MLB LCS Preview

Man I hate school. It's been a whole month since I've had a chance to post anything on here because I've been swamped with work that I don't understand or even do correctly. I literally work nonstop between Sunday night and Thursday night with no breaks to do anything. I think there's gonna be a problem when basketball season starts and I waste 3 hours a night a couple nights a week watching the Lakers in action.

But wait, that process may begin as early as next week because I still have a rooting interest in this season's baseball playoffs. That's right, baseball is still being played folks and it's down to the good stuff. The stretch run was really boring other than the Tigers' collapse and that 1 game playoff that was as exciting a game as I've seen all year (Gotta love Tuesday afternoon baseball). The Division Series were all fairly routine as the higher seeds went an astonishing 12-1 combined and the lower seeds lost all 5 of their home games. Not that the individual games were bad as several came down to the final inning. I know that most people think baseball is boring, and trust me, I'm right there with you. It is boring. There's not much going on. Hardly any action. I don't think I watched a single game from start to finish the entire season to this point (On TV anyways. I did watch the one game that I went to from start to finish). I'm a big baseball fan and even I can't do it. But when it gets to the playoffs everything changes. And it's hard to put a finger on why. It just is. Every pitch is tense because anything at all can happen. During the regular season, a runner gets to first base and it's like whatever. No biggie. But in the playoffs a runner gets to first base and a whole new game begins. The player is lifted for a pinch runner, even if the pinch runner is way worse in all other respects aside form baserunning than the guy that got to first. The pitcher is relieved for a different guy who better matches up with the pinch-hitter who was put in because he matched up better with the original pitcher. Then the defense shifts according to the tendencies of the hitter. The pitcher pitches according to the tendencies of the hitter. At the same time, the runner on first threatens to steal. Maybe the pitcher throws back to the base. Maybe they decide to pitch out and hope to catch the runner attempting to steal. Maybe a pitch is in the dirt and the runner can advance to scoring position. Maybe the hitter sacrifice bunts the runner over. Maybe the runner represents the tying run or even the winning run and an extra-base hit changes the complexion of the game. If you don't understand a thing you read over the last minute it's okay. Just know that there are a million different scenarios possible on each and every pitch in the postseason and that's what makes it exciting. Anything can happen. Alex Rodriguez can forget to take his Chokerol and hit a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the 9th to propel a Yankees come-from-behind win. Vladimir Guerrero can put a woeful postseason past behind him to drive in the two winning runs in the top of the 9th inning at Fenway Park, a place where the Angels have failed so many times before in the playoffs, against a pitcher who had never given up a run in his entire postseason career. So you don't have to believe me that baseball can actually be exciting. Just know that I'm right. Let's get to it.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies
In a rematch of last year's National League Championship Series, the Phillies and the Dodgers clash once more. We know both teams can hit. Manny Ramirez anchors a Dodgers lineup filled with young, athletic guys who can swing the bat. Matt Kemp broke out this year with his first career 25 HR-100 RBI season, with 34 stolen bases to boot. Andre Ethier has been clutch all year and delivered 5 extra-base hits in 3 games against St. Louis in the DS. Ryan Howard leads the Phillies hitters and all hitters in the majors in home runs and RBI's the past 4 seasons. He added 45 and 141 more this year. He is joined by another former NL MVP Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and former Dodger Jayson Werth who had a career year of his own with over 30 home runs, nearly 100 RBI, and 20 steals.
The pitching will make the difference in this series, and while that may sound cliche, it's just true. The Phillies have a huge edge in starting pitching, with 2 aces going for them to the Dodgers' none. Cliff Lee has been lights out since coming over in a midseason trade from the Indians and last year's World Series MVP Cole Hamels has the playoff pedigree even though his numbers declined a bit this year. The Dodgers may have to face those 2 guys 5 times over this 7 game span, and that's no easy task even for a lineup as potent as LA's. Los Angeles meanwhile, has no real ace on their staff. Their Game 1 starter is a 21-year old Clayton Kershaw, the third youngest Game 1 playoff starter in major league history. He's got a lot of talent but he's still just a kid and the thing he's best at is his ability to not pitch deep into games. He also has a tendency to walk a lot of hitters, something that he will pay for against a Phillies lineup that is probably the deepest in the NL. Behind him are veteran journeymen Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla, 2 names that won't scare anyone standing in against them (Well, maybe Padilla will thanks to his penchant for going head-hunting from the mound). The Dodgers have one of the best bullpens in the league, but they have been heavily taxed all year and may be called on to work overtime if the potent Phils lineup force their starters out early. Philadelphia's bullpen has been shaky at best, but mercurial closer Brad Lidge put together a couple saves in row against the Rockies in the DS, and their deep starting rotation allows them to use some of those guys like Pedro Martinez, J.A. Happ, Joe Blanton, Jaimie Moyer, or Bret Meyers in long relief situations to take some of the pressure off of Lidge and co.
Both of these teams are very good, but I think the huge advantage the Phillies will have in their starting pitching gives them the edge in this matchup. Lee and Hamels will carry this club into the World Series for the second year in a row.
Prediction: Phillies in 6

Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Yankees
We've been here before. Twice in the past 7 years the Angels have gone into a playoff series against the Yankees as huge underdogs and twice they have shocked New York. During the dominant run of Joe Torre as Yankees manager, only the Angels had a winning record against them. In short, the Angels have owned the Yankees as much as any team with a $250 million payroll can be owned. But this year I have to throw that out the window. As much success as the Halos have had against New York lately, the Boston Red Sox had at least double that success against the Angels, yet the Angels just completed a sweep of the Sox in the last round. Plus, this is a different Yankees team. Yeah sure, they're all still overpaid superstars, but they actually have chemistry this year with light-hearted guys like Nick Swisher and CC Sabathia around. Derek Jeter is having one final monster, MVP-caliber year. Sabathia and fellow free agent acquisition A.J. Burnett give the Yankess some quality starting pitching. Alex Rodriguez has played like there's no pressure on him down the stretch, including a 2 HR, 7 RBI performance on the final day of the regular season, and a game-tying homer in the bottom of the 9th in Game 2 of the division series. Mark Texeira gives A-Rod some protection in the batting order. Manager Joe Girardi brings some more vigor and fire into the clubhouse. I'm worried.
But the Angels have some things going for them too. First and foremost, they've got the Angels on their side. You remember the movie Angels in the Outfield. Well, this year's squad has their designated Angel watching over them, their former teammate Nick Adenhart, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver at the beginning of this season. This entire year of baseball has been dedicated to the once-promising pitcher. Every game, the team goes out there and keeps him in their minds and hearts. Pitcher Jered Weaver writes Adenhart's initials behind the mound before every start he makes, and it's led him to have a career year this year. Torii Hunter's emotional reaction to his teammate's passing has fueled the tremendous passion and leadership he has shown thus far as he gets his teammates going. Vladimir Guerrero wears a shirt with Adenhart's name under his jersey, and believes Adenhart's spirit help him drive in the winning run in the game that sent the Angels to this series. This 2009 Angels team may just be a team of destiny. They've got some other motivating factors on their side too. They go against their former teammate Mark Texeira, who bailed on LA for the bigger spotlight and bigger paycheck in New York. They'll want to show him that he made a mistake leaving a team that can win a championship even without his services. Also, Bobby Abreu will be taking on his former employer, as the Yankees declined to bring the veteran outfielder back for this season. Abreu has become one of my most trusted hitters in this lineup and it showed in the last series where he hit a staggering .556 and had a whopping .692 on base percentage. The Angels have quality starters too. The aforementioned Weaver has had his best year as a pro. John Lackey is a bonafide ace who can eat up innings and shut down opposing teams. The Angels brought in former Ray Scott Kazmir, who knows a thing or two about pitching against the Yanks from his AL East days in Tampa. The only question mark is the bullpen, where there is no great set-up man in front of Brian Fuentes, who causes all Angels fans a collective heart attack whenever he attempts to save a game.
I think the Yankees are a better team from a talent standpoint, and with their chemistry and looseness this year, I think it would have been enough to win them a title. However, the Angels have divine presence and a common, passionate goal that they are playing hard to accomplish which will carry them on in the face of fierce opposition (Besides, I can't pick against my own team at this point).
Prediction: Angels in 6