Please take this with a grain of salt. Obviously, the MLB playoffs are the hardest thing to predict before the season, so I've come up with some "predictions" if the playoffs are populated by my previous predictions. Which are Boston, Detroit, Seattle & wild card New York in the American League and New York, Chicago, Los Angeles & wild card Arizona in the National League. And looking at those cities, you can imagine that Bud Selig and his croonies at Fox would LOVE these to be TV markets to make the playoffs.
In the American League Division Series:
Boston over Seattle, 3-1
Josh "Burglar Guts" Beckett renders Erik Bedard useless as the Sox take Game 1. King Felix helps Seattle steal home-field advantage with a win in Game 2 over Dice-K. However Clay Buchholz & Jon Lester are able to outpitch Jarrod Washburn and Miguel Batista, ultimately sealing Seattle’s fate – their starters after the 1-2 punch of Bedard & Felix just are not good enough to keep the Red Sox offense down.
Detroit over New York, 3-2
These two teams will go on to set the record for most total runs scored in a 5-game divisional round series, despite the good pitching each can trot out. Each team exhausts its pitching staff in this epic offensive war. Detroit has just enough firepower to get to the tired, young arms of the Yankees. Brian Cashman contract expires and he walks away with some dignity as Steinbrenner stews over not being able to fire him.
In the National League Division Series:
New York over Arizona, 3-2
The Mets make up for last year's collaspe, and they are led by Johan Santana, who wins Game 1 over Brandon Webb. Dan Haren is able to take Game 2 over Pedro Martinez. The teams split in Arizona and return to New York with Santana & Webb matching up again. Santana proves worth the investment as the Mets advance to the NLCS.
Chicago over Los Angeles, 3-0
The Cubbies jump all over the Dodgers in Chavez Ravine, stealing the 1st two games behind Zambrano & Hill before clinching in Wrigley in front of the delighted Chicago fans, who are convinced that this year’s Lunar Eclipse is the sign that they will finally break their championship drought; much like the Red Sox did in 2004 under a red moon.
In the American League Championship Series:
Boston over Detroit, 4-2
The Tigers pitching staff is in shambles after dealing with the Yankees lineup, and the Red Sox grinding offense approach wears them down to a point wear they do not have a legit chance to win the series. The Tigers offense is able to keep them alive and the series knotted at 2 apiece, but it is Beckett who shuts down their vaunted offense in Game 5 in front of a wild Fenway crowd. Dice-K pitches his best game on the biggest stage as the Sox clinch in Motown. Josh Beckett’s wins in Games 1 & 5 capture yet another ALCS MVP Award for him.
In the National League Championship Series:
Chicago over New York, 4-2
The Cubs are able to take Games 1 and 2 against Martinez & Perez, but get beat by Santana in Game 3. Santana looms large as the potential Game 7 starter, but the Cubs offense is led by Japanese import Fukudome, as he delivers clutch hit after clutch hit. Carlos Zambrano wins Games 1 and 5 to win the MVP, and Rich Hill’s dominant performance in game 6 saves the Cubs from having to face off against Santana. Carlos Beltran has a chance to exercise his playoff demons, yet again takes the series-ending called third strike, and combined with his spring training prediction of a trip to the World Series, stamps his ticket out of the non-forgiving New York environment this off-season.
In the World Series:
Boston over Chicago, 4-0
Terry Francona improves his World Series managerial record to 12-0 as Boston wins its 3rd World Series title of the decade, and ends an 92-year "curse" of not having back-to-back titles. David Oritz wins the MVP as he homers 3 times off the Cubs’ lefties that were supposed to shut him down. The Sox somehow even manage to beat Red Sox killer Ted Lilly in Game 3 as the Cubbies bullpen blows it. Josh Beckett starts Game 1 and sets the tone, further enhancing his incredible playoff resume. Sorry Cubs fans, as much as I like the fairy tale ending of the Cubs winning the World Series (and would root for them against anyone but the Sox), 100 years pass and still there is no Cubs championship.
And of course I took the Sox to repeat! Why not us again and again?!? Enjoy the 2008 season!
American League 2008
2008 - AL East Predictions
2008 - AL Central Predictions
2008 - AL West Predictions
National League 2008
2008 - NL East Predictions
2008 - NL Central Predictions
2008 - NL West Predictions
2008 Playoffs
2008 MLB Playoff Predictions
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ALDS
Yankees sweep Seattle (3-0)
Bedard and Felix just aren't tested enough to be thrown into Yankee Stadium and expect success. My tune may change as I watch them this season, but as of now I have it as a sweep.
Sox beat the Tigers (3-1)
Verlander is negated by another dominant Beckett outing, as the Tigers lose home field advantage and flounder in Fenway. An Ortiz/Manny walkoff is prominently involved.
NLDS
Diamondbacks beat the Cubs (3-2)
Zambrano isn't enough as the Cubs get a double dose of Webb and can't swallow the pill.
Braves win over the Dodgers (3-1)
Chipper is MVP, Andruw sulks, and Torre pours himself another tea.
ALCS
Yankees over the Sox (4-3)
Beckett returns to Yankee stadium to close out a series, and finally meets his match.
Bartolo Colon eats a 20 oz. steak at the Outback.
NLCS
Dimaondbacks over the Braves (4-2)
Smoltz vs. Webb turns out to be one of the greatest pitching duels in playoff history, but Glavine has no answer for Haren.
World Series
Yankees over the Diamondbacks (4-2)
Arizona's offense just isn't enough to overcome the Yankees, Randy Johnson can't muster the last remnants of his talent to beat that offensive machine, and the Yankee Dynasty reassembles itself from where it crumbled.
As noted by Mugatu the playoffs are anyones guess, when they are so far away. About the only thing I can 100% say will happen is that Bartolo Colon will eat a 20oz steak sometime this season and most likely at an Outback 5 or more times...
YOU WERE WRIGHT UNTILL U REACH THE WORLD SERIES!!!!
1908 - 2008
CHICAGO CUBS 208 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY?!?!?! "BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS OUR YEAR"