Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Let the games begin
In the first round of the AL divisional playoffs, the White Sox will play the Tampa Bay Rays, while the Boston Red Sox will play the LA Angels. In the National League, the Chicago Cubs face the LA Dodgers, and the Philadelphia Phillies will face the Milwaukee Brewers, who sqeaked past the Mets for the NL Wildcard on the last day of the season.
Some thoughts. First, as all baseball fans know, the Cubs are vying to return to the World Series for the first time since 1945, and actually win the series for the first time since 1908. That will be the big story, at least until the Cubs are eliminated, after which the story will be the new chapter in the Cubs' tragic history. The Cubs were the best team in the NL by most measures, and should make the series, but all bets are off with the Cubs. Furthermore, the Dodgers have excellent pitching and Manny Ramirez, and will pose a tough challenge.
Aside from the Cubs, I don't have a strong preference in the NL. The Cubs played well against both the Brewers and the Phillies. They are both exciting teams with plenty of power, as well as their share of drama, and their series should be entertaining.
In the AL, I am strongly pulling for the Red Sox to defeat the Angels, and the White Sox to defeat the Rays. All things being equal, I'd prefer to see the West Coast teams go out early so I can watch the playoffs and series without staying up until 2 am. Also, I think a Cubs-Red Sox series would be very interesting, as would an all Chicago match up between the Cubs and the White Sox.
The team I really fear is Tampa, since it would be in keeping with the Cubs'long history of futility and tragedy for the Cubs to blow it while another expansion team, one that has finished better than last in its division only once, cruises to a title making it look easy. I'm hoping the White Sox take them out pronto.
By the way, in a recent interview on ESPN, Barack Obama declared his unequivocable allegiance to the White Sox. I wonder if he'll maintain that position if the Cubs go to the series and the White Sox do not. I'm always interested in how politicians handle their sports, and I prefer genuine over manufactured. There was never any doubt that Rudy Giuliani was a Yankee fan through and through, while Hillary claimed Cubs allegiance when in the White House, but became a lifelong Yankee fan during her Senate run. Boo!
2 Comments:
By 
SportsProf, at
Wed Oct 01, 01:32:00 PM:
Thanks, 'villain, for the analysis.
As an unabashed Phillies' fan, I like my team's chances. Yes, Cole Hamels can give up a home run on occasion, but he comes into the game well-rested and has playoff experience. It's also good for the Phillies that they've really gotten the least attention of the four NL teams. The Cubs haven't won in 100 years, the Dodgers have Manny and the Brewers haven't been to the playoffs in 26 years and have CC Sabathia. It's not that Messrs. Howard, Utley and Rollins pale in comparison, it's just that they're not getting much attention.
Let's hope for outstanding NLDS and ALDS series all around.
By 
, at
Wed Oct 01, 02:12:00 PM:
With Jim Thome, Manny and CC all responsible for their teams presence in the playoffs, Indians fans can take at least a vicarious thrill from the games ahead.
