After the Angles hand the Yankees walking papers in game 3 and 5 in LA, I thought for sure LA got the best of us but our starting pitching got us through the entire season.

So lets recap my predictions (fail).

NLDS

• COL vs. PHI – I thought PHI would win in 4; PHI did win in 4. :check:
• STL vs. LAD – LAD I thoguht would win in 5; LAD sweep. :fail:

NLCS

• PHI vs. LAD – I thought LAD would win in 6; PHI won in 5. :fail:

ALDS

• BOS vs. LAA – I thought BOS would win in 5; LAA sweep. Double :fail:
• MIN vs. NYY – I thought NYY would win in 4; NYY sweep. :fail:

ALCS

• BOS vs. NYY – First of all, I thought it was going to be LAA and not BOS. NYY no matter what would win in 6; We did over LAA. :fail: and :check:

World Series

• LAD vs. NYY
  • LAD is out. PHI is in. :fail:
  • NYY wins.. :tbd:

So not bad, but still some wrong things. Baseball is like that. Really unpredictable. Great baseball all around. Oh yeah. TBS should not broadcast sports. Fox should get rid of McCarver. CBS Stearling full of win!

• PHI vs. LAD – The only game that I was correct that it would take 4 games.
• LAA vs. NYY – Who knew both teams were going to sweep!

The Yankees are still on track to face LAD in the World Series, but something I didn’t think of before. We could have either an East Coast Series with the NYY playing PHI or a West Coast (Highway) Series with LAD vs. LAA. However it could still be a mix of both West and East coast teams.

Game 1 of the NLCS is Thursday on TBS and on Friday it’s Game 1 of the ALCS on Fox. More great baseball on it’s way!

I watched the LAD sweep STL and after watching the batting styles of LAD, they are going to be a tough team to beat in a 7 game NLCS or WS. However, LAD pitching is still shaky compared to NYY’s 1-2-3 punch. NYY Game 3 pitching duel with MIN was a gem. Pettitte pitched like it was 1998 and even A-Rod came out in a clutch again. MIN failed in the running part of this game.

I am really surprised by BOS being sweeped by LAA without even winning at home. Tough break for the BOS team, but they were not playing their best at the end of the season; even being sweeped again against NYY at NYY.

Now it’s off to the ALCS on FOX. _{And yes.. I didn’t like the TBS broadcasters and style. They didn’t know anything!}

Lets just say that the AL Central race was also crazy. Who would ever predicated that it go to 163 games and the winner of Detriot vs. Twins would come down to one game. Hats off to the Twins! 12 innings. Walk off fashion! Instant Classic!

So what’s in store and how do I think it’s going to play out? Find out!

My 2009 Baseball Predictions

I think the most obvious you see here is that I pick the Yankees to win it all, and that’s because I am a true Yankee fan. This team has the same spirit as the 1996 World Series Team.

NLDS

• STL vs. LAD – LAD in 5 Games – I think the game between the LAD and STL will happen the full 5 games of the series. Both teams are very good and are equal in pretty much all aspects of the game, but I think LAD has a slight edge at home field which gives them the win.
• COL vs. PHI – PHI in 4 Games – While the Rockies the the underdog again in this postseason (who knew that even make it to the World Series vs. BOS) I don’t think they can defeat the PHI in a 3 game sweep, but I do think they will be able to stick around because of the small ball they play.

NLCS

• PHI vs. LAD – LAD in 6 Games – With the cross-crossing the country to play games 1 and 2 first in LAD and then heading to PHI for games 3, 4, and 5 – each team will feel the fatigue. LAD still have the advantage when they win game 5 and fly back to LAD for game 6 in which they will win the series and head to the World Series.

ALDS

• BOS vs. LAA – BOS in 5 Games – While LAA has been dominate over the entire season, BOS has LAA number when it comes to playing the game. BOS will be able to adapt really quickly to LAA defence style if they lose the first game out in LAA. LAA has not been able to win important games at BOS. The Green Monster seems to have their number. (Yes. I am putting on my BOS cap for these games.)
• MIN vs. NYY – NYY in 4 Games – While I see NYY being able to beat MIN, NYY pitcher A.J. Burnett is a Wild Card when it comes to becoming consistant. While MIN does have Joe Mouer, I don’t think the pitchers for MIN can beat the A-List rotation. MIN also had to travel to NYY after a very long battle.

ALCS

• BOS vs. NYY – NYY in 6 Games – Yes. Another rivalry match between BOS and NYY. NYY was pure dominated at the end of the season and was able to keep BOS at bay turning the tables playing small ball and stealing on the old age and slow defence of BOS.

World Series

I can not wait for the LAD vs. NYY games. NYY will win the game, but having Joe Torre come back to Yankee Stadium to face his former team and players he managed will be quite interesting. This match up has been predicted for months. I still think NYY has the advantage over LAD pitching staff, but of course LAD has no DH once they play in LAD which puts the NYY in trouble.

Granted the Red Sox’s held off the Rays to Game 7 of the ALCS, it is nothing like their come back in 2004 when the were down 3-0 to my Yankees, winning in the end in Game 7 and going on to win the World Series in 2004 and again 2006. For a few days, I thought the Red Sox’s would be heading back going to go for a third World Series title. Boston would have gone nuts. No matter what, all games played in the World Series are going to be in the East Coast time zone.

This year is tough pick to choose the winner. I’m just going to watch the game and not make any predictions this time around. They are both solid teams. Congrats to the Rays and Phillies on an excellent regular season.

First off, my predictions about the NLDS games, Dodgers vs. Cubs and Phillies vs. Brewers. Besides the fact I thought the Dodgers were going to lose at least one game, the Phillies and the Dodgers both swept their opponents. A very hard thing to do in playoff situations and in the Division Series 5-game format. But so far I am right on the winners. For the NLCS, Dodgers in six.

For the ALDS games I was way off. Both of the teams I predicated to move on in easy fashion blew a 2-0 lead in the series before they each won a game before losing the whole thing yesterday. While the White Sox’s were able to beat the Twins before hand to secure a playoff spot, they were just dominated by the younger Rays. I was just shocked that it happened. Shocked! With the Angles vs. Red Sox games, I was a bit surprised to see the best team in baseball go down in flames.

NLCS Matchup

• No change. Dodgers in six.

ALCS Matchup

• Boston vs. Rays: I think Boston will prevail, maybe a sweep of the Rays, but the Rays to get this far must be playing really good baseball. I am going to also say Red Sox’s in six.

So with that behind us, my revised World Series predictions is Red Six vs. Dodgers. East Coast vs. West Coast. Or about about this one: Torre vs. Franconia or Manny vs. Ortiz. Crazy! Does anyone remember this story?

2008 Baseball World Series Logo

I am an avid baseball fan, but this is the first time in 17 years that no New York team has made it to the post-season. The Yankees were eliminated long before their season ending win over the Boston Red Sox’s, but the Mets succumbed to the wrath of Red October Baseball with another September collapse, losing a must win over the Florida Marlins to ensure a tie over the Milwaukee Brewers, who have now claimed the NL Wild Card crown. A tie would have forced a one game showdown at Shea Stadium for the NL Wild Card Crown. Only one spot in the Post Season has yet to be filled and that is between the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox.

I’m going to break down my predictions right now and wrap up of the Yankee season.

Update: The White Sox’s won the game vs. Tigers which forces the Sox and Twins in a one game playoff!

Update 2: The White Sox’s did win the game vs. Twins! So far I am correct!

For the NL:

NLDS

• Cubs (Home Field Advantage throughout the playoffs) vs. Dodgers: Though it would be nice to see the Cubs and Mr. Lou in the World Series, I don’t think they will overcome the Los Angeles Dodgers who are being lead by former Yankee manager Joe Torre. Dodgers in four games.
• Phillies (Home Field) vs. Brewers: Though it is a miracle that the Brewers were doing so well this year, I still think the Phillies are the better team. Phillies in three.

NLCS

• Dodgers (Home Field) vs. Phillies: While the Phillies again pulled off another amazing uprising during the September month, while the Mets collapsed, I don’t think the can win against a very powerful Dodgers team lead by Torre. The Dodgers have more depth than the Phillies in the bullpen which is needed in the seven game NLCS, if it goes that long. Dodgers in six, because the Phillies are a fighting’ team.

For the AL:

ALDS

• Red Sox (Home Field) vs. Angels: There is no question that both teams are red hot, yet I don’t think the Red Sox have the humph or momentum that the Los Angeles Angels has have in the final 3 months of the season where they basically dominate the other team. Angels Sweep.
• Unknown vs. Rays (Home Field Advantage throughout the playoffs): Because at this point in time there is no team playing the Rays I will bounce off both scenarios including my prediction in the ALCS match up.
  • White Sox: The White Sox’s just like the Angles have dominated their division with crazy yet powerful baseball playing. There is no question if they play the Rays that they will win the series in four games. White Sox’s can only get to the post-season by winning against the Tigers in the makeup game since winning against the Tigers would form a one game playoff between the Sox’s and the Twins for the spot. The Sox’s are heavily favored to win in the tie-breaker, if it happens.
  • Twins: While unlike the team that had C.C. on the team, the team is still mighty and great. I think the Rays have been playing better ball that the Twins. Rays in five.

ALCS

• Rays/White Sox vs. Angels: No stopping the Angles on who ever they play. They will win in five games, though allowing who ever makes it able to play in the ALCS.

World Series

LAA vs. LAD: California Face Off. I think this year we might see Pacific Coast Series versus the two California teams that are also in the same town! I think the mayor of LA will have to choose they team wisely, but no matter what, LA will be home to the new World Champions. My prediction for this game will be held off until it happens. If it’s not LAD vs. LAA, I guess I haven’t been watching enough baseball this season, but these teams seem pretty confident that they are a shoe in for the top game.

Yankees Wrap Up

After the Yankess fired Torre and hired Girardi, I questioned the management behind the decision. Being an EX-Yankee Catcher does not qualify you as a good manager and being a TV analysts for the YES network does not make you know how to create good judgment calls when the game is going on. While in the booth you have access to electronic stats and other things that normally you would not have. I would have rather had Don Mattingly be the manager has he was a manager for the Yankees for at least two seasons. Instead he is with Torre being his bench coach for the Dodgers. With the possibility of Torre will bring the LAD to the World Series, not an easy feat, this will be the first time the Dodgers were at the series since they won it in 1988! Over 20 years ago!

Suggestion to Yankees Management: Fire Girardi.

Anyway, Baseball season is clearly in the back of my mind. I just hope the Jets this year do something and make it to the Super Bowl in February.