Pennant Previews

If you are a baseball fan you know we are coming up on the best week of the season. When the playoffs start and you can follow the top 8 MLB teams and watch 2, sometimes 3 games a day, it's awesome. Besides alot of late nights, bleary eyes,terrific drama and artistry, here is a quick take on what I think you can expect this fall.....

AL Yanks and Red Sox
The American League is open to perennial contenders in Detroit, Minnesota, Anaheim, Boston and New York but let's face it - Detroit and Minnesota are playing off this week to see which David takes on Goliath in Gotham City. The AL Central teams are good and do a nice job with player development (see C Joe Mauer and RP Justin Verlander)but it will take a lot more pitching depth and hitting to master the Yankees who look like the deepest team in the tournament.

Add CC Sabbathia and AJ Burnett who are averaging over 200 innings to a staff anchored by Andy Pettite and Mariano Rivera and look at the lineup that boasts Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano, a terrific DP Combination that also have over 200 hits each and you get an idea of the Yanks' balance. (Cano who plays just about every inning is going to end up with 50 doubles and 25 HRS!) Add to that Hip Hip Jorge Posada at catcher who has over 20 HRs in a little over 100 games and you have unmatched offensive punch up the middle. Mix in Damon,Matsui,Arod, and 2 switch hitters in Swisher and Teixera, who all hit the ball out of the park, and you can see how a pitching staff facing the Yanks has its work defined.

In the other AL matchup, the Angels have to get the monkey off their back losing to the Red Sox every game that counts for 6 years running. Until they acquire higher calibre starting pitching that has crisper pitches than their current group however, manager Mike Sciosa has a big challenge. The Sox have a deep lineup of their own with Ellsbury, Pedroia, Youkilis and Bay especially with the additions of Victor Martinez behind the plate, Alex Gonzalez at short who stings clubs that aren't careful and the resurgent David Ortiz. The Sox also have the edge with 4 quality starters with Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buckholtz. Don't be surprised if Terry Francona goes with Matsuzaka ahead of Buckholtz as Dice K has proven himself a big game pitcher twice in the WBC and last year versus Tampa Bay in the ALCS. Sox have to careful with Angel 1B man Kendry Morales who has developed into one of the best RBI men in the business this year by watching teammates Vlad Guerrero and Tori Hunter.

The Yankees can be beaten but only by a pitching staff that has top quality starters including a good LHP and a deep and quality bullpen. With the addition of Billy Wagner who along with Papelbon gives Boston 2 closers and the emergence of Buckholtz who developed a good change up do the Sox have this ? Stay tuned we'll find out soon; that's why they play the games right!

NL Cards and Phillies
In the National League the Braves and Rockies are fighting it out for the last spot and both these teams are dangerous.
Rockies manager Jim Tracey did a phenomenal job (70-40) since he took over and has a real talented middle infield in Troy Tulowitzki and Clint Barmes while the Braves have Bobby Cox to lead them and starters Derek Lowe, a money pitcher in the playoffs, Javier Vazquez and Jarr Jurjens;don't forget a healthy Chipper Jones who is the best switch hitter since Mickey Mantle.

While Tommy Lasorda always made me proclaim that "I love the Dodgers" I must admit I'm not that impressed with their starting pitching and the lineup after Manny, SS Rafael Furcal, Ofers Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier who played college summers in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

It looks like the 2 best teams in the NL are the defending Champion Phillies and the perennially pesky St. Louis club. Tony LaRussa's Cards have a couple of players that could make the difference with the best 1 - 2 punch in big leagues with starting pitchers Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright and in their lineup with MVP Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday who is putting up big numbers in St. Louis like Manny did after he was traded to LA in 2008.

If Phillies manager Charlie Manuel can find a solution to his bullpen problem though he probably has the best overall club in the hunt for October. Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Shane Victorino are terrific offensively and defensively up the middle and OFer Jayson Werth had his best year ever alongside the monster RBI man Ryan Howard. Adding Pedro Martinez without giving up anything for the stretch drive, then adding Cy Young winner LP Cliff Lee and getting another quality LP Cole Hamels back on track just in time to support righty Joe Blanton I think makes the Phillies a favorite. JA Haap is a top quality pitcher too and he, Martinez and possibly Ryan Madson in combination could be the solution in the bullpen which could make for a repeat in Philly.

Let the games begin...................

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