100 years of waiting....

After waiting for the one game playoff last night between the Twins and the White Sox it is now time for my baseball playoff preview. First I just wanna pat myself on the back for defending the firing of Ned Yost. Even though the Brewers didn't exactly end the season like the Rockies last year, they did just enough to squeak by the choking New York Mets. So, it looks like the coaching change turned out alright for them. Now, it's time to see who I like for the World Series, though judging by the title of my blog, you could probably narrow it down.

The American League, as usual, is the better league. Tampa Bay is for real. The pitching, led by an incredible bullpen, combined with just enough offense will keep the Rays in the race. Their inexperience will be a factor, won't it? Not necessarily. In fact, it may work out to the Rays advantage. Home games in front of crowds that have never seen playoff baseball will lead to an atmosphere that will be hard to beat. In addition, with half the players never being in the playoffs before, the pressure will not be understood, and they will just go out there and play.The Angels did it in 2002, the Marlins did it in 2003, and the Cardinals, even though some veterans did lead that team, along with manager Tony La Russa as well, did it in 2006.

Will the Rays win the World Series though? Not this year. While it would be a great story, they would have to beat two out of three teams from the likes of the Red Sox, the Angels, and the White Sox.The Red Sox have too much experience, the Angels too much heart, and the White Sox too much power, with just enough of everything else as well. The Rays may win one playoff series, but two will not happen this year. If it does, then crown them World Series champions now!

Looking now into the NL a little deeper, as usual, it is a mess. The Brewers and Mets both struggled down the stretch as the Mets managed to choke just a little bit more than the Brewers. Thanks to the acquisition of Manny Ramirez the Dodgers were able to outlast the Diamondbacks. The Phillies took advantage of the Mets 2nd straight collapse to win the division. Finally, the Chicago Cubs. Oh, how we love those Cubbies!! Could this be the year? I've seen article after article in my Sports Illustrated talking about "It's Gonna Happen". Well, normally I would be screaming up and down "SI JINX SI JINX". But you know what? Something funny is happening here. The White Sox and Cubs are in the playoffs for the first time since...well...since the last time the Cubs won the World Series. So now the real question is:

How will it all play out in the end?

The Cubs and Dodgers will have a classic series due to the fact that the Cubs have to always make things interesting, but the Cubs will end up beating them in the last game of the series to move onto the NLCS.
The Phillies will also get past the Brewers because of the sheer fact that the Brewers do not have enough pitching to slow down the incredible Phillies lineup. CC Sabathia can't pitch every game of the series.
The Phillies though will be beaten by the Cubs in another classic seven game series due to better pitching from the Cubs with their bullpen leading the way.What’s next, stigmata? The Cubs in the World Series? As of right now, yes.

Looking now at the AL, the Angels will beat the Red Sox and the Rays will beat the White Sox due to holding their offenses in check.
This leaves us with an Angels-Rays ALCS. The Rays will give the Angels a fight, but the Angels will win the series in six games because of the fact that they have been in the big game situations in the past.

That leaves the World Series as the Angels against the Cubs. Who will win this series? Somehow, someway, the Cubs will end up winning the series in six close games because of their better power numbers against the Angels, and because of clutch bullpen pitching that does not put any runners on base regularly, something that Francisco Rodriquez can never claim he does, along with most of the rest of the Angels bullpen at this point.
The Cubs will knock in more of these runners on base with their big bats throughout their lineup, and will beat the Angels in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field in the sixth and final game of the series, leaving the Chicago Cubs as the 2008 World Series champions, which will officially break one of the longest championship droughts in sports history and let the Billy Goat, the Black Cat, and Steve Bartman off the hook!!