Originally posted by SerWolfeI like The Masked Hungarians post.
Cards played the D'backs tough last year... and honestly i think they are a better team with Finley.... Williams healthy and Benes pitching amazing.
The lineup is stronger so i think the Cards have a great chance in beating them.
The Braves and Cardinals will be almost an even match up pitching wise (starters and closer). I would give the cardinals the edge on batting.
Cards over A's in 7.
(sorry i might like to see cards and yanks... but i want to see the yankees lose early)
D'backs killed Finley in Cleveland this year...Benes is an ex-D'back so they have scouted him and who doesn't have a splitty these days? Williams vs. Batista (at least it should be Batista pitching) will be crucial though.
Note that Morris, Maddux, and Glavine have had good years but are down a bit while Randy and Curt have set new career high win totals. Everybody got Coloradoed this week though; BA was solid last year against the Braves and even matched against Clemens...
And what's up with Anaheim, they were so close but can't seem to put away the M's...definitely something to worry about next year.
As for As/Yanks it's still gonna be close but I really think Giambi's switch will be the difference. Remember Zito lost 1-0 and 2-1 last year IIRC; offense has got to back him up.
Well, my opinions may have just changed with the 2 injuries that popped up on the D-backs last night...
Helling may be done, while not huge, he is the #3 man, isn't he???
Gonzalez being out for an extended period may kill them, though. I am quite please to see that they were giving their all even though they had pretty much clinched a spot, but that injury really hurts. (the team and him!!!)
---------- And the real wonder of the world is that we don't jump too ----------
Right now, D-Backs are in trouble. If Gonzalez is out, there goes most of their power. And, watch closely, because if the Cards make up the 2 games and grab homefield from the D-Backs in round 1, the D-Backs will have homefield in zero rounds this year, compared to 3 rounds last year.
Thank you Mr. Wanz for the check, now you get an AWA World Title Reign. But be careful, my boy Greg is a heat machine.
This is probably a boring pick, but I'm going to tab the Oakland A's to beat the Braves in the World Series. Braves have quietly rolled along and everyone seems to be picking against them. I still HATE the Braves (F*ck you, Sid Bream) but figure their veterans and experience will land them in the Series. I don't WANT them in the Series, and I hope someone hands them their asses, again...but I think they'll make with a "business as usual" approach.
Top to bottom, I think the A's have the best roster of the AL playoff contenders. If their pitching strays off, then I think their offense is enough to carry them...and vice versa. I feel that the Yankees, Angels and Twins have to have both aspects working for them.
Originally posted by hazWell, my opinions may have just changed with the 2 injuries that popped up on the D-backs last night...
Helling may be done, while not huge, he is the #3 man, isn't he???
Gonzalez being out for an extended period may kill them, though. I am quite please to see that they were giving their all even though they had pretty much clinched a spot, but that injury really hurts. (the team and him!!!)
There is no joy in Phoenix today.
You typed Helling, but I assume you mean Brian Anderson. Yes indeed, he is our #3 pitcher, & he's been doing better since Schilling has been working with him on some of his game prep.
Gonzo is gone for the duration, & that's not at all happy-making. I don't know that he's "most of [our] power" (I'd have to look at the numbers), but he surely is an important part of both our hitting & our lockerroom.
Originally posted by The Amazing SalamiI'm going with Oakland in the AL West and San Fran in the wild card race.
Woowy. I posted this a while back, when it was all still up in the air. It's getting closer and nothing is for sure but it looks like I was right in a prediction for like the first time ever.
"You're always 17 in your hometown." - Cross Canadian Ragweed
No Gonzo is bad news. Even though he had a close to average year this season, they still need him badly. I'm worried that he might not be ready in time for spring training this year. I thought they didn't wanna risk Ruby in right field either...
Bullpen's starting to slide bad as well. 4 setup men and they still can't finish it, gotta throw Mo' Man in there or something. Reynoso's looked good but he's faced what, 2 batters?
Patterson can be a force though. Got that bad start against the Mets out of his head apparently.
I think the Twin's achilles heels have been found; unreliable on the starters (complete switch from last year) and not being good against left-handers is pretty bad.
At last check, the Bosox were down 7-2 to the Chisox. If they win, and win out, and the Kurt Angels lose out, it is Minnesota at Da Bronx, and Da Sawx at Oakland...that would be kinda cool. I am actually rooting for Boston for the first time ever!
I also think it would be rawther sweet to the the Dbacks miss the playoffs. Gonzo, Shmonzo, shit happens.
My predictions remain:
ALDS: Yanks in 4 vs whoever, don't care.
ALCS: Yanks in 5 vs whoever, don't give a crap.
WS: Yanks in 5 vs whoever, don't matter.
"You know Monsoon, I am impressed, and I don't impress easy" -Jesse "The Body" Ventura
:-). I think the cards may have proved a point taking all three games from the d-backs... and having a good chance in taking home field advantage. Rolen and Benes being healthy may be the deciding factors.
With Schilling becoming mortal of late and the Gonzalez injury, I gotta shift my NLCS Champ to Atlanta, and it actually causes me physical pain to type that.
It dosen't really matter, though, because after the Twins are out I won't care WHO wins. So long as its not the Yankees. Or Braves. Or Giants.
I want to say Twins over Cards in 6; that just wont happen.
Originally posted by cherv With Schilling becoming mortal of late and the Gonzalez injury, I gotta shift my NLCS Champ to Atlanta, and it actually causes me physical pain to type that.
It dosen't really matter, though, because after the Twins are out I won't care WHO wins.
Schill's never been good against Cards in regular season. Postseason's a different story and homefield matters more in WS. It's still a pitcher's duel no matter who's in the outfield.
Not hitting lefties doesn't sound good for the Twins since they could face Pettite, Zito, Unit, Glavine etc.
As much as rooting for the yankees should be an arrestable offense, I hope they get past the Angels in the first round. Because NOTHING would be sweeter than watching the A's wallop the Yanks and go on to the World Series while Giambi sits this one out. After all, he went to the Yankees because he wanted to play for a winning team, right?
/edit: I'm assuming the Twins will provide no resistance, of course.
(edited by PalpatineW on 28.9.02 0100) Using a key to gouge expletives on another's vehicle is a sign of trust and friendship.
Playing for a wining team might be the lip service reason...but I'm guessing all the cash the Yankees offered might have factored into his decision as well. The A's just couldn't afford him.
Originally posted by PalpatineWAs much as rooting for the yankees should be an arrestable offense, I hope they get past the Angels in the first round. Because NOTHING would be sweeter than watching the A's wallop the Yanks and go on to the World Series while Giambi sits this one out. After all, he went to the Yankees because he wanted to play for a winning team, right?
Actually Giambi's gone on the record stating that if the A's offered him a no trade clause, he'd still be with them even though the Yanks offered him more cash.
Originally posted by David AdamsActually Giambi's gone on the record stating that if the A's offered him a no trade clause, he'd still be with them even though the Yanks offered him more cash.
Also, I remember reading that there was no love lost between the A's owner and JG...
"You know Monsoon, I am impressed, and I don't impress easy" -Jesse "The Body" Ventura
Yankees over the Angels in 4. A's over the Twins in 3.
Cardinals over the D'Backs in 5. Giants over the Braves in 5.
A's over the Yankees in 6. Cardinals over the Giants in 5.
A's over the Cards in 7.
"You can save the planet, I'll save your seat"- Uncle Kracker, Better Days "Confucious say: Man with hand in pocket feel cocky all day!"- Crank Yankers
I know the Major League aspect combined with cheap tickets and the novelty might have something to do with it, but seeing such a lively and decent sized crowd show up in Milwaukee for the Indians/Angels game makes me wonder if deep down Milwaukee is still...