T1B

AL:

Boston in 5. Tampa Bay has proven to me that they are a solid team and not a fluke like Colorado. This is going to be pretty simple for the Red Sox. Just like against the Angels, the regular season doesn't mean jack shit. I actually see, in Game one, a tone-setter for the series as Boston scores about 4-5 runs in the first or second inning against the wide-eyed, I-cant-believe-we-are-in-the-ALCS, Rays. After that, it's over. Maybe a split in the first two games and then an all-out assraping back at Fenway to close it out. You have to be freebasing crack to even think Tampa has a shot in hell.

NL:

Phillies in 7. Los Angeles is on a roll but I think that their luck runs out in this series. Overall, Philadelphia is a more solid team and Lidge will kick ass. Of course, this sets up the City of Brotherly Chokers to get to the World Series and lose.
I think Lidge will be MVP in this tight series.

Rays in 6
Dodgers in 6

Front of Btowns bullpen in vulnerable. Lowell is hurting, Papi's done, their young kids will wilt under the heat of the spotlight. Plus Papplebon is a fag. The Rays have been hot nearly the entire season. Aside from a 7 game skid heading into the break, they've been hot all year. When Crawford and Longoria went down everyone waited for the collapse, it never happened....a sign of a championship team. Their starting pitching is solid and they aren't intimidated by Fenway Park anymore.

The Phils are choke artists. And I will love seeing Torre in the Series...Fuck Steinbrenner.

Yer a Fuckin Jerkoff wrote:You have to be freebasing crack to even think Tampa has a shot in hell.

pass that pipe.

[quote="WolverineSteve"]

The Phils are choke artists. [quote]

Then how did they beat the Brewers? I believe you mean the Mets are choke artists.


Phillies over the Dodgers in 6.
Boston over Tampa in 6

I think we saw two blossoming postseason aces come out of the LDS round...Lester and Hamels. I thought they were the two best pitchers of all from the first round. I think all four teams remaining have pretty good balance among their top 3...the Sox are a little sketchy past Lester, Dice-K and Beckett. I probably actually have the least confidence in the Red Sox starting rotation given Dice-K's erratic control and the Beckett's questionable health. The other 3 teams have more stable situations with their starting pitching. We saw that the Phillies and Rays can go 4 deep with their rotation...the Dodgers only had to use 3 guys but have either the vet in Maddux or the young gun in Kershaw to plug into that that 4th spot. The Red Sox have decent options for their 4th spot with Byrd or Wakefield but I'd rather have Blanton, Sonnenstine or either of the Dodgers two choices over what the Red Sox have.

*NERD ALERT*

Here's how I'd rank each team by major categories:

Best Postseason Manager:
1. Francona, BOS
2. Torre, LA
3. Manuel, PHI
4. Maddon, TB

Best #1 Starter:
1. Red Sox (Lester)
2. Phillies (Hamels)
3. Dodgers (Lowe)
4. Rays (Kazmir)

Best (Potential) 4-Man Rotation:
1. Phillies
2. Dodgers
3. Rays
4. Red Sox

Best Closer:
1. Pabelbon, BOS
2. Lidge, PHI
3. Broxton, LA
4. Wheeler, TB

Best Middle Relief:
1. Rays
2. Red Sox
3. Dodgers
4. Phillies

Best Table-Setters of an Order (1-2):
1. Red Sox (Ellsbury, Pedroia)
2. Dodgers (Furcal, Martin)
3. Phillies (Rollins, Werth)
4. Rays (Iwamura, Upton)

Best Heart of the Order (3-6):
1. Phillies (Utley, Howard, Burrell, Victorino)
2. Dodgers (Ramirez, Ethier, Loney, Kemp)
3. Red Sox (Ortiz, Youkilis, Drew, Bay)
4. Rays (Pena, Longoria, Crawford, Floyd)

Best Defensive Team:
1. Rays
2. Red Sox
3. Phillies
4. Dodgers

Best Playoff Experience:
1. Red Sox
2. Dodgers
3. Phillies
4. Rays

Best Overall Team (Based on all Rankings):
1. Red Sox (16 points)
2. Dodgers (22 points)
3. Phillies (23 points)
4. Rays (29 points)

All that being said...I was leaning towards Red Sox and Dodgers anyways and ranking them that way just confirms it.

My Picks:
Dodgers over Phillies in 6
Red Sox over Rays in 5

AL -- Rays in 6
NL -- WGAF?

Upton, Crawford, and Longoria are healthy and hitting. The offense, or lack thereof, that almost cost them the division down the stretch will now lead them to the WS. Rays have the home field advantage and have owned Boston at the Trop this year.

Shoalzie -- Shields is the ace of the Rays staff. Kazmir hasn't 'had it' all year and appears to be hurting anyways.

Phillies

Sox



FTFM

Shoalzie wrote:
Best Middle Relief:
1. Rays
2. Red Sox
3. Dodgers
4. Phillies

I'm fairly certain the Phillies middle relief had the lowest ERA in the NL, possibly in all of MLB. So at the very least they are 3 or 2, possibly even 1.

WolverineSteve wrote:Rays in 6
Dodgers in 6

Front of Btowns bullpen in vulnerable. Lowell is hurting, Papi's done, their young kids will wilt under the heat of the spotlight. Plus Papplebon is a fag. The Rays have been hot nearly the entire season. Aside from a 7 game skid heading into the break, they've been hot all year. When Crawford and Longoria went down everyone waited for the collapse, it never happened....a sign of a championship team. Their starting pitching is solid and they aren't intimidated by Fenway Park anymore.

The Phils are choke artists. And I will love seeing Torre in the Series...Fuck Steinbrenner.

You got a few things right. Lowell is banged up. The sox pen does have a few holes. Papi done? Don't bet on that one just yet. He is BIG fukking Papi and he has a bit of a history over the last 5 years of being one of the best post season clutch hitters of all time. Pappelbon is a fag. Can't argue that one. He is also a nasty closer. As for the "kids" I assume you mean pedroia and ellsbury? they were both fukking nails last year in the post seson and I expect it to continue.

So, my prediction is that we will see a war. 7 games.no fukkkin' idear who wins it.

As for the NL, yeah, WGAF? It would be kinda fun though to watch manny in boston.

So far Lidge is the MVP of the NLCS. That was a badass game today.

Tampa is about to get welcomed into the postseason with a swift beatdown tonight.

I know I know "but they were soooooo good and sooooo magic at home this season!"

The Dodgers are fucked.. down 2-0 and the Phillies have a Brett Favre-like family drama going on with Uncle Charlie's mom dying and it was also reported after the game that Shane Victorino's grandma died earlier today. As if this team needed any sort of extra motivation to win.. Oh and Victorino is the NLCS MVP.

I was about to flip that game off when it was 8-2 but left it on caught Manny's home run to bring them back in the game but couldn't get any other runs across. Myers work with the bat was crazy...3 for 3 with 3 RBI. He hit better than he pitched. I missed Game 1 last night being at the Wings game...not surprised that was a low-scoring game with Hamels coming out on top. He had some early trouble but threw well the rest of the way. I just took that one inning last night to get them over on Lowe...they had two big innings today to do the job. Game 3 is a must win given the momentum the Phillies have.

So far in Game 1 of Sox-Rays...is it a big shock that Dice-K can't throw strikes? He is the Rays' best offensive weapon so far.

Shoalzie wrote:
So far in Game 1 of Sox-Rays...is it a big shock that Dice-K can't throw strikes? He is the Rays' best offensive weapon so far.

Want a mulligan on that one?

That game perfectly resembled the Angels series. Experience trumping exuberance.

I was pretty much just commenting on Dice-K's rocky first inning but I wouldn't have imagined that he was destined to throw 7 shutout innings and they'd keep the Rays off the board all night. Then again, Hamels had a shaky first inning in Game 1 and came out on top. That's a big win for the Sox it was considering their second or third starter beating the Rays' best starter and then winning in the Trop after losing 8 of 9 during the season. I think if we've learned anything with the Sox so far in the playoffs is that they can easily buck any trend that carries over from the regular season once we got into October. They've definitely had to the knack for rising to the occasion and I guess that's not really a surprise given their recent history. A huge start today for Kazmir against the playoff vet in Beckett...a split at home is an absolute must for the Rays with Lester lurking in Game 3 at Fenway.

Shoalzie wrote: I think if we've learned anything with the Sox so far in the playoffs is that they can easily buck any trend that carries over from the regular season once we got into October.

With all due respect isn't that what I've been saying since the first round started? people said "the Angels were 8-1 against Boston this year, dumbass!" and we saw what happened.

Now, this fluky Tampa team is about to get its ass whipped in 5 games.

The Devil Rays....SUCK.

Although the Rays salvage a split at home, the Sox are still clearly in a position of power as it shifts to Boston. Lester is the closest to a sure thing that we've seen out of a start in the postseason. Both teams get a day off to reset their bullpens so I don't see any carry-over from last night's long game. I give the Rays a decent shot at splitting in Fenway...more likely to win Game 4 and than Game 3. The Sox's starter on Tuesday is Wakefield, who hasn't thrown since September 28 and is 0-2 against Tampa this year. The Rays' Game 4 pitcher Sonnanstine was able to win a deciding game on the road in the last series and he's got a chance to take back home field advantage for Rays with a win.

The Dodgers have the right guy starting tonight in their most important game of the season. Kuroda pitched well in the series-clinching game against the Cubs and he's a much better pitcher at Dodger Stadium than on the road. I see the Dodgers bouncing back and winning tonight but the Phillies are still in very good shape to win this series. It's still unknown who starts Game 4 for the Dodgers while the Phillies have a very solid #4 in Blanton to throw on Monday. I see this ending up 3-1 as it shifts back to Philly on Wednesday where Hamels will be in position to close it out.

Shoalzie wrote: I see this ending up 3-1 as it shifts back to Philly on Wednesday where Hamels will be in position to close it out.

Games 3,4, and 5 are in Dodger land though I still think Hamels will close it out on Wednesday.

jiminphilly wrote:

Shoalzie wrote: I see this ending up 3-1 as it shifts back to Philly on Wednesday where Hamels will be in position to close it out.

Games 3,4, and 5 are in Dodger land though I still think Hamels will close it out on Wednesday.

Oh, I thought they only used the 2-3-2 for the World Series...I assumed it was the usual 2-2-1-1-1 format.

They mentioned on the broadcast that Lowe will throw tomorrow for the Dodgers against Blanton. He only threw 90 pitches in 5-1/3 innings in Game 1 so he's probably in okay shape to throw on 3 days' rest.

Good job Victorino, you melodramatic bitch. I am sure Fox is estatic about your pathetic twatty outburst. We' ll be seeing that horseshit the rest of the series.

stuckinia wrote:Good job Victorino, you melodramatic bitch. I am sure Fox is estatic about your pathetic twatty outburst. We' ll be seeing that horseshit the rest of the series.

They threw at his head. What do you fucking him expect to do? Victorino was right- throw at his ribs not his head. He knows the way the game is supposed to be played. And and it's the playoffs, the issue died when the benches cleared.

I did chuckle after Martin got plunked again by Durbin after the chin music and knee shot he took earlier. The ump was right to not toss him given the type of pitch he threw.

Cheap win by Tampa today. They caught Lester on an off-day. I don't buy the bullshit that the announcers were saying today about how when the Red Sox traded Manny they became a "run prevention" team

They can score in BUNCHES and one thing that people forget is that Wakefield is balls out in the postseason. When was the last time they needed him to start a a game and give them a solid 6-7 and he failed in the playoffs? The knuckler will fuck up Maddon's little bitch, overachieving squad tomorrow and this should be a fairly easy win....something like 7-2.
Dice-K wins game 5 and then Beckett closes them out back in Tampon.

^^^

Your name says it all fool.

What a disaster that 8th inning was for the Dodgers bullpen...and it was somewhat sweet revenge for Victorino to tie the game after being in the middle of the gamesmanship last night. Then, "Professional Hitter", Matt Stairs hits one into orbit off Broxton to put them ahead. Things were setting up well for the Dodgers even this up but their pretty reliable bullpen gets torched by the long ball. It was one of the biggest swings in momentum I can remember in a recent series. It definitely puts a different tone on the game on Wednesday. Facing Hamels in an elimination game isn't quite the same if they faced him 2-2. Major pressure on Billingsley to rebound after his rough Game 2 start. I think it'll be hard to come back after such a tough loss tonight. Hamels will throw another gem and put the Phills back in the Fall Classic.

As for the Rays...they guarantee that the Sox can't win the series at Fenway and they'll have to go back for at least one more at the Trop. The bad start by Lester is a major shocker considering how good he's looked up to this point. I guess maybe the Dodgers can have faith in Hamels having an 'off night' to keep them alive. I really like the matchup tomorrow for the Rays in Game 4 against Wakefield but something tells me that the Sox will respond after getting absolutely blitzed at home in Game 3. Francona will have his entire bullpen fresh coming off two days full rest. All Wakefield needs to do is pitch into the 6th inning with the lead and let those guys do the rest.

Torre managed scared. He took out Lowe too early and for so unknown reason he took out Wade too. Thanks Joe.

Yer a Fuckin Jerkoff wrote: They can score in BUNCHES and one thing that people forget is that Wakefield is balls out in the postseason. When was the last time they needed him to start a a game and give them a solid 6-7 and he failed in the playoffs? The knuckler will fuck up Maddon's little bitch, overachieving squad tomorrow and this should be a fairly easy win....something like 7-2.

How's it feel having a baseball bat shoved up your ass and being the Rays bitch?

To say the Rays are putting a beating on the Red Sox is an understatement. It's stunning to see how this young team can go into the jaws of the beast and not shrivel up under pressure and instead are taking the boots to the defending champs. I don't think we're seeing the Red Sox team many expected to see but the bottom line, you still have to play the games and the Rays are showing up in a big way. It's stunning to see two players as young as Longoria and Upton rise to the occasion and deliver in this fashion. You can point to recent comebacks in series past for the Red Sox but those teams are in as bad shape as this team is. A healthy and productive Red Sox team wouldn't be down 3-1 right now and I don't see this team making a comeback. This might be 6 games at the most is Dice-K can match his Game 1 effort on Thursday night.

R-Jack wrote:Goddamn, this shit troll YAFJ is approaching TheJonzos levels with his predictions.

I am surprised that this won't be a five game win for Boston. Very surprised. However, this is EXACTLY like last year. EXACTLY. I remember when Cleveland had a 3-1 lead and Rome said "The Indians are just BETTER this year."

This morning he is saying the exact same thing about Tampa. Sure, they SEEM better right now because they are up 3-1, but look what they have to face now.....Dike-K basically no-hit them at Tropicana, and now he'll have the home field to work with. Going back to Tampa is a LOCK. Once they are on the plane ride back for game six, the sphincters will tighten, just like they did with the Indians last year. Once it comes back to Tropicana, the fluky kids will be exposed. I admit that they have played well, but there will be way to much pressure to close this thing out. Beckett and Lester in game 6 and 7? Holy shit. It seems like they ALWAYS get in these holes and then it somehow is set up where there are three lights out bastards going on the bump to rip the hearts out of the other team. Mark my words...Boston is going to the World Series and will have home field against the Phillies.
The Rays are going to go '07 Cleveland Indians.

Yup, Boston is just where they want to be At least you might be correct on your 5 game prediction yafj...

Congrats jim!

Shoalzie wrote:Congrats jim!

Thanks Shoalz. Last night was memorable and I just hope I get to do it all again very soon. I don't have much of a voice and I'm a bit hung-over. I wasn't in the South Philly section celebrating but was in the city at a packed bar celebrating with a few hundred or so of my new closest friends.

jiminphilly wrote:

Shoalzie wrote:Congrats jim!

Thanks Shoalz. Last night was memorable and I just hope I get to do it all again very soon. I don't have much of a voice and I'm a bit hung-over. I wasn't in the South Philly section celebrating but was in the city at a packed bar celebrating with a few hundred or so of my new closest friends.

I was just thinking about it...Philly has now had all 4 major sports teams play in a championship series/game in the last dozen years...unless you combine the New Jersey/NYC teams as one market. I'm sure you'd like to at least pull one championship out in that time. You guys have waited long enough. I'll definitely pull for you guys if you play the Red Sox but I kind of would like the see the story book ending for the Rays if they win the AL pennant...nothing personal to your guys.

It would suck to have to wait a week for the series to start...especially if the Rays do win tonight and both teams have to wait several days. You can reset your rotation and bullpen but teams have the tendency to lose their mojo between the LCS and the World Series if they have a lot of down time in between...see the Rockies last year and the Tigers two years ago. The only benefit of Tampa winning tonight means that both teams will have the same issue.

Shoalzie wrote:

jiminphilly wrote:

Shoalzie wrote:Congrats jim!

Thanks Shoalz. Last night was memorable and I just hope I get to do it all again very soon. I don't have much of a voice and I'm a bit hung-over. I wasn't in the South Philly section celebrating but was in the city at a packed bar celebrating with a few hundred or so of my new closest friends.

I was just thinking about it...Philly has now had all 4 major sports teams play in a championship series/game in the last dozen years...unless you combine the New Jersey/NYC teams as one market. I'm sure you'd like to at least pull one championship out in that time. You guys have waited long enough. I'll definitely pull for you guys if you play the Red Sox but I kind of would like the see the story book ending for the Rays if they win the AL pennant...nothing personal to your guys.

It would suck to have to wait a week for the series to start...especially if the Rays do win tonight and both teams have to wait several days. You can reset your rotation and bullpen but teams have the tendency to lose their mojo between the LCS and the World Series if they have a lot of down time in between...see the Rockies last year and the Tigers two years ago. The only benefit of Tampa winning tonight means that both teams will have the same issue.

There is nothing storybook or cinderella-like about the Rays. They are a very good team with a shit load of talent. That being said, like ANY team, they don't deserve anything just because they're either long over-due or b/c they young, wide-eyed and hungry. They'll have worked their asses off to get to the WS, much like the Phillies. At this stage in the game it's as much talent as it is heart. For once I would hope the national media realizes this but Fox so obviously wanted a Dodger-Red Sox series b/c of the potential ratings bonanaza and the easy story-lines of ManRam etc.. so I'm prepared for some soft story lines about the Rays rise to the top in the AL as well as some sob story about the Philly fans deserving a championship. I don't buy into that like so many people do. Give me statistical breakdowns and shit like that or just shut the fuck up- that means you Joe Buck.

Let the best team win and I'll tip my cap if it's not the Phillies.

She's on in 5...


Longoria and Upton are LOCKED in...unbelievable run those two are on.

^^^^
That's why they play 9 innings.

Wow...that game last night is why I love playoff baseball. I don't have a rooting interest left but I still was at the edge of my seat watching the comeback. I'm rooting against the Red Sox but I still enjoyed watching that furious rally. That was awesome...

The Rays better finish it on Saturday because they'll lose Game 7 if it gets to that. If the Sox pull this off, I'll never pick against them again...and this time, I mean it. I still think the Rays can finish it off considering Beckett isn't his usual badass self in October and Shields threw a really good game in Game 1 in a losing effort. Two things I thought the Rays were rock solid in last night failed them...middle relief and defense.

Bucmonkey wrote:Yup, Boston is just where they want to be

They are.

The Rays did EXACTLY what a fluky little inexperienced team does last night- choke on their own dicks.

I was at a sports bar watching Red Sox fans call it a night (not all of them, but many) and some fairweather Rays fans were acting like they'd been there before. I was drinking beers and telling my buddies that even at 7-0, the Red Sox were going to win the World Series. Sure enough, the Rays' sphincters tightened up and they fucked it up.

Now it's over.

This is EXACTLY like last year with the Indians. EXACTLY. Plus, the Phillies are going to be ice cold coming into Fenway and will be swept. What a fuck up I told you that this D-Rays team SUCKS. Wheeler looked like he was trembling up there. THere's no question it's over. Keep telling me that they have the home field, sure

Rays are fucked just like I said they were.

Ok trolljob, I'll concede the 3 inning chokejob Thursday night but that doesnt take away the 24 inning ass drubbing that led up to that. You are fucking high if you think this team is going to turn 180 and fold into the fetal position. Boston is going down swinging, and pulled out a miracle. At least they saved their home fans the agony of watching the Rays celebrate a ALCS championship on Fenway turf.

It's going to be misery watching the Red Sox hoist the AL title trophy tomorrow night at the Trop.

What a predictable collapse by this team of trembling pussies. They really do play like a AAA team out there in the playoffs and it's all being exposed in this monumental gag job.


They simply played way over their heads all season long and showed their true colors in the ALCS (which they really were lucky to get to in the first place)

Phillies are going to be ice cold for Wednesday night's Game 1 at Fenway.

Yer a Fuckin Jerkoff wrote: Phillies are going to be ice cold for Wednesday night's Game 1 at Fenway.

Regardless of where the Phillies open up, they split one of those 2 games; probably winning the game Hamels pitches.

It's stunning that the Sox are making this comeback again but since they seem to make a habit out of it, it's not as much of a shock. Just from a baseball fan's perspective, it's once again been a very entertaining postseason.

I really have a hard time thinking the Rays will get the better of Lester a second time in this series and there's no doubt the Sox have all the momentum entering tonight. What's going to play with the Rays players' minds is even if they jump out to a 4-0 or 5-0 lead, they know that the team in the other dugout can and will catch them and beat them. The only way they win tonight is if they get a near perfect start from Garza and he's able to go 7 or 8 innings and keep their bullpen out of play for as long as possible.

Red Sox 3
Rays 1

ALCS MVP: Kevin Youkilis