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We are now three days away from the first pitch of the NLCS between the L.A. Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies. Below are 20 predictions that I personally think will happen in this series...

20 Predictions for the NLCS: Dodgers vs. Phillies

by Jonny Solovy (Analyst)

16

1,160 reads

Preview/Prediction

October 06, 2008


We are now three days away from the first pitch of the NLCS between the L.A. Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies. Below are 20 predictions that I personally think will happen in this series. It should be a fun and competitive NLCS; I can't wait until Thursday.

 

1. The Dodgers will not sweep the Phillies, and the Phillies will not sweep the Dodgers.

2. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley will have at least two intentional walks each.

3. Manny Ramirez will have more than four intentional walks.

4. The Phillies' fans will boo players on both teams.

5. The Dodgers fans will throw at least two beach balls onto the field and boo the fan who did it.

6. Chase Utley will hit a home run and blow a bubble with his gum within three seconds of the ball leaving hi

s bat.

7. Manny Ramirez will have an infield single...Charlie Hustle baby.

8. Charlie Manuel will walk from the dugout to the pitchers mound and have a sore neck the next day from bobbing it up and down so much.

9. Joe Torre will argue at least two calls and never raise his voice once...Then nod and walk back to the dugout.

10. Ryan Howard will hit a monster home run...And strike out at least eight times.

11. Manny Ramirez will hit at least two home runs and have an NLCS batting average over .450.

12. See No. 10 above...Same goes for Pat Burrell.

13. Matt Kemp will have one game where he goes 3-or-4-for-5 and crushes the ball everywhere. Then the next game he will go 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

14. Rafael Furcal will have at least two bunt base hits and score from first on an extra-base hit from Martin or Manny.

15. Jayson Werth will make the Dodgers pay a few times...

16. Derek Lowe will earn at least one win.

17. Brad Lidge will earn a one-two-three inning save.

18.  There will be one easy win for each team. Phillies Game Four and Dodgers Game Three.

19. NLCS MVP will go to Derek Lowe and/or Andre Ethier.

20. The Dodgers win in six!

 

Hope you enjoyed it!

 

Author Poll

Who will be the NLCS MVP

  • Derek Lowe
  • Manny Ramirez
  • Chase Utley
  • Ryan Howard
  • Pat Burrell
  • Andre Ethier
  • Cole Hammels
  • Russell Martin
  • Other
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Who will be the NLCS MVP

  • Derek Lowe

    2.6%

  • Manny Ramirez

    21.9%

  • Chase Utley

    15.9%

  • Ryan Howard

    22.5%

  • Pat Burrell

    5.3%

  • Andre Ethier

    4.0%

  • Cole Hammels

    12.6%

  • Russell Martin

    2.6%

  • Other

    12.6%
  • Total votes: 151
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16 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Molly Gray 9 months ago

    I like your No. 14 prediction! I'm loving seeing Furcal back out rounding those bases and adding his experience at shortstop for the post season.

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  2. Kevin McGuire 9 months ago

    One thought remains though. Why wasn't Jimmy Rollins included in your NLCS MVP poll???

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    • Jonny Solovy 9 months ago

      good point kevin I was going to put him in there with Loney as well for Dodgers but I decided other was better because it wouln't look like a laundry list...rollins will certainly be an x factor.

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  3. Ellen B. 9 months ago

    Great predictions. I love #13 best -- Kemp is definitely a feast-or-famine hitter. #5 is also spot-on.

    I am not a great baseball predictor like you folks, but may I add one more?
    A) If the Dodgers win and meet the Red Sox in the WS, the announcers will talk about the Manny-Sox soap opera 80% of the time and 10% of the time will be spent on Joe Torre thumbing his nose at the Steinbrenners. The remaining 10% will be game coverage.
    B) If the Dodgers win and face the Rays, they'll only talk about Manny for half the game.
    C) If the Dodgers are eliminated, the announcers will only talk about Manny for a quarter of the game. Even if it's Phils-Rays.

    I'm rooting for option B as the least aggravating possibility.

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  4. J.C. Ayvazi 9 months ago

    Great stuff here Jonny - really like the way you wrote this up.

    I had picked Ethier previously to be MVP at this level, so I hope we are both right!

    Particularly liked how you mentioned Werth - getting rid of him was very shortsighted by management. He can hit for power, run very well for his size, cover the outfield, and has a cannon for an arm.

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  5. Tom Dillard 9 months ago

    Good stuff except the series winner!

    Go Phitins!!!

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  6. Andrew Eisenberger 9 months ago

    I have tickets for game 5, so that's where I want them to clinch it....but I digress.

    Kemp's analysis was great and so was the one about Phillies fans booing both teams.

    Good article.

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  7. Allen Lieu 9 months ago

    I have tickets for game three in LA. Hopefully the Dodgers take 2 out of 3 by the time game three rolls around!

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  8. Allen Lieu 9 months ago

    I have tickets for game three in LA. Hopefully the Dodgers take 2 out of 3 by the time game three rolls around!

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  9. Paul Lindsey 9 months ago

    Phillies in 5 or 6...Dodgers aren't getting lucky this round.

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  10. Kevin Conte 9 months ago

    Phillies ALL DAY, im watching game two right now and ur stupid dogers are getting killed

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