Let’s Get Started!
Last year, the Phillies beat the Dodgers in 5 games, with Cole Hamels getting the MVP and Brad Lidge getting 3 saves. The Phillies also hosted the series last year. This time, it’s the Dodgers’ turn to host. In the season, the Dodgers won in a close season series 4 games to 3. In postseason history, the Phillies have won 2 NLCS matchups and the Dodgers have won 2 NLCS matchups and they have never met in the NLDS (National League Division Series) together. In the NLDS, the Dodgers, surprisingly, swept the Cardinals, beating Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. The Dodgers had come back in game 2 on a dropped ball by Matt Holliday, but mostly by bad pitching by Ryan Franklin. On the other side, the Phillies won what turned out to be a thrilling series against the Rockies, also coming back with two outs in the ninth inning of game 4 to finish off the series. What I’m looking for in the series, is a pitcher for the Dodgers to step up, and also for the Phillie’s ability to come back. They have shown us that they are never out of a game, thanks to their clutch at-bats and hits.
In the American League, the Yankees and Angels have only met in the postseason once before, an ALDS matchup in ’05 that the Angels won in 5. Like the NLCS, these are two powerhouses that are always winning year in, and year out. The Yankees not surprisingly swept the Twins, but in an odd fashion. They were trailing in every single game to the Twins, including in the ninth inning of game two. Alex Rodriguez, haunted by his lack of production in the playoffs, went 5 for 11 (5 hits in 11 at-bats), 2 home runs, 6 RBIs, 4 runs scored, and a walk. It sure sounds like he broke out of it. Let’s see how he does against much tougher pitchers. On the other team, the Angels unexpectedly swept the team that had troubled them in years past. Since 2004, the Red Sox have won 9 of 10 games against the Angels in the postseason. That changed very quickly. The Red Sox were a few outs away from extending the series, but the Angels, like the Dodgers, Phillies, and Yankees, came back with three in the ninth to take the lead, win the game and the series.
After all this analysis, here are my predictions: Phillies over Dodgers in 7 and Yankees over Angels in 6.
This should be a fantastic championship series, so I hope you can find time to watch after the homecoming festivities. Game 1 of the NLCS starts Thursday at 7:07. And game 1 of the ALCS starts Friday at 6:57 (both times are in central time by the way).
Tune in for my next blog, and have a great week, Tigers!
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