2008 MLB Playoffs
- Thread starter BillD1984
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The same two clowns that did the Sox-Angels series: Chip Caray and Buck Martinez, plus Ron Darling.
Caray is okay I guess, but Buck Martinez got on my last nerve during the ALDS, he just doesn't SHUT UP
!Don't get me wrong I can't stand Mr. Ego- Joe Buck, but I really believe I would rather Buck and McCarver.
Out of all the analysts used during the LDS, I like Harold Reynolds, Darling, and Joe Simpson. You can have Martinez, Tony Gwynn, and John Smoltz.
I used to enjoy Martinez when he was in the ESPN studios. I just don't like him as a game analyst.
ALCS PREDICTION
Lineups- EDGE: Even. Surprise, surprise... but I think the Rays total offense (hitting, power, and speed) is vastly underrated. I think Longoria, Pena, Crawford, Upton, Iwamura, Navarro, are as potent as Ortiz, Youkilis, Pedroia, Bay, Drew and Ellsbury.
Starting Rotation- EDGE: Slightly to the Red Sox. The Rays rotation is deeper with Shields, Kazmir, Garza, Sonnanstine and/or Jackson, but they don't have two studs at the top of their rotation like the Red Sox do.
Bullpen- EDGE: Even. Once again, I give the Rays the edge in depth with Balfour, Wheeler, Howell, Bradford, and Miller. But they don't have the one stud at the back end of their bullpen like the Sox do.
As you can see, I think this series is as close as a series can get. BUT, in the end I like experience and Lester or Beckett pitching in a game 7.
PREDICTION: Red Sox in 7. MVP: Dustin Pedroia
NLCS PREDICTION
Lineups- EDGE: Even. Both teams have potent lineups. Ramirez, Ethier, Loney, Blake, Kemp and a very underrated Russell Martin vs. Howard, Utley, Rollins, Burrell, Victorino and Werth will be very fun to watch.
Starting Rotation- EDGE: Moderately to the Phillies. The Dodgers have thevery impressive Billingsley and D-Lowe loves the ball in big games. However, the Phillies have a significant edge with their third and fourth starters. Hamels, Myers, Moyer and Blanton is a very underrated rotation. The Dodgers could sure use Brad Penney and Jason Schmidt in this series.
Bullpen- EDGE: Huge edge to the Phillies. The Dodgers have no one that can match Brad Lidge.
This is a tough call, but ultimately the Phillies superior pitching will prevail.
PREDICTION: Phillies in 6. MVP: Ryan Howard
Lineups- EDGE: Even. Surprise, surprise... but I think the Rays total offense (hitting, power, and speed) is vastly underrated. I think Longoria, Pena, Crawford, Upton, Iwamura, Navarro, are as potent as Ortiz, Youkilis, Pedroia, Bay, Drew and Ellsbury.
Starting Rotation- EDGE: Slightly to the Red Sox. The Rays rotation is deeper with Shields, Kazmir, Garza, Sonnanstine and/or Jackson, but they don't have two studs at the top of their rotation like the Red Sox do.
Bullpen- EDGE: Even. Once again, I give the Rays the edge in depth with Balfour, Wheeler, Howell, Bradford, and Miller. But they don't have the one stud at the back end of their bullpen like the Sox do.
As you can see, I think this series is as close as a series can get. BUT, in the end I like experience and Lester or Beckett pitching in a game 7.
PREDICTION: Red Sox in 7. MVP: Dustin Pedroia
NLCS PREDICTION
Lineups- EDGE: Even. Both teams have potent lineups. Ramirez, Ethier, Loney, Blake, Kemp and a very underrated Russell Martin vs. Howard, Utley, Rollins, Burrell, Victorino and Werth will be very fun to watch.
Starting Rotation- EDGE: Moderately to the Phillies. The Dodgers have thevery impressive Billingsley and D-Lowe loves the ball in big games. However, the Phillies have a significant edge with their third and fourth starters. Hamels, Myers, Moyer and Blanton is a very underrated rotation. The Dodgers could sure use Brad Penney and Jason Schmidt in this series.
Bullpen- EDGE: Huge edge to the Phillies. The Dodgers have no one that can match Brad Lidge.
This is a tough call, but ultimately the Phillies superior pitching will prevail.
PREDICTION: Phillies in 6. MVP: Ryan Howard
I am impressed by Lidge, but I am still a bit nervous. Remember what happened the last time he was in an NLCS?
IF you have XM, you can have your choice, they have the home and road feeds as well as the National available to chose from
Jimbo
What a boring world series that would be. Fox would be happy that Boston is in, but most of the country could give a rip about that series. Just what we want an almost New England world series.
Here are the good, bad, and ugly of the first round:
Good- we got TWO series that extended to a fourth game; the Angels/Red Sox series was very interesting
Bad- C.C. Sabathia's rough playoff start
Ugly- the Cubs
Good- we got TWO series that extended to a fourth game; the Angels/Red Sox series was very interesting
Bad- C.C. Sabathia's rough playoff start
Ugly- the Cubs
But it's probably Fox' second choice out of the four possibilities.
This is my opinion of Fox' World Series priority list:
1. Dodgers-Red Sox.......................by far
2. Phillies-Red Sox
3. Phillies-Rays
4. Dodgers-Rays
This what I think the order is
1 red sox vs phillies
2 red sox vs dodgers
3 dodgers vs rays
4 phillies vs rays
1 red sox vs phillies
2 red sox vs dodgers
3 dodgers vs rays
4 phillies vs rays
Here's my opinion of FOX's preference......
1. Dodgers-Red Sox.......................BY FAR! NOT EVEN CLOSE!
2. The Best of Dancing with the Stars
3. Hole in the Wall Marathon
4. Behind the scenes special on the making of: "House"
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305. Chiefs-Rams (playoff to determine worst team ever)
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497. Wasilla, AK Pop Warner Football Tournament.
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501. Phillies-Red Sox
502. Dodgers-Rays
503. Phillies-Rays
I don't give a rats a$$ what the networks want.....I think a Dodgers vs. Rays series would be awesome! I HATE the Dodgers(what is left of my love for the Reds will NEVER have me root for them....it's a ole NL West thing...some wouldn't understand...LOL) And there will ALWAYS be BASEBALL fans that roots for the underdog.
) And there will ALWAYS be BASEBALL fans that roots for the underdog.Red Sox and Rays have announced their pitching rotations for the ALCS:
Game 1: Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. Scott Shields
Game 2: Josh Beckett vs. Scott Kazmir
Game 3: Matt Garza vs. Jon Lester
Game 4: Andy Sonnanstine vs. Tim Wakefield
Game 5: Shields vs. Matsuzaka
Game 6: Beckett vs. Kazmir
Game 7: Lester vs. Garza
Game 1: Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. Scott Shields
Game 2: Josh Beckett vs. Scott Kazmir
Game 3: Matt Garza vs. Jon Lester
Game 4: Andy Sonnanstine vs. Tim Wakefield
Game 5: Shields vs. Matsuzaka
Game 6: Beckett vs. Kazmir
Game 7: Lester vs. Garza
The least weather proof is what we are probably going to get. I have no doubt weather will play a factor in a series like that one.
