If The Season Ended Today.....

If the season ended today....

Disclaimer: Of course the season does not end today with 1/3 of the season still to go but let's have some fun and see which direction we're heading.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

1) Los Angeles Dodgers  (62-39)  NL West Champs

2) Philadelphia Phillies  (58-41)  NL East Champs

3) St Louis Cardinals  (56-48)  NL Central Champs

4) San Francisco Giants  (55-46)  NL Wild Card

In the divisional series, the San Francisco Giants will take on the Philadelphia Phillies and the St Louis Cardinals will battle the Los Angeles Dodgers

AMERICAN LEAGUE

1) New York Yankees   (62-39)   AL East Champs

2) Los Angeles Angels  (60-40)  AL West Champs

3) Detroit Tigers  (53-47)    AL Central Champs

4) Boston Red Sox  (58-42)  AL Wild Card

In the divisional series, the Boston Red Sox will take on the Los Angeles Angels and the Detroit Tigers will duel with the New York Yankees.

AL MVP-  Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins  .309-26-83  .978 OPS

AL CY-  Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals  10-6, 2.08 ERA  1.09 WHIP

NL MVP-  Albert Pujols, St Louis Cardinals  .323-34-92  1.123 OPS

NL CY- Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants   11-3, 2.30 ERA  1.05 WHIP

How the playoffs would playout....

GIANTS vs PHILLIES

The Phillies would not be thrilled to tangle with Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain in a short 5-game series but the Giants still don't hit enough to scare you.  Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels could match the Giants duo while the Phils star studded lineup is a huge advantage over San Fran.  Face it, Pablo Sandoval would his 7th on the Phillies. PHILLIES in 4.

CARDINALS vs DODGERS

This would have the makings of a great series but the Cards just got finished sweeping the team with the NL's best record and the Dodgers only scored 3 runs in 33 innings. The additions of Matt Holliday, Julio Lugo and Mark DeRosa has changed the look to the Cardinals lineup while the Dodgers aces, Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw have not proven they can pitch in big time games. CARDINALS in 5.

NLCS

CARDINALS vs PHILLIES

The teams faced each other 5 times during the regular season with the Phillies coming out on top in 4 of the games. The Phils outscored the Cards 40-24 in those 5 games and the Cards just don't have the arms to keep the Phils lineup down.  Beware the rematch of Albert Pujols and Brad Lidge in an NLCS, that would be the Phillies biggest concern if any of the games are close.  PHILLIES in 6.

RED SOX vs ANGELS

Aren't these two matched up every season? It sure feels like it and it sure feels like the Angels can't get past this firewall.  Well, in 2009 they will.  David Ortiz has killed the Angels in the playoffs but he isn't the Papi of old. This Angels team is structured differently and their knack of coming from behind is unreal. While Brian Fuentes worries me, the Angels prevail.  ANGELS in 5.

TIGERS vs YANKEES

In 2006, the Tigers looked like a little bump in the road to the mighty Yanks. Oops, the Yanks were dismissed quickly as the Tigers went on to the World Series. CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and that power house lineup will take care of the "happy to be there" Tigers who just don't have enough to keep up. YANKEES in 3.

ALCS

ANGELS vs YANKEES

6 times these two have met during the regular season with the Angels coming out on top in 4 of the games.  The new Yankee Stadium doesn't have the mystique of the old building and John Lackey & Jered Weaver shut down Alex Rodriguez and the course of A-Rod lives on. Regular season results copy to the postseason. ANGELS in 6.

WORLD SERIES

PHILLIES vs ANGELS

Long flights. Cool East Coast weather and nice Southern California sunshine.  The Phils rotation sets up nicely with the quick series against the Cardinals and Lee/Hamels manage a split in LA.  Back in Philly, the cool weather silences the Angels bats as the Phils take 2 out of 3 there winning game 5 to stay alive thanks to Mike Napoli's 2-run homer in the 8th off Ryan Madson to tie the game and Torii Hunter' solo bomb off Brad Lidge in the 9th.  The Phillies hand the ball to Cole Hamels in game 6 while the Angels counter with Ervin Santana. Utley, Howard and Ibanez all reach the seats and for the first time since 1975-1976 a National League team repeats as World Champs.  PHILLIES in 6.