Divisional Round Preview

Well, as hard as it was to look, I had to go back and check out (remember) what my picks were at the start of the MLB season on my blog back in March. And I think that I know a lot about baseball!? Ha! This season I only correctly picked 3 out of the 8 teams that advanced to the post season. The only thing that I have going for me is that my World Series prediction still has a chance (Red Sox and Cubs). I really don't want to jinx myself but I think that my readers should know. When I went to Las Vegas back on the first week of May, I placed a bet. And to show you how talented I am at analyzing talent, I will tell you what I did. I placed a $10 bet that the Tampa Bay Rays would win the American League Pennant. I did not place any other future bets (besides the Washington Redskins winning and going to the Super Bowl but that doesn't count because any fan would do the same thing if the odds were right). At 29 to 1 the Rays were listed in May to win the AL. Before the season started they were 50 to 1. You do the math. My only problem is that if this actually hits for me I can only cash this at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. Oh Well!!! I am desperately trying to catch the Rays live this playoffs but it is not looking good. Hopefully they will be at home on the weekend in the ALCS, then it will be a no brainer. Anyway let's get right to my divisional round predictions.

White Sox vs. Rays - This series gets started on Thursday which is good for the Sox considering the amount of games they have had to play in a row just to get to this point. The well rested Rays have the pitchers lined up and ready for action with James Shields and Scott Kazmir getting the ball in games 1 and 2. I am very interested to see how my boy Ken Griffey hits the ball with his first time back in the post season since the Clinton years. The Rays in my opinion are two rested and home field advantage will serve to be the reason the Rays win the first two games and ultimately win the series. RAYS in 4

Brewers vs. Phillies - It has been a great story this year with the "brew crew" getting back to the post season on the back of a remarkable CC Sabathia. What he has done with this ball club is truly amazing. He will be back on the mound in game 2 and I am almost positive that he will show no signs of being fatigued. The Phillies on the otherhand are back in the post season this year with another crack at a World Series appearance. They come into the NL playoffs as the best offense again, will it keep up? I think that it definitely will! PHILLIES in 4

Red Sox vs. Angels - The Angels finally have something to play for when this series begins tonight at 10 o'clock. After clinching the division back in May, the Angels really have been just winning games with no sense of urgency. The Red Sox have had their ups and downs this season and I firmly believe the reason that the Sox get back to the World Series is all on how Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell perform (if at all). As much as they need Beckett in their rotation, Lowell is very important to that line up and his post season experience as well. The Angels are very well rested, maybe too rested and the Red Sox have owned them in the playoffs. The key to the series is Jon Lester vs. John Lackey in game 1. Whoever wins, wins the series. RED SOX in 5

Dodgers vs. Cubs - Out of the three teams that the Cubs could have played I am pretty sure that they wanted nothing to do with the Dodgers. The Dodgers come into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams since the addition of Manny Ramirez. Everyone on the roster has stepped it up and the suspect starting pitching is now showing signs that they can get the job done. The Cubbies, who had clinched the post season already, had to play the Brewers who were trying to get in. So it's not like they haven't played any meaningful games lately. Lou Pinella is going to go with his hottest and most consistent pitcher in game 1 in Ryan Dempster. This could prove to be a series changer in my eyes. This will be the best series of the 4 in my opinion. I gotta go with what I said at the beginning of the year. CUBS in 5