way" is a sufficient argument. At one time a walk-off home run that drove in the winning run on base was only credited as a single. At one time there were no playoffs. The teams with the best records in each league won the pennants and played each other in the World Series. Things do change.
Posted by: SS | October 4, 2004 12:05 AM
If the Giants had more offense surrounding Bonds - they can have Jason Giambi, by the way - he wouldn't be walked intentionally as often, and they might have won the handful of extra games needed to win their division or make the playoffs.
I agree with The Spielmeister on this one. They shouldn't tinker with the game and change the rules on the intentional pass. Once Bonds retires or the Giants get some more offense - again, Jason Giambi is available in my book - it won't be an issue.
Posted by: Jon | October 4, 2004 01:01 AM
The Big Blue Wrecking Crew is about to take the Cards down. Ask Tony L. if he is having nightmares about the '88 series.
The Dodgers will win the World Series, end of story. :)
Posted by: Jack | October 4, 2004 01:09 PM
Any rule changes that don't alter the game's traditions or the way it's been played over the last 80 years or so, are okay with me. I like the new playoffs/division format, I don't like the interleague games or DH at all.
Posted by: exile | October 4, 2004 06:10 PM
I agree with where you think it is going. I am going to have everyone of my friends in the world going to want to come visit me in Houston is it happens that way. I will Still be rooting for the Yankees but it hurts when your new hometown team plays your lifelong team.
Of course it beats having to watch Boston and St. Louis.
Posted by: Starhawk | October 4, 2004 11:30 PM