Spring Break
October brings playoff baseball
Hart Holloman
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Sports
National League
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies come in benefiting from another choke job by the Mets, but they certainly have the experience edge over the Brewers, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
The Phillies made the playoffs last year, but were swept by the Rockies in the first round. Still, the Phillies do have the past two NL MVP's in Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins. The Brewers come in riding the big arm of C.C. Sabathia. With Ben Sheets out for remainder of the season, Sabathia will need to pitch every chance he gets to keep the Brew Crew going. In a short series, that may be enough.
With both lineups finding it difficult to score runs in recent weeks, pitching may just decide the series. Once you get through Sabathia, the Brewers may find it hard just to find a live arm to put out on the mound. Look for the Phillies to ride their superior depth in their rotation and bullpen to the series win, but it will take five games, with Sabathia winning both of his starts. Pick: Phillies
LA Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are on cloud nine as they enter the playoffs with the best record in the NL and the favorites to win the pennant. The Dodgers are limping in with a mere 84 wins coming out of the worst division in baseball.
This looks to be the biggest mismatch in the playoffs, and it should play out that way on the field. While the cubs will trot out Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden in the first three games, the Dodgers will give the ball to Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda, advantage Cubbies. You can also give the Cubs an edge in defense, offense and the bullpen. But, there is the matter of the Billy Goat. Still the Cubs should have no trouble winning three in a row against the overmatched Dodgers. Cubs will sweep and have the opportunity to rest their aces for the NLCS. Pick: Cubs
AL
Boston Red Sox vs. LA Angels of Anaheim
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies come in benefiting from another choke job by the Mets, but they certainly have the experience edge over the Brewers, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
The Phillies made the playoffs last year, but were swept by the Rockies in the first round. Still, the Phillies do have the past two NL MVP's in Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins. The Brewers come in riding the big arm of C.C. Sabathia. With Ben Sheets out for remainder of the season, Sabathia will need to pitch every chance he gets to keep the Brew Crew going. In a short series, that may be enough.
With both lineups finding it difficult to score runs in recent weeks, pitching may just decide the series. Once you get through Sabathia, the Brewers may find it hard just to find a live arm to put out on the mound. Look for the Phillies to ride their superior depth in their rotation and bullpen to the series win, but it will take five games, with Sabathia winning both of his starts. Pick: Phillies
LA Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are on cloud nine as they enter the playoffs with the best record in the NL and the favorites to win the pennant. The Dodgers are limping in with a mere 84 wins coming out of the worst division in baseball.
This looks to be the biggest mismatch in the playoffs, and it should play out that way on the field. While the cubs will trot out Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden in the first three games, the Dodgers will give the ball to Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda, advantage Cubbies. You can also give the Cubs an edge in defense, offense and the bullpen. But, there is the matter of the Billy Goat. Still the Cubs should have no trouble winning three in a row against the overmatched Dodgers. Cubs will sweep and have the opportunity to rest their aces for the NLCS. Pick: Cubs
AL
Boston Red Sox vs. LA Angels of Anaheim
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steph
posted 10/02/08 @ 11:22 AM EST
GO RED SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!
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