MLB Predictions: 2009 Playoffs

So the divisions are set. Now to decide wild cards, seeding, and who will be celebrating like the young gents pictured above.  Assuming I'm absolutely right on everything (odds would probably be 2,017 to 47), here are my playoff predictions if I'm correct.

ALDS would be...

1) Boston Red Sox hosting the 4) Texas Rangers

I've got the Red Sox finishing with the best record in the AL, so they would take on the 89-90 win Rangers who snuck in because of an unhealthy Angels pitching staff and an inexperienced A's staff. 

Despite the Rangers making their first trip to the playoffs since Lou Bega was popular, they will get swept out of this series because of their lack of an ace in the playoffs.  

The Red Sox will be patient and force the Rangers starters out early with high pitch counts and runs scored, and the Rangers won't be able to get anything going against Beckett or Lester or the Sox bullpen. 

Game 1: Beckett will pitch like he always has and will stymie the powerful Rangers offense as the bullpen shuts the door and the Red Sox win easy, 7-1.

Game 2: Dice-K will be the pitcher the Rangers have the most success against, but with Padilla on the hill for the Lone Star State, I think the Red Sox post-season poise will push them on to game 3 winning by a score of 9-5.

Game 3: After a mid-season call-up, Neftali Feliz will make an appearance in the bullpen to stop the bleeding after Brandon McCarthy gets knocked around early. He'll do fine, but it will be after the Red Sox have built a 4-0 lead and it will be too little, too late, as the Red Sox bullpen once again shuts the door behind a strong Jon Lester outing.

Red Sox in 3.

2) Cleveland Indians hosting the 3) Tampa Bay Rays

This series would be great to see. Young talented pitching, young talented hitting, and old veteran pitchers closing it out. 

I think this series would go 5.

Game 1: Cliff Lee would outduel James Shields in a close 3-2 or 4-2 affair. 

Game 2: Carmona would get by Matt Garza (I think Kazmir won't be effective this year and will be pushed out to the back of the rotation.) in a game that will feature a little more offense.

Game 3: But back in Tampa, on the mound will be David Price, after making his case for rookie of the year with a fantastic season, he will dominate.

You know what, since my picks are probably not going to be right, he'll throw a no-hitter, why not?! I'm trying to predict the outcome of a game that may not happen, let's get crazy!

It won't help that Anthony Reyes has a melt-down on the mound and gets lit up in Tampa. 8-0 Rays in that affair. That sets up game 4.

Game 4: Kazmir will be on the mound and will beat Carl Pavano in a 7-5 ball game that Percival will have to be pulled from after nearly blowing the save. They'll bring in Isringhausen and he'll clean up the mess with bases loaded. 

Game 5: Back in Cleveland will be Cliff Lee against James Shields again, and Cliff Lee will prevail once more as the Indians move on to the ALCS, defeating the former American League champs.

Indians in 5.

NLDS would be...

1) Los Angeles Dodgers hosting the 4) Florida Marlins

The Dodgers will finish the season with the best record in baseball getting to 100 wins.  They will take on a young Florida team that is on time to win their next World Series (1997, 2003...)

Game 1: Kuroda will pitch well but Nolasco will prevail in a close game that will be determined by small ball as the speed of the Marlins pushes them to a 2-1 victory closed out by Lindstrom. 

Game 2: Randy Wolf will try and neutralize the Fish, but Josh Johnson will be too much, and he'll hold down the Dodgers to surprise them with a 2-0 series lead. 

Game 3: Back in Florida, Billingsley will right the ship over Volstad and the Dodgers will crush the Marlins in this one to get back in the series down only a game.

Game 4: The Marlins close it out in front of their die-hard, true-blue fans who sell the stadium out as they most likely have been all year. Anibal Sanchez, after a season of healthy production, takes down Kershaw in a slightly higher scoring affair at 6-4. 

Marlins in 4.

2) New York Mets hosting the 3) Chicago Cubs

Game 1: The Mets will have Santana against Zambrano in game 1, and Santana will be dominant as the Cubs swing and miss far too often and they lose 5-1.

Game 2: Will be Pelfrey vs. Dempster and the Cubs will strike back by winning their first post-season game since the days of Prior and Wood in the year 2003.

Game 3: The Mets will have John Maine come in against Ted Lilly.  Lilly will be doing fine until he gives up a bomb to Wright with runners on and then will come unglued.  The Mets will take this one in Chicago in a 9-6 affair that will go back and forth with their bullpens battling and the Mets coming out on top.

Game 4: Rich Harden will give Cubs fans hope as he shuts the Mets down and Livan Hernandez doesn't pitch like he did in '07 with the D-Backs, getting lit up. Cubs win big here.

Game 5: Santana vs. Zambrano.  The Cubs hitters' lack of discipline will bite them in the end here as the Mets shut the Cubs down 6-0 and continue the curse. 

Mets in 5.

Now to the ALCS...

1) Boston Red Sox hosting the 2) Cleveland Indians

A rematch of the 2007 ALCS will not disappoint as the Indians and Red Sox battle back and forth with plenty of lead changes, stranded runners from great bullpen pitching, and clutch hits.

Game 1: Carmona will surprise the Red Sox faithful and outpitch Beckett as the Indians offense puts together some solid hits at the right time and Grady Sizemore causes havoc with his bat and his legs on the basepaths.  Indians win 5-3 to take control of the series.

Game 2: Anthony Reyes' confidence will be shattered and he'll put up another terrible outing as the Red Sox and Dice-K handily beat the Indians.

Game 3: With their ace on the mound, the Indians will beat Jon Lester, and Cliff Lee will continue his amazing post-season run giving the Indians a 2-1 lead. 

Game 4: A healthy Brad Penny will get the nod after a season that makes him an all-star again and he will take the Indians hitters out while the Red Sox have a field day off of Pavano to make it 2-2.

Game 5: Carmona will once again pitch well and beat the October Legend of Beckett who will struggle in this series due to Sizemore running wild on the basepaths and Varitek's inability to keep him out of scoring position. 

Game 6: Dice-K will not pitch well, but it won't matter as the Indians see if they can get another good start out of Reyes. Reyes will pitch admirably, but not well enough as the Red Sox send it to 7 in Fenway.

Game 7: Cliff Lee will take on Lester, but will finally not get a post-season win as the game goes to a battle of the bullpens and the Red Sox win it in extra innings for an amazing finish as Ortiz makes a clutch hit to drive home Pedroia. 

Red Sox in 7 as AL champs.

ALCS MVP: Kevin Youkilis

NLCS would be...

Florida Marlins at New York Mets

Game 1: After wasting Santana in 2 games against the Cubs, the Mets Mike Pelfrey will start and regain his composure.  However, Nolasco will pitch well also and it will come down to the bullpens as the Marlins push a run across in the 7th before facing the dreaded Putz, K-Rod combo taking a 1-0 series lead. 

Game 2: Will feature Josh Johnson at his best as he quiets the Mets faithful with another stellar performance remniscient of Mr. Josh Beckett in '03.  John Maine won't be able to contain the team as they will be on a mission and the Marlins will tie it at 1-1. 

Game 3: Santana will return and dominate once again and Chris Volstad will pitch well, but won't be able to contain the Mets offense. Mets will get back in the series down 2-1.

Game 4: Livan Hernandez will pitch back in his old ball park like the old Livan and tie the series up as Anibal Sanchez can't get past Reyes and Delgado, who will go deep twice in this game. 7-3 Mets.

Game 5: Nolasco will be the stopper and Pelfrey will pitch well, but the Mets middle relief will give up a couple runs that get the Marlins back on top 3-2 as the Marlins win a close one 5-4.

Game 6: Santana will come back on three days' rest facing off against Josh Johnson. It will be a pitchers duel at 0-0 in the 6th at Citifield. The Mets will decide to pinch-hit for a tiring Santana and their middle relief once again will give up the run on a wild pitch that Bonaficio will score on. The Marlins will tack on another insurance run and win 2-0 in a tight game.

Marlins in 6.

NLCS MVP: Josh Johnson

WORLD SERIES

1) The Boston Red Sox hosting the 4) Florida Marlins

Game 1: Josh Beckett will gain back his form and pitch a gem against the Marlins as Nolasco can't handle the pressure in Fenway and pitch poorly. Red Sox win handily 8-2 in this one.

Game 2: Josh Johnson will quiet the Red Sox nation with another stunning performance and the Marlins will take home a close 5-1 win against a shaky Dice-K outing.

Game 3: Back in Florida, Chris Volstad will pitch a great game and keep the Marlins in it until the end when they mount a come back against the Red Sox middle relief in Takashi Saito and pull out a 4-3 win. 

Game 4: Anibal Sanchez will show up the former Marlin star, Brad Penny as both teams will trade leads before the Marlins hold onto it for good with a 6-3 victory.

Game 5: Josh Beckett will take on Nolasco in a hard fought tight game that will come down to the Red Sox taking the lead in the 9th on a two run single by Bay.  Red Sox win 4-2. 

Game 6: Back at Fenway, Josh Johnson is undaunted as are the rest of the Marlins and despite his roughest outing of the Fall Classic, Dice-K folds under the pressure as well and the Marlins pull out a 7-4 victory with Lindstrom closing it out.

World Series MVP: Matt Lindstrom

So there you have it. I'm going on a hunch.  A pattern. A bit of mystique that the Marlins have, that they can do it every six years after rebuilding their team and quietly sneaking up with players you've never heard of because they're so young you haven't had time to hear of them. 

So give it up for your soon to be World Series Champs. The Florida Marlins!

It's a wild pick, but then again, saying last year the Rays would win not only the AL East, but the entire American league would've been crazy. So I went out on a few limbs and the worst that happens...I'm wrong. But this is how I think it will happen.

And if you don't think that's the case, then write your own article...ya' jerk. 

All that said, Go Astros! Stay healthy Mike Hampton!

Thanks for reading.