Playoff Predictions and A Few More Thoughts

I know the playoffs have already started today, but here are my playoff predictions. I promise these were made before the games today.

NLDS
Phillies over Brewers (in four)
Cubs over Dodgers (in three)

ALDS
Rays over White Sox (in four, but I hope in three)
Angels over Red Sox (in five)

NLCS
Cubs over Phillies (in six)
Angels over Rays (in seven)

World Series
Cubs over Angels (in seven)

I guess I'm on the bandwagon. I just see the Cubs being the best all-around team in the playoffs, but it's really a toss-up with the Angels. Sure would be cool to see it happen, and it would piss off White Sox fans, which would of course be great. More detailed analysis to come.


Still getting over last night's Twins loss, as you might imagine. Very tough way to end a good season. A few final thoughts:

1. I can't stand how people are saying, "Nobody expected them to get this far, so you have to be happy with the season." I agree that nobody expected them to go this far, but once we got into July and August and realized the Twins were a true contender, we started to expect they would win the division. I'm delighted that they did as well as they did this season, but I'm very frustrated that once it was clear they were a very good team, they couldn't close the deal.

2. Should Michael Cuddyer have tagged up on the short fly to center? As the play was happening, I definitely thought no. The ball was to very shallow center, and any center fielder, especially Griffey, can make that throw. Looking at the full context of the game, however, it was a good risk to take. The throw had to be perfect and A.J. need to hold on to the ball. Unfortunately, somehow, both happened.


3. Should Gardy have gone to Mijares to face Thome? Absolutely not. Blackburn was pitching the game of his life and had a low pitch count. He had to leave him in the game. Unfortunately, Blackburn made his only real mistake of the night, and that was the ballgame. Damn Thome.

4. Should Mauer have bunted? I think it was a good move. If the bunt was a little farther down the line, he has an easy hit. Again, the White Sox caught a break, as A.J.'s mask barely missed hitting his throwing arm as he tossed the ball to first. Damn A.J.

5. Hopefully this young Twins team can learn something from this game. It gave them just a small taste of what the playoffs are like, and if anything, I hope they use it as motivation for next year. Regardless, this Twins team is set up very well for the future, which I will get into in depth in my off-season preview.

Let's go Rays tomorrow. I hope they make the Southsider's look like the postseason mistake that they are.

Next to come: A preview of this weekend (USC and Vikings football), and Twins 2008 recap and off-season preview.

Thanks for reading.