Writing The Pine’s

Inaugural MLB Playoff Predictions

A panel of 11 self-proclaimed baseball experts (and non-experts) made up of WTP writers and friends cast their predictions for the upcoming 2009 MLB playoffs.  Let’s introduce the starting lineup:

• PineTimePlayer – Owns a pink “Derek Jeter” jersey.
• HomeTownHero – Middle name is “Steinbrenner.”  ‘Nuff said.
• WritingIllini - Roots for all things Orange and Blue.  Which means the Mets, too.
• TheFinalWord – Was born in the bowels of Shea on a hot summer night years ago.
• Pinesol - WTP’s answer to John Hollinger.  A pinstriped version of Hollinger.
• Anderson – Grew up in BK.  Dodger Blue.
• FiveToolPlayer – Writes a blog devoted to the Yankees.
• YJ – Carries around a picture of Benny Agbayani in his wallet
• Thor – Calls Minnesota home.  Loves her Twinkies.
• Six – A Dodger fan (most of the time) transplanted on the East Coast.
• Novachek – A Phillies fan still basking in the glow of a World Series title.

Divisional Series

vs

7 panel members have the Red Sox winning the series, with the other 4 predicting an Angels squad to move past a history of postseason futility against the Red Sox.  With a starting rotation of Lackey, Santana, Weaver, and Kazmir, the Angels will have a chance to take down the Sox.  The Sox will answer with their overpowering 1-2 punch of Lester and Beckett.  The X-Factor will be the Angels running game and how Boston will deal with stopping Figgins, Abreu and crew from running wild. Varitek and V-Mart both threw out less than 10% of all attempted base stealers.  It will be up to the pitching staff keep the Angels off the base paths altogether if they plan on winning the series.

vs

A unanimous decision of 11-0 in favor of the Yankees.  The heavily favored Yankees have a good history against the Twins, the league’s best record, highest payroll, and the panel’s vote in their favor.  Anything less than a series victory will be seen as a failure and quite possibly an epic choke job.  The Yankees have the advantage of a superior pitching staff that is lined up for the postseason while the Twins have taxed their bullpen and rotation past three weeks.  Ultimately, the depth of the Yankees will help defeat the valiant (or pesky) Minnesota Twins.

vs

Another unanimous 11-0 decision.  This is a match up of the last two National League Pennant winners.  The Rodney Dangerfield Rockies get no respect, even though they have a formidable starting rotation and a better bullpen than the defending champs.  I guess people generally agree that the NL’s best offense will flourish playing all their games at Coors and Citizens Bank Park.   The key to the series will be how well the Phillies lefties neutralize the left-handed batters in the Rockies lineup and Brad Lidge.  Will we see 2008 Lidge or 2005 Lidge?

vs

The panel votes 9-2 in favor of the Red Birds.  With the additions of Holliday, DeRosa, and Smoltz, the Cardinals have been one of the best teams in the NL the second half of the season.  On the other hand, the Dodgers barely hung onto their NL West crown after being in cruise control most of the season.  With the Dodger rotation in disarray (Randy Wolf is starting Game 1!!!),  the formidable Carpenter/Wainwright combo will most likely lead the Cardinals past the Dodgers in the NLDS and possibly further.

Championship Series and World Series

vs vs

Of the 11 panel members, 6 predicted a parade down the Canyon of Heroes, while 3 chose the Cardinals and 2 went with Dodger Blue.  A full matrix of predictions can be found below in a chart.

• Every World Series prediction had either the Yankees, Cardinals, or both advancing from the Championship Series.
• The Yankees won the ALCS 9 times and captured the title 6 times.
• The Cardinals advanced from the NLCS 6 times and won it all half the time.
• The Dodgers advanced twice and won it all every time they made it to the big stage.
• On the other hand, the Angels and Phillies both won the championship series twice only to lose in the World Series to the Yankees or Cards

So what have we learned aside from the fact that the Yankees and Phillies are heavily favored to win their opening rounds?

• Every Yankees fan has the Yankees winning it all.
• Every Dodger fan has the Dodgers winning it all.
• Every Mets fan has the Cardinals winning it all (and the Yankees losing at one point or another)

Are Yankees fans blinded by their regular season success and susceptible to a serving of humble pie?  Are Dodger fans ignorant of their shortcomings?  Are Mets fans bitter and jealous of Yankees fans?  Or are they haunted by Yadier Molina’s home run from the 2006 NLCS?

It is interesting to note that Midwest sensibilities has Thor predicting a Yankees victory parade.  Or perhaps Thor is persuaded by her Fiance’s Pinstriped allegiance?  The perceived bias and blatant homer-ism by some of the panel members exemplify the beauty of the MLB playoffs.  Your team can get hot at the right time and get the 11 wins necessary to win a World Series. (see: 2003 Marlins; 2005 White Sox; 2004 Red Sox).  Every team legitimately has a shot at winning it all unlike say March Madness where a 16-seed will never run the table.  Or even the NFL, where the 6th seed rarely wins the Lombardi Trophy (unless you’re the Steelers).  Anything goes and by this time next month, your team that barely snuck into the playoffs or was left for dead could be showering in champagne or covered in ticker tape.

—

Unless of course you’re a Mets or Cubs fan.

A warm message from friend and Cubs fan, “The Angry and Drunken ScotsIrishman”

“…the only important things to know about baseball are:

• red sox are going to beat the yankees.
• the cubs are going to be accepted into the playoffs even though they didn’t “win” because milton bradley is going to talk his way in.
• i’m going to whoop you in fantasy this week.”

Yup, it’s football season for Cubs fans.  =D