I am very excited for the start of postseason baseball! October is always one of my favorite months of the year solely for that reason. Before I get to my postseason predictions, let’s have a look at how I did with my preseason picks.
My (Pathetic) Preseason Picks
NL East
Preseason Prediction: Mets
Actual Winner: Phillies
NL Central
Preseason Prediction: Cubs
Actual Winner: Cubs
NL West
Preseason Prediction: Diamondbacks
Actual Winner: Dodgers
NL Wild Card
Preseason Prediction: Braves
Actual Winner: Brewers
AL East
Preseason Prediction: Red Sox
Actual Winner: Rays
AL Central
Preseason Prediction: Tigers
Actual Winner: White Sox
AL West
Preseason Prediction: Mariners
Actual Winner: Angels
AL Wild Card
Preseason Predictions: Indians
Actual Winner: Red Sox
World Series
Preseason Prediction: Tigers over Mets
So yeah, I only picked one winner correctly, and only two of the teams I picked made the playoffs at all. This may be my worst year ever in terms of prognostications. But while these results are bad for my ego, I couldn’t be happier for Major League Baseball. I love it when October features a couple of teams new to the postseason spotlight, and this year we are treated to both the Brewers and the Rays. I’m extatic that we don’t have any New York teams entering October (and even happier that Joe Torre is there without the Yankees). And, of course, it’s always great to see the Cubs in the postseason. Could this be their year?
My Postseason Picks
Last year I picked every postseason series winner correctly. Let’s see if I can do it again.
National League
Cubs over Dodgers, 3-1
Phillies over Brewers, 3-2
Cubs over Phillies, 4-2
American League
Red Sox over Angels, 3-1
Rays over White Sox, 3-2
Rays over Red Sox, 4-3
World Series
Cubs over Rays, 4-1
I can’t believe I’m picking the Cubs. Real Cubs fans like my friend Rob will say that I’ve now jinxed them. Whatever. Even if they are cursed I’m not the only one in the world making the prediction. There’s no denying that they’re the team to beat in the NL. Here’s something really wild. Imagine if it is Cubs vs Rays in the World Series but it take the Cubs six or seven games to win. That would mean the Cubs would be winning their first World Series in 100 years in Tampa.
Actually, the only thing more unbelievable than picking the Cubs to win the World Series is picking the Tampa Bay Rays to be their opponent. Really? Well, before you accuse me of being a homer, I’m picking the Rays to come out of the AL mostly due to their matchups. They won’t have any trouble with the White Sox. I think Chicago used up everything just getting to the postseason. The Rays played the Red Sox very well this year. I don’t doubt their ability to beat Boston in a long series. The Angels could give them trouble, but I still don’t see L.A. being able to advance in the postseason despite their success in the regular season.
The hardest team to predict in this year’s postseason is Boston. They aren’t as good as they were last year. The Angels went 8-1 against them in the regular season. The Rays only lost to them once at home and have homefield advantage against them should they both make it to the ALCS. I think there’s a chance Boston might lay an egg in the first round this year, but they could win the whole thing too.
What Are Your Predictions?
Who do you think is going to win in this year’s MLB postseason? Post your predicitons in the comments and we’ll see whose predictions were the closest when it’s all over at the end of the month.
