Postseason Baseball 2004
The playoffs are finally upon us! Thirty teams have been whittled to eight, and in the coming weeks, one will be named a champion.
American League
Minnesota Twins over New York Yankees, 3-0
This is going to be my bold prediction. Johan Santana leads a staff that led the AL in ERA and was second in WHIP. Despite trading Gold Glove first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz to the Boston Red Sox and losing rookie catcher Joe Mauer and second baseman Luis Rivas for extended periods of time, the team's trademark solid defense shined. While they don't possess an offense like the Yankees (New York scored 100+ more runs than Minnesota), recent history suggests that pitching is king in October.
That, unfortunately, is something that the Yankees lack. There are no sure things in their rotation. Mike Mussina was their best in September (3-1, 2.38), but will he show up or will the Mussina from July and August show up (0-4, 9.00)? The bullpen, already bearing a huge burden, might not hold. In the meantime, the Twins can march out J.C. Romero and Juan Rincon to get the ball to Joe Nathan, who has been arguably the best closer in baseball.
The Yankee lineup may put up a huge fight against Santana and Brad Radke, but I'm betting against it. Power pitching will prevail against power hitting, and the Twins will advance.
Boston Red Sox over Anaheim Angels, 3-2
This is the most intriguing matchup in all of the Divisional Series. While the Red Sox Nation would've liked to capture a division title, they'll settle for another wild card appearance and root for a Boston team that most believe (including myself) has a much better chance of winning the World Series than last year's edition.
The Angels, on the other hand, are a much more highly priced version of the team that won the World Series in 2002. They make contact, they wreak havoc the basepaths, and complement their fundamental offense with solid starting pitching and a lights-out bullpen.
Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez have been every bit as good as expected, but whether the Red Sox advance or not will depend on whether someone can step up in rotation behind those two. Right now, Bronson Arroyo stands to pitch Game 3 at Fenway, which isn't all bad when you consider he pitched solidly in September. In this respect, they have a leg up on the Angels, who had rotation issues all season. If the Angels offense can get a lead to Frankie Rodriguez, Troy Percival and company, however, it'll be very hard for the Sox to score runs late. Against a Boston team that led the majors in runs scored, holding them down for six or seven innings will be crucial.
Both teams have been here before, but I give the advantage to the Red Sox simply because I think they're the better team. It won't be an easy series -- it never is with Boston -- but they'll get by and move on.
National League
St. Louis Cardinals over Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-1
Odalis Perez, the Dodgers "ace", openly proclaimed that if his team could take down the Cardinals in the NLDS, they would be the world champions. If I were you, I wouldn't hold my breath.
There are many reasons why St. Louis won 105 games, most of which concerned an offense that features three MVP-caliber players (Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds, Albert Pujols) and which led the NL in runs scored and team average. Their pitching, which everyone pointed to as a reason they wouldn't make the playoffs to begin, has been better than L.A.'s all year long. Don't let the stories about Chris Carpenter fool you: Woody Williams, Jason Marquis and Matt Morris have combined for a 21-9 record since the beginning of July. If you take away what are essentially throwaway starts from the last week or so, that improves to something like 21-5.
Many might say that the Dodgers hold an edge in the bullpen, but I'm not so sure. Dealing Guillermo Mota to the Florida Marlins is slowly catching up with Eric Gagne, who now has no true setup man and has been saddled with more and more work to the point where his arm was beginning to bother him by season's end. If he's not right, this series will be over in a hurry.
That's not to say it won't be, but you understand.
Atlanta Braves over Houston Astros, 3-1
Surprise, surprise, Atlanta's back in the postseason party. Not a lot of people expected them to clinch an unprecedented 13th straight division title, but they went the extra mile by essentially winning the division in August. The bigger surprise, though, is the fact that the Houston Astros are alive and kicking after being left for dead at .500 during the All-Star Break.
The Astros have won 18 straight at home in Minute Maid Park, but what they do in Turner Field in Games 1 and 2 will determine how the series plays out. They'll send out their best, Roy Oswalt and Roger Clemens, and might need to win both games to have the best shot at taking the series.
If Atlanta can salvage a split before heading to Houston, I think the Braves will be in great shape. The Astros don't have a legitimate number three starter, and will be relying on Brandon Backe against a revitalized Mike Hampton in Game 3. Not only that, but the Braves have historically had Houston's number, dominating their three previous playoff series.
Chances are that the Braves will surprise everyone by upending Clemens or Oswalt at home (or maybe both), and put the squeeze on the 'Stros at Minute Maid Park. Ultimately, pitching depth will decide this series, and Atlanta has the edge.
American League Championship Series
Minnesota Twins over Boston Red Sox, 4-2
National League Championship Series
St. Louis Cardinals over Atlanta Braves, 4-3
World Series
Minnesota Twins over St. Louis Cardinals, 4-2
You can give your opinion, ask questions or talk about whatever baseball. So what do you all think?
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Originally Posted by Super Delete in the Baseball Preseason Report
