Zachary GirsbergerOctober Oracle: AL
October 5th 2010 00:24
Category: No Category
With MLB playoffs looming, let us look at the American League to see what to expect. For each contender I have noted what to like, what not to like, and what I think each team will do.
Minnesota Twins
What to like: The rotation. Minnesota can throw with the best of them and pitching means success in the postseason. Led by Francisco Liriano, Carl Pavano, and Brian Duensing the Twins compare well with any of the other teams in the league. Going to a fourth man, Nick Blackburn has experience in the postseason and gives the Twins a chance if they ever need him.
What not to like: Unknowns. This is Target Field’s first season so we do not have an idea of how the stadium will play late in October and November. Throw in the fact that it is a pitcher’s park and thus does not give a true home field advantage and you have a potential problem. Or the Twins could just throw eleven perfect games and not have to worry about scoring many runs. As I said, unknowns are the problem.
Prediction: Now knowing which team the Twins will play is an obvious factor in my decision. The Yankees have a history of success against the Twins and in a five game set either team has a chance.
Final Word: ALDS loss (1-3) to the Yankees. The Twins play great at home, but historically have had trouble versus the Yanks. If they make it out of the division series, look for their run to make it deep into October, possibly even November.
New York Yankees:
What to like: Experience and lots of it. The Yankees have been to the postseason before and will not crumble under the pressures that a younger team may. Both rotation and lineup are proven winners – just look at their jewelry cabinets.
What not to like: Recent history. Joe Girardi has been riding the team’s health this September and the Yanks have had their worst month of the year. There is no guarantee that every aspect of the game will snap back to nearly unbeatable.
Prediction: New York needs Pettitte and Burnett to be their 2009 postseason selves, otherwise the division series will be the end of their hopes to repeat as World Champs. I think they can gut it out against the Rangers (and by Rangers I mean Cliff Lee) with one back in shape, but the Twins are a different story.
Final Word: ALDS win 3-1. I think familiarity prevails and the Yanks make another run in October. I reserve the right to change my mind however when Burnett makes Dr. Jekyll look stable.
Tampa Bay Rays:
What to like: Joe Maddon is an aggressive manager not afraid to go against the playbook and will create some runs for an offense that has had its ups and downs. Price is a true ace –in his first year as a starter no less—and after him Garza is not too bad himself, even ignoring his no-hitter this year.
What not to like: Joe Maddon is an aggressive manager not afraid to go against the playbook and will cost some runs for an offense that has had its ups and downs, gambling goes both ways my friends. The offense has been no-hit three times in the past two years yet can put up an eight-spot and no one is shocked. Streakiness does not bode well for the postseason.
Prediction: With Price and Garza, the Rays have a chance to win but both have had their struggles at times this year. If the Rays have to pull their starters before the seventh, the bullpen has had its shaky moments as well. With that said, Tampa is going to win some games.
Final Word: ALDS loss 2-3. Tampa is a skilled team and this is their one shot to put it all together with all of the free agents coming off the books this season and management has said they are going to cut costs, but even still, the Rangers have a consistent offense and Lee has shown what he can do last year in the postseason. Tampa has a shot though of winning the World Series if they string together some consistency, yet still will lose fans if they lose big parts of the core.
Texas Rangers:
What to like: Josh Hamilton and Cliff Lee, enough said. Sure, both have had downturns recently with injury and bad luck respectively, but you when have a potential MVP and former Cy Young winner leading the team, with Nelson Cruz, Vlad, and a great rookie closer in Feliz, you have the personnel to win.
What not to like: The pitching staff will have their lesser pitchers pitching at home versus the Rays. Texas has played great at home this year (third best record in the AL to the Twins and Yanks) but the Rays can win anywhere.
Prediction: Texas will win in the division series versus the Rays, simply because they have the players to win and shut down the Rays offense. The Rangers can score and have great core players.
Final Word: Win 3-2. This will be a tight series and Lee will win as many games as the Rays so it will be up to Lewis or Wilson to win at least one themselves.
Look tomorrow for my National League preview
Minnesota Twins
What to like: The rotation. Minnesota can throw with the best of them and pitching means success in the postseason. Led by Francisco Liriano, Carl Pavano, and Brian Duensing the Twins compare well with any of the other teams in the league. Going to a fourth man, Nick Blackburn has experience in the postseason and gives the Twins a chance if they ever need him.
What not to like: Unknowns. This is Target Field’s first season so we do not have an idea of how the stadium will play late in October and November. Throw in the fact that it is a pitcher’s park and thus does not give a true home field advantage and you have a potential problem. Or the Twins could just throw eleven perfect games and not have to worry about scoring many runs. As I said, unknowns are the problem.
Prediction: Now knowing which team the Twins will play is an obvious factor in my decision. The Yankees have a history of success against the Twins and in a five game set either team has a chance.
Final Word: ALDS loss (1-3) to the Yankees. The Twins play great at home, but historically have had trouble versus the Yanks. If they make it out of the division series, look for their run to make it deep into October, possibly even November.
New York Yankees:
What to like: Experience and lots of it. The Yankees have been to the postseason before and will not crumble under the pressures that a younger team may. Both rotation and lineup are proven winners – just look at their jewelry cabinets.
What not to like: Recent history. Joe Girardi has been riding the team’s health this September and the Yanks have had their worst month of the year. There is no guarantee that every aspect of the game will snap back to nearly unbeatable.
Prediction: New York needs Pettitte and Burnett to be their 2009 postseason selves, otherwise the division series will be the end of their hopes to repeat as World Champs. I think they can gut it out against the Rangers (and by Rangers I mean Cliff Lee) with one back in shape, but the Twins are a different story.
Final Word: ALDS win 3-1. I think familiarity prevails and the Yanks make another run in October. I reserve the right to change my mind however when Burnett makes Dr. Jekyll look stable.
Tampa Bay Rays:
What to like: Joe Maddon is an aggressive manager not afraid to go against the playbook and will create some runs for an offense that has had its ups and downs. Price is a true ace –in his first year as a starter no less—and after him Garza is not too bad himself, even ignoring his no-hitter this year.
What not to like: Joe Maddon is an aggressive manager not afraid to go against the playbook and will cost some runs for an offense that has had its ups and downs, gambling goes both ways my friends. The offense has been no-hit three times in the past two years yet can put up an eight-spot and no one is shocked. Streakiness does not bode well for the postseason.
Prediction: With Price and Garza, the Rays have a chance to win but both have had their struggles at times this year. If the Rays have to pull their starters before the seventh, the bullpen has had its shaky moments as well. With that said, Tampa is going to win some games.
Final Word: ALDS loss 2-3. Tampa is a skilled team and this is their one shot to put it all together with all of the free agents coming off the books this season and management has said they are going to cut costs, but even still, the Rangers have a consistent offense and Lee has shown what he can do last year in the postseason. Tampa has a shot though of winning the World Series if they string together some consistency, yet still will lose fans if they lose big parts of the core.
Texas Rangers:
What to like: Josh Hamilton and Cliff Lee, enough said. Sure, both have had downturns recently with injury and bad luck respectively, but you when have a potential MVP and former Cy Young winner leading the team, with Nelson Cruz, Vlad, and a great rookie closer in Feliz, you have the personnel to win.
What not to like: The pitching staff will have their lesser pitchers pitching at home versus the Rays. Texas has played great at home this year (third best record in the AL to the Twins and Yanks) but the Rays can win anywhere.
Prediction: Texas will win in the division series versus the Rays, simply because they have the players to win and shut down the Rays offense. The Rangers can score and have great core players.
Final Word: Win 3-2. This will be a tight series and Lee will win as many games as the Rays so it will be up to Lewis or Wilson to win at least one themselves.
Look tomorrow for my National League preview
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