I like the Yankees in 4 Boston in 5 The Cardinals in 5 The Stros' in 4... Then... I like Bostin in 7 The Stros in 6 Then... I like the Stros in 7...
I'm almost postive that an Astros Twins World Series would have some of the lowest TV ratings of all times. I bet the MLB would be fine with Houston making it to the WS because they have guys like Roger,Roy,Beltran,Bagwell,Kent,Biggio,Lidge and so on, but it would be a nightmare for them to be in the World Series over the much more marketable NYY and Red Sox.
Basically anybody but Dodgers vs. Minnesota would = some of the lowest ratings of all time.... even a Braves vs. Twins series wouldn't draw out as many viewers as one would think, given the extended Braves-nation. (even though they could play one of the greatest series of all time... again). Thus, MLB's most definitely rooting against Minnesota this post-season... they'll take their chances with a NY/Boston(especially)/Anaheim market.
Not directed at you in particular, isoman, but for all you guys who are saying Astros in 4 over the Braves, who is the pitcher you guys think will win the game to close out the Braves? Given that the hardest thing in the playoffs seems to be closing out a series. I'm just curious (yes, I asked this in the other thread also- I'm really curious ). I could see Backe winning game 3. I could see Clemens winning game 5. But game 4? I was thinking Astros in 4 myself, because I'm not enough of a homer to predict a sweep, but the thought of a 5 game series makes me a little nervous. Then I realized that game 4 will be started by ?? (maybe Munro, maybe Hernandez , maybe Redding, maybe, maybe no?) Unless the Astros are on the brink of elimination, then maybe it will be Roger on short rest. But then winning in 4 is out anyway. so I say Astros in 5. don't want to predict series beyond the first round yet, but the other first rounders: Cards in 4 Yanks in 5 Sox in 4
honestly...with this team right now, does it matter? who will the braves be throwing in a game 4 that would scare you?
Yankees vs Twins The Twinkees versus the Yankees. Minnesota at home is ferocius. They always have been. But damn. The Yankees have a great lineup. I think A-Rod is too tough. Yankees 3-2. Angels vs Red Sox Great picthing matchups. The Angels closers versus the Red Sox starters. This is gonna be interesting. The Angels have 3 good innings in them at the end. The Sox have Seven at the beginning. I'll take the Sox and the odds. 3-2 Yankees vs Red Sox I'm not stupid. Yankees in 6. Back Gammons will bleed red again. Dodgers vs Cardinals Albert Pujols can change a whole game. Cardinals 3-1. Astros vs Braves I'm not stupid here either. The Braves will make life extremely tough and everybody knows it. They own us. 13 straight championships. I mean, that aint no pushover. We've had the better team in the past and still lost. Astros in 5. Astros vs Cardinals We simply have too much pitching. Too much hitting. The Astros are simply better top to bottom. Scrap versus the genius. An interesting battle of minds. But Scrappy wins. 4-2. Astros vs Yankees We no hit them once. We'll do it again. The Astros no hitter cursed 'em and they've never been the same since. 4-1 Astros.
I know what you mean, but it's the playoffs.. Offenses die in the playoffs, especially Astros offenses (which is also why the Cardinals won't see the series). I know it's a different team, etc.. but the fact remains that if game 4 comes down to a battle of the bullpens (which you seem to agree is likely), Atlanta's bullpen has simply been better than the Astros'. (outside of Lidge, but Smoltz is no slouch- and he has just a slight edge in postseason experience) Basically, I'm just trying to temper my enthusiasm with some doubt (aka 'realism').. It worked for the second half of the season, so why quit now?
offenses die in the playoffs because they're typically matched up against great pitchers. think about the pitching staffs the astros have faced in the playoffs in the 90's. unreal pitchers. the braves don't offer that anymore. i'm not real shaked by their #1 or #2 starter...much less their #4 starter. there are no guarantees in baseball...but i like our chances.
I don't care much for saying in how many games it'll be done St. Louis beats La Hou beats Atl Bo sox over the Angels Twins over the Yanks Hou beats St. Louis Bo Sox beat Twins Stros vs Sox in the world series and the Astros win it all.
Twins upset the MFYs (or at least I hope) Red Sox over the Angels Cardinals over the Dodgers Astros over the Braves For some weird reason, I see all of these series either being sweeps or 5 games. Red Sox over Twins in 7 (maybe 6 games) Cardinals over Astros in 7 (sorry Stros fans, but I don't see Clemens, Oswalt, whoever, etc shutting down that Cardinal offense for 4 games) Cardinals over Red Sox in 7 (because that is what the Sox do - they break your heart and they also pull it out and show it to you and then stomp all over it). Yes, I am one sadistic homerific fan.
Well, Manny, it sure is gonna be great when the Astros and Red Sox meet in the World Series. You couldn't really lose in that one.
Oh beating the Yankees in route to the World Series would be awesome, but I have seen them beat my Sox so many times when it mattered, that I would rather not go through last year again. Or I will put it to you like this, Hydra: If the Red Sox won 100 games and the Yankees won only 50 but somehow they had to play each other on the last day of the season and the Sox had to win for homefield advantage or something like that, the Yankees would win.
Well it seems like a good time to bring this thread back to reflect on if we were right with our predictions or not. I've been right so far.
