This year's first round was probably the most entertaining Divisional Series of all time. All four series went the distance lasting 5 games with the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals advancing to the next round.
Reviewing my selections from the first round, I was one out away from being a perfect 4-0 (but who's counting). I had the Yankees, Tigers, Giants, and Nationals, and the Nationals let their hopes for advancing slip away last night to the "never say die"Cardinals.
So here are my predictions for the following two series.
San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals continued to surprise everyone with another come from behind win in the 9th inning of Game 5 against the Nationals. Their stacked lineup poses a huge threat to any pitching staff no matter who the other team has. They are balanced from 1-8, with a steady balance of veterans and young talent.
The Giants had a comeback of their own in the first round, but it stretched over the entire series. The Cincinnati Reds jumped out to an early 2-0 series league before the Giants won 3 straight stealing the series. One interesting thing about the Giants is that they had two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum come out of the bullpen instead of start. Starters Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Ryan Vogelsong and Barry Zito all started instead with Cain going twice.
My Take: Cardinals in 6 These guys just simply know how to win in the playoffs. They can get a big win from any of their starters, Kyle Lohse, Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, or Lance Lynn and they also have hitters like Carlos Beltran, Matt Holiday, Allen Craig, Yadier Molina, and David Freese. I think that the Giants simply will not be able to put the Cards away and will lose the series in 6 games.
New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers
Oh boy, my Yanks are back in the ALCS. They did not look good at the plate all series but were able to get very good pitching to bail them out on numerous occasions. A-Rod is back in the lineup tonight even though that whole situation is still awkward, and a fresh 7 game series starts tonight in the Bronx. The team needs to hit the ball and Phil Hughes will have to come up big in Game 3 because he will be starting against Justin Verlander, arguably the best pitcher in baseball.
The Tigers struggled with the pesky Athletics before putting them away in Game 5. The Tigers, like the Cardinals, are built to succeed in the playoffs. The have a solid lineup, filled with guys that do their job, along with a good pitching staff and a very good but shaky bullpen. Combine all of that with arguably the best pitcher, Verlander, and best hitter, Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and you know you have a good team. Protecting Cabrera is also a very good hitter, Prince Fielder, who will have a lot of fun with the short porch in right field of Yankee Stadium.
My Take: Yankees in 7 The Tigers have had success against the Yankees in the playoffs of late, and even though I want to pick the Tigers from an unbiased standpoint, I can't. I am hoping the Yankees dig down and find away to hit the tough Tiger pitching and pitch around Cabrera and Fielder. Maybe the most important thing in this series is probably the fact that we won't see Verlander or Sabathia until Game 3 and 4 respectively. The rest of the rotation will have to show up on both sides, and whoever does a better job, will win.
I will not be doing a Game 1 for the Yankees because I did these predictions tonight, but a recap can be expected later tonight. Go Yankees!!!!!
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