I'm jumping into the fray here for MLB postseason picks. Since the Braves did not make the playoffs (slumping down the stretch so much that they fired their GM), the team I am pulling for is Baltimore. Cal Ripken Jr. was always cool when I was growing up and the Orioles were kind of my second team. The first MLB game I went to was Braves at Orioles. The Baltimore franchise has been down on its luck for several years but has found its way back to the postseason the past couple years under the guidance of Buck Showalter.
The Orioles are facing the Royals, and I really don't have a problem with them, either. How can you have an issue with a team that hasn't been in the playoffs since 1985? They have been fun to watch and really took control of the AL Central with a stretch where they won 19 of 23 games in early August. And of course, they won three straight extra-inning games in the postseason, beginning with the wild-card game against the Athletics, when they were down 7-3 going into the eighth inning. And for Kansas City to sweep the Angels in the ALDS was simply crazy because the Angels led MLB with 98 wins in the regular season.
The NLCS features more playoff-ready and proven teams in the Cardinals and Giants, winners of four of the past eight World Series. But that also, to me, makes the series a little less intriguing than the ALCS. I am getting kind of tired of these teams being in the World Series. No doubt, though, the winner of the NLCS will get several picks to win the World Series based on experience alone.
ALCS
Game 1: Tonight, 8:07 TBS at Baltimore
Team ERAs: Royals (3.51 regular season, 2.93 playoffs); Orioles (3.43 regular season, 3.33 playoffs)
Team hitting: Royals (.263 regular season, .240 playoffs); Orioles (.256 regular season, .263 playoffs)
Best regular-season hitters: Royals' Alex Gordon (.266, 19 HRs); Orioles' Adam Jones (.281, 29 HRs)
Best playoff hitters: Royals' Eric Hosmer (.500, 2 HRs); Orioles' Nelson Cruz (.500, 2 HRs)
Pick: Orioles in six games
For a good preview of the ALCS, check out my friend JP's blog: http://jpjam.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/cut-print-movin-on/
NLCS
Game 1: Saturday night, 8:07 FOX at St. Louis
Team ERAs: Giants (3.50 regular season, 1.33 playoffs); Cardinals
(3.50 regular season, 3.86 playoffs)
Team hitting: Giants (.255 regular season, .236 playoffs); Cardinals (.253 regular season, .238 playoffs)
Best regular-season hitters: Giants' Buster Posey (.311, 22 HRs); Cardinals' Matt Adams (.288, 15 HRs)
Best playoff hitters: Giants' Posey (.391); Cardinals' Matt Carpenter (.375, 3 HRs)
Pick: Cardinals in seven games
The Orioles are facing the Royals, and I really don't have a problem with them, either. How can you have an issue with a team that hasn't been in the playoffs since 1985? They have been fun to watch and really took control of the AL Central with a stretch where they won 19 of 23 games in early August. And of course, they won three straight extra-inning games in the postseason, beginning with the wild-card game against the Athletics, when they were down 7-3 going into the eighth inning. And for Kansas City to sweep the Angels in the ALDS was simply crazy because the Angels led MLB with 98 wins in the regular season.
The NLCS features more playoff-ready and proven teams in the Cardinals and Giants, winners of four of the past eight World Series. But that also, to me, makes the series a little less intriguing than the ALCS. I am getting kind of tired of these teams being in the World Series. No doubt, though, the winner of the NLCS will get several picks to win the World Series based on experience alone.
ALCS
Game 1: Tonight, 8:07 TBS at Baltimore
Team ERAs: Royals (3.51 regular season, 2.93 playoffs); Orioles (3.43 regular season, 3.33 playoffs)
Team hitting: Royals (.263 regular season, .240 playoffs); Orioles (.256 regular season, .263 playoffs)Best regular-season hitters: Royals' Alex Gordon (.266, 19 HRs); Orioles' Adam Jones (.281, 29 HRs)
Best playoff hitters: Royals' Eric Hosmer (.500, 2 HRs); Orioles' Nelson Cruz (.500, 2 HRs)
Pick: Orioles in six games
For a good preview of the ALCS, check out my friend JP's blog: http://jpjam.wordpress.com/2014/10/09/cut-print-movin-on/NLCS
Game 1: Saturday night, 8:07 FOX at St. Louis
Team ERAs: Giants (3.50 regular season, 1.33 playoffs); Cardinals
(3.50 regular season, 3.86 playoffs)
Team hitting: Giants (.255 regular season, .236 playoffs); Cardinals (.253 regular season, .238 playoffs)Best regular-season hitters: Giants' Buster Posey (.311, 22 HRs); Cardinals' Matt Adams (.288, 15 HRs)
Best playoff hitters: Giants' Posey (.391); Cardinals' Matt Carpenter (.375, 3 HRs)
Pick: Cardinals in seven games
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