Zachary GirsbergerOctober Oracle: NL
October 6th 2010 04:44
Category: No Category
With the MLB postseason starting tomorrow; I will look at each team’s positives and negatives. For each team I will have what I like, what I don’t like, and what I expect from the team. First however, a bit of disclosure on my end, I have watched over four hundred MLB games this season, yet only about a fifth of them have been purely NL games, so my insight is a not as great as it is with the AL teams. Pushing on anyways, let’s see what to expect.
Atlanta Braves:
What I like: The Braves have some solid veterans on the staff and a very strong pitching staff. Bobby Cox has the experience to guide the younger players, who have yet to experience the postseason—like Jason Heyward.
What I don’t like: Atlanta is solid on most fronts, but do not excel in any area in particular. Their recent struggles (needing the final game to make the playoffs) do not bode well for the ‘clutchness’ of the club, one of the unspoken necessities of October.
What to expect: The Braves will win a game, but I think that is it. The Giants are a strong club and have the pitching to shut down the Braves. Cox although will rally his team as best he can and could make a run.
Final Word: NLDS loss (1-3) to the Giants. The Braves are the obvious sentimental favorites with Cox retiring after the end of this season, but I am unsure if the club can handle the rigors of October.
Cincinatti Reds:
What I like: The Reds have some great players on their team, leaders in many categories, and have an experienced manager in Dusty Baker. Votto is the mainstay of the club and scoring runs versus the Phillies will be greatly aided with his presence.
What I don’t like: I am not sold on the rotation, and starting pitching wins in the postseason. The Reds are above average as far as starters, and have the explosiveness in the bullpen to close out games, but if Arroyo, Volquez, and Cueto cannot shut down the Phillies, it will be a short series.
What to expect: I expect a short series. The Phillies have a great rotation with the additions of the Roys (Halladay and Oswalt) to this year’s rotation and I doubt the ability of Votto to carry a team—even Pujols only has one ring.
Final Word: NLDS loss (0-3) to the Philadelphia Phillies. My only sweep I have, I just think that the Reds do not match up well with Philadelphia and do not have the experience to move forward.
Philadelphia Phillies:
What I like: What isn’t to like? The offense has struggled at times, but is tested in the postseason. Halladay is a Cy Young candidate (I feel he deserves it, with eight of his starts the Phil’s scored one run or less, contributing to his loss column significantly) and Oswalt has been a revelation since he arrived.
What I don’t like: I guess the weakest part of the team here is the bullpen. The Phil’s have been streaky all season, but the bullpen’s lows have been all too common. If you cannot close out a game in the postseason, you cannot win a game.
What to expect: Even with the deficiencies in the bullpen, I still think that Philadelphia will win their series versus the Reds easily, and will be playing deep into October.
Final Word: NLDS win (3-0) over the Reds. The Phillies are my pick for the National League entrant into the World Series, it is a safe pick, but Philadelphia has the most wins in the Majors this year (97) and I think their experience will pay off well.
San Francisco Giants:
What I like: The starting rotation for the Giants is superb. Lincecum headlines the starter’s but Cain has been great the past few years, Zito has some vital experience, and Sanchez is perhaps the best number three (or four, depending on how San Francisco decides to play) in the postseason statistically.
What I don’t like: The offense is going to get shut down, this is an inevitable fact, but they will score just enough to scrape out wins. Huff leads the team in homers (26), ribbies (86), and batting average (.290), and those numbers just do not scare opposing ball clubs.
What to expect: The Giants have the rotation to shut down the Braves, but I do not see much of a postseason beyond that. Starting pitching wins, but even aces have their off-days. Lack of experience for the starters will be obvious, but I would not give up on their season yet.
Final Word: NLDS win (3-1) over the Braves. The rotation will win a series for the Giants, but unless the offense gets hot, the NLCS will be the end of the Giants season.
| 81 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
