ALDS Game 1: TEX @ TB Wednesday, October 6 TBS 1:37 p.m. ALDS Game 1: NYY @ MIN Wednesday, October 6 TBS 8:37 p.m. ALDS Game 2: TEX @ TB Thursday, October 7 TBS 2:37 p.m. ALDS Game 2: NYY @ MIN Thursday, October 7 TBS 6:07 p.m. ALDS Game 3: TB @ TEX Saturday, October 9 TBS 5:07 p.m. ALDS Game 3: MIN @ NYY Saturday, October 9 TBS 8:37 p.m. ALDS Game 4*: MIN @ NYY Sunday, October 10 TBS TBA ALDS Game 4*: TB @ TEX Sunday, October 10 TBS TBA ALDS Game 5*: NYY @ MIN Tuesday, October 12 TBS TBA ALDS Game 5*: TEX @ TB Tuesday, October 12 TBS TBA
-----------------------------
Oh lord, the poor Twinkies. I'll be shocked if this doesn't end in yet another first round exit for them. They already don't have much luck against the Yankees, as it is. But now they're playing in the cold weather confines of...their own ballpark. Yanks should sweep this in 3.
Rays shouldn't have a problem with Texas. For a lot of the Rangers, it's their first time seeing the postseason. Their only offensive player with any experience is Vlad Guerrero and, if I've learned anything in the five years Vlad spent in Anaheim, it's that a power outage usually kicks in for him right about now. Rangers will get a win out of Cliff Lee, but not much else. Rays win in 4.
"Playing guitars. It's hard to sing while playing...guitars."
Tampa and the Yankees aren't playing very well right now but in these match-ups it may not make much of a difference. I wouldn't be so quick to give Lee a win though. Price is as good as anyone. After Sabathia, the Yanks starting rotation is scary. Especially to Yankees fans. Who knows what you're going to get out of the Twins pitching. Liriano, Duensing and Pavano have been solid and the Angels finally beat the Red Sox last year maybe Minnesota exorcises it's ghost this year. I don't think so either but it would be nice.
Tampa wipes the floor with Texas in 3 blowout wins. The Rangers got in only because their division stinks, Lee is terrible against the Rays, their other pitchers don't scare me at all, and their biggest hitting threat in Hamilton is still hurt and I don't think is going to be 100% for the series. It'll be a miracle if Texas wins even one; they're a near total fraud of a playoff team. I would argue that Boston, Chicago, or even Toronto deserve to be in the playoffs more. Don't ask me why I have such an irrational hatred for the Rangers; I just do.
Twins beat the Yanks in 5. This may finally be the year they get over the hump of playing in Yankee Stadium, what with NY's weak pitching and batting lineup.
Oh, I forgot to mention that the Rangers are the least experienced of the 4 AL teams and that their playoff history is as shitty as it gets (3 playoff series; 1-9 record combined).
So it's Rays/Twins in the ALCS. I like Tampa, but their batting order is inconsistent. I think that makes the difference as Minnesota probably shuts them out at least once. The Twins win in 6.
Oh, and the Texas Rangers suck balls and I hope an anvil falls on Ron Washington's dumb ass head. GODDAMMIT I HATE THE TEXAS RANGERS!!! LOSE,LOSE,LOSE, YOU JACKASSES!!!
Originally posted by supersalvadoranTwins beat the Yanks in 5. This may finally be the year they get over the hump of playing in Yankee Stadium, what with NY's weak pitching and batting lineup.
Yeah, NY's weak lineup that led baseball in runs scored. I'm picking the Yankees over the Twins just based on past history. I'd love it if the Twinkies won, but I can see Sabathia just shutting them down in Game One and snuffing out Minnesota's momentum right then and there.
I'll pick Texas over Tampa Bay just for the sake of picking at least one underdog.
Originally posted by Big BadYeah, NY's weak lineup that led baseball in runs scored.
It is when you consider that even with the runs scored, you have: Teixeira having the broken toe which is hurting his hitting the last month, Cano hitting good but not anywhere near the MVP pace he had going earlier in the season, and Jeter, A-Rod, and Posada all hitting well below their usual averages. They have 5 guys who have over 100 Ks batting and nearly had a 6th (A-Rod was just 2 short in a somewhat shortened season) compared to just one person (Cano) hitting over .300 in the entire team. Don't just look at just one big stat; the Yankees are a free swinging team that has struggled, especially in the last month. This is not a team that is going to score as easily as you think it will.
There are few things more dependable than the Twins losing in the ALDS. Somehow they always win the AL Central, look amazing through the second half, then proceed to fall apart.
Yankees in three. Rangers in five.
(edited by spf on 5.10.10 1000) 2007 and 2008 W-League Fantasy Football champion!
Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you... Rays sweep the Rangers, Yankees knock off the Twins in 4.
It ain't the best division in baseball for nothing.
smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated (Holds; June 18, 2006) While the switch from Cena to RVD should alleviate some complaints, the inevitability of the belt's return to Cena (note where Summerslam is this year) and the poor initial showing by the new ECW are enough to keep the indicator where it is for now. The pieces are in place, though, especially on RAW, for improvements to be made to the IWC's psyche in the near future.
Rays in 4, Yankees sweep as the Twins couldn't find a way to get to the 27th out with Nathan against the Yankees. Rays in 6 over the Yankees as I think they have the better pitching and speed.
I want to say the Twins. But the AL East is the AL BEAST. Seriously, if either Baltimore or Toronto was in another division they probably would have contended for a division title.
That said....I'll still say Twins. New ballpark, new start. Tight series but the Twins will throw it down and take the win. Meanwhile, the Rays will win in convincing fashion, setting up Phillies vs Rays in the World Series.
After a (very) long hiatus, I have begun to write again. And this time, I'm not alone!
Click Here (basisgames.blogspot.com) to check out Basis Games - Video Game/Console Reviews, Commentaries, and Analysis. Check it out!
I am getting this down here as I think I will be in the minority in picking the Rangers. I think they will handle the Rays in 4 and I am hoping the Twins in 5.
RANGERS!
Every time I try to do this, I screw up my table tags by forgetting to close them. EVERY TIME.
Originally posted by BoromirMarkYanks in 5, Rays in 3.
Yup.
edit - also lol at thinking Baltimore would contend in any other division. I'm an Orioles fan and that's insane.
(edited by Psycho Penguin on 5.10.10 1013)
Lets look at who they play the most;
- The Yankees with the largest payroll in the league, a great scouting staff, and a GM who actually know how to spend the money well.
- The Red Sox, who also have a large payroll, good talent, and a decent GM.
- The Rays, who have shown the last couple of years they are quite good. Still a young team as well, so they'll be around for awhile.
- The Blue Jays who hit a gazillions homers this year, and their GM shows promise with recent personnel moves. They would have been five games out of first place if they were in the AL West.
The O's would be MUCH more respectable in another division when they could play these other teams less.
After a (very) long hiatus, I have begun to write again. And this time, I'm not alone!
Click Here (basisgames.blogspot.com) to check out Basis Games - Video Game/Console Reviews, Commentaries, and Analysis. Check it out!
Obviously they'd have a better record elsewhere, especially if Showalter was there all year, but I doubt they'dee beee better than the Tigers or Marlins.
Originally posted by supersalvadoranTampa wipes the floor with Texas in 3 blowout wins. The Rangers got in only because their division stinks, Lee is terrible against the Rays, their other pitchers don't scare me at all, and their biggest hitting threat in Hamilton is still hurt and I don't think is going to be 100% for the series. It'll be a miracle if Texas wins even one; they're a near total fraud of a playoff team. I would argue that Boston, Chicago, or even Toronto deserve to be in the playoffs more. Don't ask me why I have such an irrational hatred for the Rangers; I just do.
You do realize the Rangers were third in ERA, even though their home park favors hitters and Lee only pitched half a season and had a 3.98 ERA in his 15 Ranger starts. I'm not saying they're the best team in the AL, but they've got as good a chance as the other three teams.
I really enjoy the Ranger hate just because I didn't know anyone could hate the Rangers, let alone that much. They've pretty much been a laughingstock for their four decades in existence, so I don't get the vitriol.
Still, my favorite thing about this post is that, in listing the only reasons the Rangers made the playoffs, 'Lee is terrible against the Rays' is included.
I was really hoping Thome would have put that ball into the seats in the bottom of the 9th, just so we could get the 24-hour "instant replay" debate out of the way now and just get it over with. No such luck.
Honestly, if that's the worst call the umps blow this postseason, we'll all be better for it.
We're flying a giant orange "CONAN" blimp over the baseball playoffs. Finally, subtlety in advertising. @ConanOBrien
Originally posted by It's FalseI was really hoping Thome would have put that ball into the seats in the bottom of the 9th, just so we could get the 24-hour "instant replay" debate out of the way now and just get it over with. No such luck.
Honestly, if that's the worst call the umps blow this postseason, we'll all be better for it.
So true. The six of them got together, discussed, and still they blew it.
Frank Thomas has found his way back to Oakland: Crap. The A's were already playing surprisingly good and are already near the top of the AL West. With the M's due to surge any day now, the AL West has become a surprisingly competitive division.