2010 MLB Playoffs: 10 Bold Predictions for the Divisional Series
The 2010 MLB Playoffs are finally here, leading off with the Division Series. Time for predictions before heroes are made and remembered forever.
These four series in Round 1 will be very telling and will help shape the remainder of the playoffs. Many have been anticipating this playoff season for some time.
For some, it is seen as revenge, while others just try to come in and make a name for themselves.
The playoffs only come once a year, but have a lasting impact from season-to-season.
This playoff season will be no different.
Here are 10 bold predictions for Round 1 of the MLB playoffs.
10. MVP Favorites Will Struggle
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Joey Votto and Josh Hamilton are in the playoffs for the first time in their respective careers, but that's not the only cause of pressure they'll face. The need to perform for their underdog squads will be there, especially given that they're both leading MVP candidates this season.
Despite great statistical seasons from both, something tells me they will each face difficulties in Round 1.
Votto's Reds have drawn the Philadelphia Phillies, a team looking to represent the NL in the World Series for a third-consecutive season. Hamilton's Rangers will face the AL's best in the Tampa Bay Rays.
Each plate appearance will count heavily for Votto, who will have to deal with Philadelphia's H2O trio. While his numbers against them are decent, Votto knows he must be even better if his Reds are to advance. I personally feel that Votto will crumble under the pressure and the Reds fall quickly.
Josh Hamilton has become one of the best hitters in baseball. Over the past few seasons he has evolved drastically and his personal story is one for the ages.
His task, in facing the Rays, will not be easy. Hamilton may need others around him to pick up the slack, and although Texas has a solid lineup, this will not be enough to get past the Rays.
In my opinion, these two athletes, whose squads have put such high stock into them, will not deliver in early October. While they each may and should win the MVP award in their respective leagues, their regular season numbers no longer matter as the postseason begins.
9. Pat Burrell Will Be The Major X-Factor For San Francisco
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My major-league hunch in this first round deals with former Phillie Pat Burrell. He seems to have resurrected his career in San Francisco this season. Burrell's veteran leadership shows through in the clubhouse on a daily basis, and now many guys will be looking for him to step up in these playoffs.
After being exiled from Tampa Bay, Burrell was able to quickly find work on the West Coast. It's safe to say that the Giants, a team that has experienced offensive issues, will certainly need Pat's bat in order to keep playing fall baseball.
Burrell needs to take on a more active playoff role than he did in Philadelphia, so it will be interesting to see how he responds. He needs to be the biggest offensive asset for this team in October.
They need a guy who's been there before (Burrell) to take the initiative and catapult them to the top. Expect a big series out of Burrell against Atlanta.
8. Pitching Will Steal The Show
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There are numerous playoff aces represented this season with some select squads boasting more than one. As we all know, with two perfect games and a slew of other dominant pitching performances, this 2010 season will forever be referred to as "The Year of The Pitcher."
Pitchers have dominated baseball this season. This resembles baseball of the past, not the period we've come to know as "The Steroid Era." Finally, the pitcher appears to be making some sort of comeback.
Staff aces like Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia, David Price and Tim Lincecum headline this year's playoffs. All of these men enjoyed regular season success, but those numbers all start back at zero now.
The first round will be highlighted by pitching with offense as a sideshow. Even with ample offensive talent across the board, pitchers will again steal the show.
The first round itself will be very telling for how the rest of the playoffs will go. Pitching should be a common theme throughout with more great pitching performances ahead this postseason.
It may not be out of reach for a pitcher to again claim some playoff hardware as someone must rise to the occasion that is October.
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7. Jayson Will Show His Werth
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All throughout this season, there has been much speculation about soon-to-be free agent Jayson Werth. His value to the Philadelphia Phillies cannot be overlooked as he is one of the best outfielders in the game.
As of late, Werth has been a force for the surging Phillies down the stretch. Call it an audition if you'd prefer, but it could help Philadelphia to another ring.
Werth often times appears to be in another world when inside of the white lines, but no one can question his athletic ability. In their series against the Reds, the Phillies will be looking for Jayson to prove his "Werth" once and for all.
Even with OF Domonic Brown waiting in the wings, Werth may still be "auditioning" for Ruben Amaro Jr. and Co.
Jayson's "Werth" doesn't come down to dollars and cents per se, but rather his on-field play and what he brings to the ball club overall. Werth will shine brighter than any Phillie in Round 1 and will build up confidence as they continue in the playoffs.
6. Bobby Cox's Managerial Career Will End
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The long career of Bobby Cox as the manager of the Atlanta Braves is just about over. Cox, one of the most successful managers in baseball history, has only won one World Series title throughout his 20 years as the Braves' manager.
His pitching staffs down south were envied by the rest of the league, and his era was one that saw the Braves dominate their division. At one point, the Braves, under Cox, had won an unprecedented 14 out of 15 division titles.
Interestingly enough, Cox is baseball's all-time leader in ejections with 158. This speaks volumes about the man as manager of this team. This stat means that Cox defends his players every chance he gets. Cox's tally is here to stay for quite some time, as is his impact.
Some of the greatest Brave players ever have come through Cox's era. Names like Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, all future Cooperstown members, were coached by Cox over the past 20 years.
5. CC Can No Longer Carry The Rotation
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Carsten Charles Sabathia's left arm has kept the New York Yankees at the top all season long and was even instrumental in their World Series victory last season. Without him, the Yankees would've been an afterthought in 2010.
With A.J. Burnett's disappointing year, Sabathia was asked to do even more than usual this year and responded emphatically. This may ultimately win him the AL's Cy Young Award next month.
Andy Pettitte has an even heavier load in front of him now that Burnett has been pulled from the Yanks' ALDS rotation altogether.
The young, battle-tested Phil Hughes will now be called upon to help fill a void for Joe Girardi's squad.
The question now is, how much longer will CC's arm hold up? His dominance throughout the season cannot be overlooked, but now the championship is on the line and he must continue to earn his fat salary. If CC loses Game 1 tomorrow night, it might be a quick postseason for the defending champs.
4. The Big 3 Will Go 1-2-3
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This is the reason that Roy Halladay came to the Philadelphia Phillies: the playoffs. For Halladay and Co. the "fun," as he precisely described last week, is just beginning. Along with Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, the Phillies currently boast the best 1-2-3 punch in the sport.
It's very difficult imagining the Reds defeating any of these guys in this series.
Simply put, this may be my BOLDEST prediction of all. The Philadelphia Phillies' Big Three will go 1-2-3 in a sweep of the Reds. This bunch is poised and will not fail now.
No one is giving the Reds a shot right now, and neither am I. This is not coming from a Philadelphian, but from a baseball fan. The Phillies are a much better team than the Reds and will show that over the next few days.
3. WARNING TO CLOSERS: Late-Inning Heroics
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Closers are often at a disadvantage in October for whatever reason. Look at recent history. Jonathan Broxton. Brad Lidge. Huston Street. Jonathan Papelbon. The list goes on.
All of these men have experienced at least one nightmarish end to an October night. Why would anyone believe that this postseason will be any different?
Closers become easy targets when a team is not doing well and, due to their recent postseason track records, they may even be blamed for a team's season ending.
Then in other instances, such as Brad Lidge in 2008, or Mariano Rivera in just about any given playoff season, they are the reason for the team's success. While the names and faces may change in the bullpen, the role of the closer remains the same: get the three most important outs.
Closers will face even more disheartening events this year. Mark my words. When something goes wrong, blame the closer.
The finger-pointing never gets old and often leaves a closer feeling like a lonely man on a deserted island after a ninth-inning blunder. Just ask Jonathan Broxton.
2. First-Timers Will Shine
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Many players will be making their playoff debuts this year. Some young, some old, yet all with the same goal in mind.
Roy Halladay, who has been one of the game's best pitchers over the past decade, will be making his playoff debut in about 18 hours. Amazing, isn't it?
Buster Posey and Jason Heyward, both rookies, will make their debuts facing each other on Thursday evening.
These newcomers, as well as others will thrive and become a key storyline of the playoffs. Halladay may dominate the postseason as he did the regular season, which could result in another Phillies World Series victory.
Posey and Heyward, already in competition for NL Rookie of the Year Honors, will now be looking to further their teams' chances of playing for a World Series.
All of these players will make headlines early on in these playoffs and carry their clubs along. This should be an intriguing angle to focus on throughout the playoffs. First-timers are about ready to break through the ceiling and into playoff history.
1. There Will Be a New Champion
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After Round 1, one thing will be obvious. There will be a new World Series Champion in 2010.
This will not take long to decipher as the defending champion Yankees will be ousted by Minnesota in their best-of-five series.
The Yankees' pitching rotation will finally catch up with them and Minnesota's lineup will expose them in front of the world.
The Yankees went back on top of the baseball world last season, but now face many question marks in regards to their pitching staff. The cold-weather elements of Minnesota, paired with timely hitting will put an end to the Yankees' reign. After Round 1, four NEW teams will be vying for a World Series Title.
This may be the end of an era in New York baseball as captain Derek Jeter will become a free agent at the season's end. This will be an interesting storyline to follow throughout the winter. The Yankee great will be looking to give the Bronx one more memorable playoff season.
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