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The Marathon is over for most teams The preparation now begins for that 11 game sprint. Win 11 games over the course of the next four weeks and your team is crowned World Series Champ.
NLDS Series A
Colorado (92-70 NL Wild Card) vs Philadelphia (93-69 NL East Champs)
Series Schedule All Times EDT and shown on TBS
Game 1 Wednesday @ Philadelphia 2:37
Game 2 Thursday @ Philadelphia 2:37
Game 3 Saturday @ Colorado 9:37
If Needed
Game 4 Sunday @ Colorado TBD
Game 5 Oct. 13th @ Philadelphia TBD
2009 Season Series
Phillies won Series 4-2
Previous Postseason Meeting
Rockies Swept Phillies in 2007 NLDS
Rockies Key Players
Troy Tulowitzi is a key cog in the
Rockies lineup with 30+ homers while longtime Rockie leader Todd Helton shrugged off an unusually subpar season in 2008 to return to being one of the more dependable hitters in the NL. Many people are surprised to see the Rockies have solid pitching, with Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jiminez providing a nice 1-2 punch at the front of the rotation.
Fast Fact: The Rockies are the first team since the 2006 Marlins to have five 10+ game winners
Phillies Key Players
Start with Ryan Howard, one of the more feared sluggers in MLB and go from there. Mix in the redoubtable Chase Utley and surprisingly strong seasons from Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth and the Phils have been able to offset the so-so season from the usually dependable Jimmy Rollins. And I haven’t even touched on the solid starting pitching. Getting Cliff Lee & the wily vet Pedro Martinez has made it even tougher for teams after dealing with pitching ace Cole Hamels
Fast Fact: Phillies 1B Ryan Howard became the 4th player in MLB history to have 4 consecutive 40 HR/130 RBI seasons (Ruth, Sosa, Griffey Jr.)
Breakdown
Both Teams are playoff tested, have clutch hitting and have solid pitching. The Phillies pitching has the clear edge though. The Rockies are tough to bet against though as they have been playing loose confident and really good since the managerial change. As long as Lidge doesn’t meltdown in save opportunities the Phillies win a tight well played series
Pick-Phillies in 5
St. Louis (91-71 NL Central Champs) vs Los Angeles (95-67 NL West Champs)
Series Schedule All Times EDT and shown on TBS
Game 1 Wednesday @ Los Angeles 9:37
Game 2 Thursday @ Los Angeles TBD
Game 3 @ St. Louis 6:07
If Needed
Game 4 @ St. Louis TBD
Game 5 @ Los Angeles TBD
2009 Season Series
Cardinals won series 5-2
Postseason Meetings:
Cardinals beat Dodgers in 1985 NLCS (4-2) and in 2004 NLDS (3-1)
Dodgers Key Players
Many of the usual suspect are still around helping the Dodgers defend their NL West crown, Manny Ramirez missed 50 games with a suspension but the Dodgers started fast and have more or less been on cruise control since after the All-Star Break, only having to wake up to hold off a late charge by the Rockies. The Dodgers are a serious contradiction, no .300 hitters but a pair of 100 RBI men in Matt Kemp and Andre Eithier. Randy Wolf is the only solid starter, while Jonathon Broxton is flame thrower out of the pen but the Dodgers won an NL best 95 games.
Fast Fact: Dodgers are 5-16 in postseason play since their last World Series win in 1988 with only one series win (2008 vs Cubs)
Cardinals Key Players
Lets just start by saying that Albert Pujols is the best player in the game, period. With Matt Holiday protecting him in the lineup, he is even more dangerous. The Redbirds have a good pitching core led by Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright and with ageless playoff vet John Smoltz they have a solid rotation. If Ryan Franklin rounds back into lockdown closer form, they are a tough team to deal with
Fast Fact:
Breakdown
This is a fascinating series, The Dodgers are loaded and can beat you so many different ways. They have hitting to bear and solid pitching, But the Cards just look like they can jump on Pujols’ back and ride him to a series win. It sounds nutty with the Dodgers having the home field advantage but have been playoff jinxed and despite a solid series by ManRam the Cards pull out a tight one.
Pick-Cardinals in 5
Boston (95-67 AL Wild Card) vs Los Angeles (97-65 AL West Champs)
Series Schedule All Times EDT and shown on TBS
Game 1 Wednesday @ Los Angeles 9:37
Game 2 Thursday @ Los Angeles 9:37
Game 3 Sunday @ Boston TBD
If Needed
Game 4 Monday @ Boston TBD
Game 5 October 14 @ Los Angeles TBD
2009 Season Series
Angels won series 5-4
Postseason Meetings:
Red Sox Beat Angels in 1986 ALCS (4-3)
Red Sox Beat Angels in 2004 ALDS (3-0)
Red Sox Beat Angels in 2007 ALDS (3-0)
Red Sox Beat Angels in 2008 ALDS (3-1)
Angels Key Players
The Angels have an embarrassment of pitching talent, Jared Weaver and John Lackey are the cornerstones with Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana as reliable starters. Vladamir Guerrero is his usual strong self, but Bobby Abreu has protected him well. Howie Kendrick has had a solid season and Chone Figgins just seems to come through when needed.
Fast Fact: The Angels have averaged 95 wins in their five division title winning seasons over the past six years, but only one playoff series win (2005 ALDS vs Yankees)
Red Sox Key Players
The Sox shrugged off the loss of ManRam and the long slumbering bat of David Ortiz to still be a tough team, Jason Bay has filled in nicely and provided plenty of pop. Josh Beckett is an undisputed ace and has plenty of postseason experience.
Fast Fact: The Red Sox are on a streak of 11 winning seasons most in team history
Breakdown
The Angels seems to always draw the Sox and the Sox seem to brush the Angels aside like an annoying kid brother. But I think that the Angels are the best team that you probably never seen and have the bat pop and the pitching to parry the Sox. The networks want another Yanks-Sox epic, but the Angels seem to be playing at a more focused level and they will win a well played series that will go the distance
Pick-Angels in 5
Minnesota (87-76 AL Central Champs) vs New York 103-59 AL East Champs)
Series Schedule All Times EDT and shown on TBS
Game 1 Wednesday @ New York 6:07
Game 2 Friday @ New York 6:07
Game 3 Sunday @ Minnesota TBD
If Needed
Game 4 Monday @ Minnesota TBD
Game 5 Wednesday @ New York TBD
2009 Season Series
Yankees won series 7-0
Postseason Meetings:
Yankees beat Twins in 2003 ALDS (3-1)
Yankees beat Twins in 2004 ALDS (3-1)
Yankees Key Players
The Yankees are the Yankees. Mark Teixeira has adjusted well to life in the boogie-down Bronx and hit 39 HRs to tie for AL’s best. Alex Rodriguez went for 30 homers and 100 RBIs despite missing the first month. The redoubtable Derek Jeter has tons of postseason experience, and CC Sabathia has been earning his massive paycheck with 19 wins. Any lead the Yanks have late will be closed down by the ageless Mariano Rivera who has been saving games for the Bombers seemingly forever
Fast Fact: The Yankees have not gotten out of the Divisional round since they last faced the Twins in 2004
Twins Key Players
Joe Mauer is the best hitter in the American League, that’s not hyperbole. His .365 average was the AL’s best. He is the quiet yet unquestioned leader of a scrappy bunch of mutts who just seem to keep coming at you. Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer have enough power to keep the opposition honest. The Twins pitching is spotty at best, but have been enough patchwork to get them to this point. Though the Twins are deadly with the lead. Joe Nathan’s team record 47 saves make him the lockdown closer of Rivera’s ilk.
Fast Fact: Since being threatened with contraction late in 2001, the Twins have won five division titles
Breakdown
The Twins are a scrappy fearless bunch who got on a serious roll to dash past the Tigers and into the postseason, but the Yankees are loaded and look a little too strong to be anything more than slightly bothered by the plucky Minnesotans. They’ll steal a game in an emotional Metrodome, but the Yanks close the noisiest baseball venue
Pick-Yankees in 4
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