2008 MLB Playoff Predictions: Magic is the Key

ALDS:

Rays over White Sox in 3

I am done with underestimating teams that have seemingly overachieved during the regular season and appear ready to come back down to earth, like the’06 Tigers and ’07 Rockies, both of whom won their respective pennants after magical seasons. The Rays are thatteam of this year, and while I would love to see Thome and Griffey get a ring (I will be semi-rooting for them), this is the year for the Rays to keep riding the magic. Tampa is nearly unbeatable at home this year and even better when the Trop is full. As good as the White Sox are at home, and coming off two must win, emotional games, they got unlucky with their draw, and will be out-destinied by the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays.

Angels over Red Sox in 3

Like getting burned by choosing what seems like the “better team on paper” every year, I always have problems predicting the length of each series. The Angels will beat the Red Sox. They are the powerhouse of the American League this year and should prove it by knocking off the defending champions. I usually like long series between two good teams, since I am a baseball fan in general, but I want the Sox out quickly. Do the job Angels, take them out.

NLDS:

Brewers over Phillies in 5

This one is definitely going to be Phillies in 3, but every ounce of me wants the Brewers to have the same magic that I expect the Rays to be playing with. Yes, they can’t hit at all sometimes, but Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are studs and the fact that midseason acquisition C.C. Sabathia has done so well and has said that he wants the ball in every big game no matter how much it taxes his arm is just too good to pass up. He even told his agent to stay out of his business right now since he “wants to win” at all costs. You gotta love that. I won’t be heartbroken or surprised if Philly wins this since their core players are even better than Milwaukee’s, but playoff baseball is all about magic and momentum and the Brewers have both right now.

Cubs over Dodgers in 3

Hopefully for my sake as a fan, this goes 5, but I doubt it. Regardless, the Cubs are simply the better team here who can march out a different solid starting pitcher every game. Joe Torre also hasn’t had recent success in the first playoff round, and only has one player carrying his offense in Manny Ramirez. The Cubs should cruise here, setting themselves up perfectly for what will happen in the NLCS…

ALCS:

Rays over Angels in 6

I can’t find a good enough synonym for “a hot team with magic” so I’ll just continue to repeat why the Rays will have success this postseason with the same boring words. Yes, the Angels are a great team, but the best team doesn’t always come out on top, as weird as it is to admit. The Rays are not as talented, and are not as well-coached, but where they lack is actually what fuels them. With no clear-cut top-tier players, the Rays win games through shear hard work and grit. At 57-23, the Rays have MLB’s best record in one-run games, and they should see a lot of them in the next few weeks. While I do believe that Mike Scioscia is the best manager in baseball, he does manage his team into a lot of close games, evident by Francisco Rodriguez’s never before seen 62 saves. This plays well into the strength of the Rays, who should come out on top.

NLCS:

Brewers over Cubs in 7

It’s perfect. 100 years after their last world championship, the Cubs are poised to finally get another. As a Yankee fan, I usually don’t root for any other teams, but I appreciate history and have long ago adopted the Cubs as my secondary team, whom I follow and hope will do well but still end their season in devastating fashion. After the Red Sox and White Sox both relinquished their curses, the only one left really in baseball is that of the Cubs. That is why they must (and will) lose this series in 7 games. Why 7? Easy. If they get to a game 7, it gives us baseball fans possibly one play, or one moment to grasp onto for the next few years as to why the Cubs blew it. They can’t lose in the NLDS since then they wouldn’t get the chance to be built up. They may lose in the World Series but that could be a symptom of the pressure of 100 years building up to a suffocating level. They have to lose in 7 in the NLCS, for my baseball fandom. It might be a booted ball, or a strike of lightning, but we need something, one thing to hold onto, and that’s what game 7’s are all about.

World Series:

At this point it really doesn’t matter. One team will finally run out of juice and end their Cinderella story. The other will obviously go on to be considered one of the great stories in baseball history. Will it be the Rays literally going from worst to first in one year? Or is it the Brewers whom haven’t made the playoffs since 1982, when they were an America League team? And how about this: Sabathia was traded in the middle of the season, and already has 11 wins for Milwaukee. Imagine if he gets 9 more in the postseason to end with 20 for the Brewers. Scoff all you want, but if each series goes to the end, you know he is getting the ball more times than not, and may even get some wins in relief. When it all boils down, both of these teams deserve a ring for how far they’ve come, and although Sabathia may pitch games 5, 6, and 7 if necessary, Tampa Bay will win the World Series at home in 7 games, capping off a truly remarkable and well-documented Cinderella season.

Mario Mergola the co-creator and writer of The Digital Blitz.