I'm looking at who's left in the AL... and this is it? Reminds me of how terrible the M's really were this year. And yes the Rays should definitely be playing the White Sox this round.
Anyways I think whoever wins the NL will probably win it all, head goes for the Braves while heart is with the Brew Crew. A Brewers-White Sox Metra WS would be fun, but very unlikely.
I was almost 4/4 on predictions. I would've had it if the White Sox hadn't blown a 2-0 series lead.
Some fans have complained about the playoff format in recent years, claiming the teams with the 1st round bye are at a disadvantage. They'll say something like they get rusty with 5 days off, while their opponents stay fresh, stay in a rhythm from the wild card series. Blah blah blah. I've never agreed with this argument. And this year, that argument can be put aside. We're down to the final four teams, and all four were the teams with 1st round byes. I think there is a problem with the playoff format but 1st round byes isn't it. Like I've said, the big problem with the playoff format is how it allowed an 85-win club to earn a 1st round bye, and get an 84 win club or an 81-win club as their opponent. Nevertheless, the Guardians are in the ALCS. Do they belong? Are they actually good? Can they beat the Rays?
Rays-Guardians - For sure, they can beat the Rays. Anything can happen in October. However, I wouldn't bet on it. The Rays are simply better on paper. They have depth, and no glaring weaknesses. Cleveland on the other hand, doesn't have a true slugger. It's cool they win with small ball, but they'll need a ton of small ball against Rays pitching, who just held the mighty Yankees lineup to 5 runs in 3 games. This just seems like a mismatch. Rays in 5.
Brewers-Dodgers - The last time the NLCS was a rematch of the previous year, it also involved the Dodgers...and they lost. After LA beat Atlanta in 2020, and won the WS, Atlanta avenged by beating LA in 2021, and also went on to win the WS. That doesn't matter though, I just found it interesting. I'm still predicting the Dodgers here because they are proven winners, and the Brewers are proven chokers. Beyond that however, I also think the Brewers starting pitching is vulnerable. Misiorowski and Henderson are very good, no doubt, but they're also inexperienced at this stage. And who are their reliable #3 and #4 starters? The Dodgers have Snell, Skubal, Yamamoto, and Glasnow. It doesn't matter which order they pitch in, by games 3 and 4, LA's depth will take over. For Milwaukee to win, they're gonna need their bats to score early and often, and hope Misiorowski and Henderson rise to the challenge. If they can do that and get leads, their bullpen can shut it down. It can be a fun, back-and-forth series. Either team can win. But again, I'm going with the Dodgers, in 6.
cestuneblagueOtana, but No HitoProfile Straight Outta Ballard
The World Series is set. The Rays finished off the Guardians tonight. It was pretty much expected. The Rays were stronger. However the NLCS outcome caught most fans off guard.
While it was not that surprising the Brewers beat the Dodgers, what was surprising was that it was a sweep. Each team had deep rosters that pushed them over the 100-win mark, as if they were de facto the two best teams in MLB. So how did the Brewers win so convincingly? I don't know, it's a mystery. Every time the Dodgers built momentum and/or took a lead, the Brewers rallied back. There is no other way to put it, The Brewers outhit and outpitched the Dodgers, and congrats to them for reaching the WS. Now it's time for them to choke, right?
Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe this actually is the Brewers year. It definitely feels like it. They've won 22 of 26 going back to the regular season. They just crushed the Dodgers. Meanwhile the Rays beating Cleveland in 6 doesn't send such a firm message. Nevertheless, they're a very good team too. Milwaukee and Tampa actually have a lot in common. Low payrolls and lack of superstars, but incredibly smart management and coaching staffs. Either team can win, and the hero can be anyone. I have to go with the Brewers though. Hitting, pitching, defense, they look like the better team, and again the one with momentum. I don't think they'll breeze through it like they did against the Padres and Dodgers. I'm thinking 6 games.
It'll be cool to see a first-time winner, and it'll be cool to see a small market winner.
Beyond the flashy surface, The Dodgers are not as strong as everyone thinks they are. People see a juggernaut that's built to win for the next decade plus. Actually...not so much. Freddie Freeman will be 37 in 2027. Mookie Betts 34. Teoscar Hernandez 34. Miguel Rojas 38 (already retired). Kike Hernandez 35. Max Muncy 36. Shohei and Will Smith will be 32. That's a pretty old lineup. They've had a hard time keeping their pitching healthy. And Tarik Skubal is a free agent. So are Eric Lauer and Alex Vesia. Blake Snell, Edwin Diaz and Tyler Glasnow will be 33. That's a lot staring them in the face.
This is why the Dodgers are so hyper active in free agency. They are basically sticking their fingers in holes so that the dyke doesn't break. The result is that their salaries are enormous, while their depth is weakening. A big part of what should be alarming is that Josh Byrnes, who expertly ran their farm system for over a decade which coincides with their current run, is now the GM for the Rockies, and the Dodgers have had to constantly deal from their minor league depth to keep the big team afloat.
Shohei showed he's actually human, and the big names are aging. The Dodgers will probably be strong for another year, maybe two, but the signs of the dynasty ending are already there. Unless they can pull off more spending miracles, they may start slipping very soon. And remember...Ohtani spent 6 years with the Angels (with Mike Trout as a teammate) and never played in a postseason game. He does not guarantee wins for the Dodgers by himself. I say watch for the balance of the NL West to start shifting. Sooner than later. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
I'm looking forward to this series. The Dodgers have had their time in the spotlight for a while now and after last year, I'm fine with them missing out on the WS.
Either way it'll be a first-time winner, and congrats to the Brewers for winning their first NL pennant, and their fist pennant since 1982.
Agreed with Romanelli about an aging Dodgers and shifting NL West. We can only hope that the Rockies start getting decent _________________ 51 Washington, D.C. albums!
Congrats to the Brewers. Only game they lost was in 12 innings and due to an error. Maybe not as exciting as last year's World Series but it was a fun set of games with the Brewers coming out surprisingly dominant for much of the series. _________________ 51 Washington, D.C. albums!
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cestuneblague
CA Dreamin
Romanelli
EyeKanFly
