Chicago – It’s been a wacky and long year, but they’ve reached the playoffs like they were supposed to. Although they were among the league’s worst in homeruns and slugging, their Big Boppers are stepping up at the right time. Soriano’s 13 HRs in September are the most in the MLB. The Cubs go into the playoffs with the 4th best ERA in the MLB. If their hitting continues to flourish in the postseason, look for them to easily win the NL. Remember, it’s not about who’s the best team, but the hottest team going into the playoffs. The Cardinals showed us that last year.
NY Mets – The Phillies are making a push, but I expect the Mets to limp into the playoffs. Their pitching has been a surprise all year but they are finally showing their true colors right now. J. Mayne and El Duque are not #2 and #3 starters in a playoff series. However, if their offense could score runs and just get it to Billy Wagner, they could slug their way to the World Series. The last 5 World Series have shown that timely hitting and power could beat solid pitching- and the Mets are starting to hit. Moises Alou has a 27-game hitting streak and Delgado and Beltran are back from injuries. Both have been solid playoff performers in the past.
Arizona – The oddest team in baseball. Their run differential ratio is close to 3 to 1. That means their opponents outscored them almost 3 times more than they scored. What does that mean? If they lose, they lose big and when they win, they win by a slim margin. What that shows is that they can win the close games, which is huge in the playoffs. However, their hitting is way too inconsistent. Their pitching is young and solid. Scrappy teams have a lot of heart, very similar to the ’03 Marlins team.
San Diego – Could they overtake the D-Backs? If not, they could still win the Wild Card. The Padres have the scariest tandem in Peavy and C. Young. However, their lineup is not to scary. The Padre lineup is disciplined and get on base, but they lead the league in double plays. The Padres need to keep games close and let their NL Best Bullpen finish games out.
Phillies – They may or may not get there, but if they do, they feature the best lineup in the NL. Sorry, Cubs, but Phillies have speed, power, and on-base percentage. Rollins and Howard have been beasts all year and could power their way into the World Series. Their late surge may not be enough to win wild card or the NL East.
LA Dodgers – Their starting pitching has been good all year and B. Penny is the ace. However, like most NL teams, hitting holds this team back from BIG things. Pierre and Furcal have been busts, each with sub .350 on base percentages. Pierre is not human, he’s a toy. He sucks. Anywho, Dodgers need to hit better with runners in scoring position and play solid defense to sneak into the postseason. Surprisingly, their defense has hurt them in recent games.
- Mr. Hook
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