My heart is pulling for my Dodgers, even with the loss of Matt Kemp the rest of the season and Andre Ethier probably for the first series. They may have peaked too soon but the front three starting pitchers are the best.

Dodgers over the Red Sox

OneTopOneChickenApple;842187341 said:

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My heart is pulling for my Dodgers, even with the loss of Matt Kemp the rest of the season and Andre Ethier probably for the first series. They may have peaked too soon but the front three starting pitchers are the best.

Dodgers over the Red Sox

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Dodgers will be tough to beat with that rotation. Although they've struggled a bit heading into the postseason, I'm not a big believer in momentum heading into the playoffs. But the NL is ridiculously tough with LAD, STL and ATL all legit. I think I'm going to say Braves in the NL, and then Braves over Red Sox in the WS.

Oakland's A's over anyone

This year so far ... finished with the second overall seed in the American League (96 wins). Oakland is the only major league team to have had a winning record in every month this year and every month since last July (which is 10 straight months if you are counting). As far as finishing strong, Oakland had the second best record in September

A's split with the Red Sox (had the tiebreaker for the overall number one seed in the AL but missed it by one game)

A's beat the Tigers 4-3 including almost sweeping them in Detroit (literally one out away)

A's swept the Rays in Oakland (got swept in Tampa)

A's were 2-5 against the Indians (swept in 4 in Cleveland early this season)

A's beat the Rangers 10-9 overall

National League (played the NL Central this year)
Overall record 10-6

Vs Cincinnati 2-2
Vs St Louis 2-1
Vs Pittsburgh 2-1

We can list other stats for the pitching and slugging etc but it gets boring

Let's Go Oakland

Indians vs pirates.

I would love that. Ha

Tigers vs braves with the tigers winning in 6

OneTopOneChickenApple;842187341 said:

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My heart is pulling for my Dodgers, even with the loss of Matt Kemp the rest of the season and Andre Ethier probably for the first series. They may have peaked too soon but the front three starting pitchers are the best.

Dodgers over the Red Sox

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Dodgers over the Red Sox is my pick, too.

And the pick of the oddsmakers in Vegas as well.

Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu are better than anyone else's top 3 starting pitchers, and the Dodger lineup even without Matt Kemp -- Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez -- is loaded. Kemp didn't even play during the Dodgers' hot streak when they went like 42-8 or whatever that ridiculously dominant record was.

I hope the small-market boys make the big ones eat it:

A's vs Pirates

With Bucholz back Red Sox over the Braves in four, maybe five.

Dodgers over A's.

GinFizzBear;842187500 said:

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Dodgers over A's.

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A's over Dodgers.

Richard_Lee;842187411 said:

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Dodgers over the Red Sox is my pick, too.

And the pick of the oddsmakers in Vegas as well.

Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu are better than anyone else's top 3 starting pitchers, and the Dodger lineup even without Matt Kemp -- Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez -- is loaded. Kemp didn't even play during the Dodgers' hot streak when they went like 42-8 or whatever that ridiculously dominant record was.

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The Dodgers have an awesome bullpen too. I credit the bullpen as much as anything for that 42-8 streak.

The American League does have advantage though, with home field advantage in the WS because of that ridiculous All-Star game rule and the DH.

GB54;842187491 said:

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With Bucholz back Red Sox over the Braves in four, maybe five.

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I think the Barves strike out too often to make a WS run.

Matt Kemp is out for the rest of the year and is having ankle and shoulder surgery. Andre Ethier is out for at least the first round

The Dodgers pitching staff is exactly what they paid for .... Excellent. They might be able to ride out the excellent pitching and the extremely well paid and high powered lineup to the title (and their best player is making the least amount of money compared to the other big names ... Gonzalez, Crawford, Ramirez ....)

as baseball has spread to other nations, the "world" series is mis-named.
Boring matchup after a too long season.
Definitely NOT a World series.

Dodgers in a sweep.

but I think the Reds have a real shot (if they get by Pittsburgh; one game is a crapshoot).

I like the A's-Tigers winner in the AL, although the hottest team in baseball right now is Cleveland (don't think they've got the stuff to go all the way).

One correction: it bothers me when people refer to the A's as a "small market team." They are a small PAYROLL team (28th in MLB), but they share the 4th largest TV market in the country, and at 12 million, the Bay Area is one of the largest metros in the US.

UrsaMajor;842187569 said:

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but I think the Reds have a real shot (if they get by Pittsburgh; one game is a crapshoot).

I like the A's-Tigers winner in the AL, although the hottest team in baseball right now is Cleveland (don't think they've got the stuff to go all the way).

One correction: it bothers me when people refer to the A's as a "small market team." They are a small PAYROLL team (28th in MLB), but they share the 4th largest TV market in the country, and at 12 million, the Bay Area is one of the largest metros in the US.

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You are correct about the "small market" misnomer but even though they play in one of the largest metro areas, they share it and have no major tv or radio deals that bring in ridiculous revenue like the Yankees. Even the giants get preferred channels locally and have the "new" ballpark to help revenue (don't get me started on their ticket prices and "dynamic pricing).

The A's are small payroll by necessity AND choice. They actually have a very wealthy owner and with revenue sharing, they make a profit.

SonOfCalVa;842187557 said:

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as baseball has spread to other nations, the "world" series is mis-named.
Boring matchup after a too long season.
Definitely NOT a World series.

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other baseball-playing nations are welcome to submit grievances and drag the US to the Hague to resolve this senseless barbarianism and hegemony

Richard_Lee;842187411 said:

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Dodgers over the Red Sox is my pick, too.

And the pick of the oddsmakers in Vegas as well.

Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu are better than anyone else's top 3 starting pitchers, and the Dodger lineup even without Matt Kemp -- Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez -- is loaded. Kemp didn't even play during the Dodgers' hot streak when they went like 42-8 or whatever that ridiculously dominant record was.

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I think you underestimate the Cardinals rotation - their top 3 are nearly as good as the Dodgers top 3 (overall), but their 4 and 5 guys are much better than L.A.'s. They also have a very strong bullpen and a better offense. I am rethinking my choice and might pick StL.

Richard_Lee;842187411 said:

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Dodgers over the Red Sox is my pick, too.

And the pick of the oddsmakers in Vegas as well.

Kershaw, Greinke, and Ryu are better than anyone else's top 3 starting pitchers, and the Dodger lineup even without Matt Kemp -- Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez -- is loaded. Kemp didn't even play during the Dodgers' hot streak when they went like 42-8 or whatever that ridiculously dominant record was.

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People are sleeping on the Braves. They have a lower team ERA then the Dodgers. Dominant Bullpen. They also have scored more runs than the Dodgers. They also had fantastic runs this year, including two long winning streaks above 10 games.

This is sure shaping up to be a whale of a baseball postseason. Anyway you look it and regardless of who you root for ... unless you are a giants fan

calgldnbear;842187701 said:

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This is sure shaping up to be a whale of a baseball postseason. Anyway you look it and regardless of who you root for ... unless you are a giants fan

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Ugh....

calgldnbear;842187701 said:

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This is sure shaping up to be a whale of a baseball postseason. Anyway you look it and regardless of who you root for ... unless you are a giants fan

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Even better-no more Mariano farewells!

NYCGOBEARS;842187753 said:

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Ugh....

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Or a Niners, or Bears fan Poor you!

GRRAAH;842188036 said:

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Or a Niners, or Bears fan Poor you!

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Niners are gonna come back.

grandmastapoop;842187611 said:

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I think you underestimate the Cardinals rotation - their top 3 are nearly as good as the Dodgers top 3 (overall), but their 4 and 5 guys are much better than L.A.'s. They also have a very strong bullpen and a better offense. I am rethinking my choice and might pick StL.

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the 4-spot is not as important in the playoffs as 1-3, and the 5-spot is completely irrelevant. The St Louis bullpen is kind of good for the year but not great (12th in ERA and OBP).

The Cardinals have excellent situational hitters, though.

Dodgers will be hurting with a limited Ethier and no Kemp, so I am still worried bout LA.

MiZery;842187663 said:

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People are sleeping on the Braves. They have a lower team ERA then the Dodgers. Dominant Bullpen. They also have scored more runs than the Dodgers. They also had fantastic runs this year, including two long winning streaks above 10 games.

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ATL bullpen is better than LA's, but not their starting pitchers.

SonOfCalVa;842187557 said:

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as baseball has spread to other nations, the "world" series is mis-named.
Boring matchup after a too long season.
Definitely NOT a World series.

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Then don't watch. Not sure why you are really complaining about this.

It's as much a WORLD Series as it needs to be. Only Japan has a serious major league, and it is not comparable. If it were it would not limit non Japanese players.

MiZery;842187663 said:

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People are sleeping on...

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Hey!

Is that you, TheRise?!?

:p

I predict there will be a Game 7 in the World Series and Selig will be called an idiot for scheduling it on Halloween.

Looperbear;842189115 said:

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I predict there will be a Game 7 in the World Series and Selig will be called an idiot for scheduling it on Halloween.

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Wasn't it on Halloween last year or recently also?

I would like to see two old PA's---Pirates v. A's.
I will likely see Bosox v. Braves---two old MA's.

OneTopOneChickenApple;842187341 said:

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My heart is pulling for my Dodgers, even with the loss of Matt Kemp the rest of the season and Andre Ethier probably for the first series. They may have peaked too soon but the front three starting pitchers are the best.

Dodgers over the Red Sox

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My heart is with the A's. But I am concerned that they do not have enough hitters to win in the post-season. My hope is that they get on a hot streak when they are hitting they are very hard to beat.

So I will vote wearing my Green and Gold Glasses. A's take the Series. (maybe)

Reds (sorry Dusty) are out .... Indians to fall tonight? State of Ohio out in two games???

LET'S GO A's!!!!!!!

soefeil;842189116 said:

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Wasn't it on Halloween last year or recently also?

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I think that it was, not sure what Selig and MLB are thinking.