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NLDS Preview: Don’t rain on our parade.
The senior circuit kicks off their divisional round match ups today, and hopefully no one gets rained out. I still can’t understand the logic of Major League baseball starting the playoffs in October, and why they do not better prepare for this. There was a time when the World Series would have been played by now, which is how it should be. With Bud Selig adding addtional wild card teams next year, now is a better time then ever to shorten the regular season. I think most fans can agree the season is already too long and cutting 2 weeks is not going to break anyones hearts. We want to see playoff baseball, not tarps on the field when the game matters most.
With that being said, lets take a look at the match ups:
Arizona Diamondbacks v Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers made some moves in the offseason to put them where they are now, and want more then just the Central Divison crown. Meanwhile the Diamondback are the surprise postseason team, as Kirk Gibson has led his young team to the Western Division title. The Brewers had the best home record in the league and look to get past 21 game winner Ian Kennedy in game one. Arizona is coming in as the definite underdog, and I am afraid their magically season will end eburptly. The Brewers are my pick to come out of the NL, and after past disappointments this will be the year they finally break through.
Brewers win 3-0
St Louis Cardinals v Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies cruised to the East title, and will be looking to their starting pitching to carry them to another World Series. St Louis snuck into the playoffs on the last day of the season, and do want want their season to end. When I look at this match up, I do not see a scenario where the Cardinals can with this. Philadelphia is just so much better, but the Cardinals did win the season series with a 6-3 record. But anytime you have to face Cliff Lee AND Roy Halladay in the playoffs, you are in for a long series. The Phillies will coast, and we should have a great NLCS with the two best NL teams going head to head.
Phillies win 3-0
World Series Prediction
The funny thing is, if you asked me a week ago I might have gone with at least one team that didn’t even make the playoffs. In the AL I am going to go with the hottest team and that is the Tampa Bay Rays, who have the arms and the bats to compete with anybody in a 7 game series. In the NL, this is finally the year the Brewers will get by the Phillies. Milwaukee has not been to the World Series since 1982, when ironically they were in the American League.
This will go down as the year of the Brewers, and Prince Fielder is going to snag a ring on his way out of town.
Brewers win the World Series in 6 games.
