ALDS and NLDS playoff prediction thread!

[MaineDolFan]

Okay, folks!  Opening round of the divisionals start tonight.  Post your thoughts and predictions here!

Starting with the defending WS champions and making our way from there...

Boston V. Anaheim

These two teams are fairly equally matched.  Boston's offense is a bit better, Anaheim gets the slight nod in middle relief (but not by much).  Both teams have solid closers and very good 1, 2, 3 pitchers.  A wildcard in this wildcard could be Boston's running attack (that just sounds weird to say).  Look for Boston to let Ellsbury and Crisp try to create a ton of havoc on the basepaths.  Napoli is the worst defensive catcher in the league, the Angels deal with that because he calls a good game and swings good wood.  Even still, not sure Boston can overcome road woes that have troubled them all season.  If Manny's thunder were still in this line up I'd think otherwise.  Love Jason Bay.  He ain't no Manny.

Angels in 4

Chicago White Sox V. Tampa Bay Rays

The Twins matched up with Tampa much better than Chicago does, don't let the regular season match ups fool you.  Chicago has a much better offense and closer.  Tampa has a much better defense, starting pitching and defense.  A key thing to watch in this series is Scott Kazmir, things haven't looked right lately.  Chicago makes pitchers work and if they can get into Tampa's bullpen early in games 1 & 2 and wear them down a little, they have a shot.  Other wise this could very well be a sweep.

Tampa Bay in 5

Milwaukee V. Philadelphia

Interesting match up.  The Brewers have lost Sheets, the Phillies could be losing Burrell.  That would be huge.  I almost fell out of my chair when I saw who the Brewers were running out for game 1 of this series.  Who the hell is Yovani Gallardo?  Okay, that's a joke.  He's a very good upcoming guy with a ton of upside.  And he's pitched 24 freaking innings all season long.  This isn't the time for this type of move and it's going to bite the Brewers in the ass.  Gallardo pitched 4 innings a couple days ago.  Before that he hasn't tossed in the bigs since May 1. 

Fightin' Phills in 3. 

L.A. Dodgers V. Chicago Cubs

Way back when, I think February, I made two claims on TDMMC Saturday night radio.  First, I told everyone to grab Kevin Youkilis by round four and shock everyone in your league.  Second I said that Chicago would knock on 100 wins this season.  Yay, me.  Even a busted clock is right twice a day.  Lowe and Dempster bring it for game 1 and there is no one in the world that is more nails in the playoffs in the past 10 years than Derek Lowe.  Dempy had a great season.  The Dodgers are completely different after the Manny trade and need to be approached differently.  While I think Chicago wins this series it won't shock me to watch the Dodgers swoop in and sweep. 

Chicago in 5.

Whatcha got?

[bsfins]

Angels ...I think no or limited Drew,Lowell,and Beckett are killers...

Rays ...The feel good story,I think White sox might steal the first game because of the momentum they have right now,with the 3 straight wins or go home...I think the Rays are the better team..

Phillies ...I hate the F-'n Brewers....They can't pitch Sabathia every game...

Dodgers -It breaks my heart to say it...I think the Cubs are fat an sassy,the offense hasn't really came back to the way it did earlier in the year...The Mets,beat them selves the Cubs didn't win those games...Lately it seems like it doesn't matter who's pitching in the Bull pen...They are giving up too many hits and and runs....Oddly enough I think we should have Skipped Z and used him as our 4 the start ...It should be Dempster,Lilly,and Harden....Then Zambrano...

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

Angels in 5

Rays in 4

Phillies in 4

Cubs in 5 - As happy as I am the Dodgers made the cut I do not see them beating the Cubs. If our starting pitching is as good as it can be we have a good shot but I do not trust our offense. Either has been hot and Manny is on fire but we need to get people on base otherwise Manny will not see any pitches and will be rendered useless. I am hoping the bats of Blake, Loney, Martin and Kemp can pull through. They have not won a series since they won the world series in 1988. They have only won 1 playoff game in the last twenty years. I am hoping things will change with Joe Torre in the drivers seat but this is still a relatively young team.

Lil B I find it interesting that you the ultimate Cubbies fan is picking the Dodgers and me the ultimate Dodgers fan is picking the cubs. Should be a great series either way my friend.

[StL FinFan]

I think you are both afraid to pick your own team. 

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

^^^^Or after years of letdowns we just know better!!!! 

[Sunstroke]

Red sox in 5 over the Angels... Others say "injury," I say "experience" decides this one.

Rays in 4 over the White Sox... Experience is trumped only by destiny, and destiny's middle name is Ray.

Phillies in 3 over the Brewers... Last call for cheese brats and watered down beer!

Cubs in 4 over the Dodgers... To take a cue from Little Red Riding Hood...

"Grandmother, what big expectations you have!"
"The better to crush your hearts with later, my Cubbies fans!"

[SportsChick]

Sox, Sox, Phillies, Cubs

[bsfins]

^^^^Or after years of letdowns we just know better!!!! 

Yeah that sums it up pretty well.....I think Momentum is on the Dodgers side....It think it will be who will make the big mistake on defense...I've got my $1 on Aflonso Soriano...P.O.S...To add insult to injury,AZ gets to kick my ass in TDMMC fantasy football league to top it all off....

[Rick]

   Angels, Rays, Phillies and Cubbies all win in 4 game series!!!!

[bsfins]

Zambrano is going to make Dempster look the good pitcher...Zambrano is gonna walk 8....

[Thundergod]

R. Sox, Rays, Phillies, Cubs...

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

Zambrano is going to make Dempster look the good pitcher...Zambrano is gonna walk 8....

I'm not one to take joy from others misery......but one like me could only hope your prediction comes to fruition!!!!! 

[bsfins]

IT's ok....I know My team...I still feel like Ted Lilly has been our stopper the past two years....and pitching the best the last two outings....Zambrano his last two outings since the no -no have looked alot like Dempster's performance lastnight....I'd like to win atleast one game..so I can say we've not been swept out of theplayoffs the past 2 years in the first round....