Archive for October 6th, 2010
6
Oct
Posted by John S in MLB Preview Bonanza, Sports. Tagged: 2010 MLB postseason, 2010 New York Yankees, AL East, AL MVP, CC Sabathia, Charlie Rose, Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, Joe Girardi, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, minnesota twins, MLB postseason preview, new york yankees, Nick Swisher, robinson cano, Ron Gardenhire, Target Field, the core four, Twins/Yankees, Yankees, Yankees Twins ALDS, Yankees/Twins preview. 1 Comment
New York Yankees (95-67) at Minnesota Twins (94-68)
OVERVIEW
In many ways, this is a rematch of last year’s Division Series—the main way being that these same two teams played each other in last year’s Division Series. But things are much different now. The Twins are no longer the underdogs that snuck into the playoffs at the last minute, and the Yankees are no longer the dominant force in the AL. The Twins went 48-26 after the All-Star Break, essentially wrapping up the AL Central with a month to go. The Yankees, on the other hand, stumbled down the stretch, losing the AL East to Tampa Bay and settling for the Wild Card thanks to a 13-17 record in September/October. In other words, do not expect a repeat of last year’s one-sided Yankees sweep.
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6
Oct
Posted by Tim in MLB Preview Bonanza, Sports. Tagged: aroldis chapman, carlos ruiz, choooooooooooch, cincinnati at philadelphia, dusty baker's kid, joey votto, MLB postseason preview, MLB Preview Bonanza, reds vs. phillies, remember when the mets were in second, Roy Halladay, roy oswalt, the roy-al we, the season's best pitchers' duel, travis wood, votto vs. pujols mvp debate. 3 Comments
Cincinnati Reds (91-71) at
Philadelphia Phillies (97-65)
OVERVIEW
There was a time not too long ago when the Phillies were having a down season. After an uncharacteristically strong start, they went 19-27 for a month and a half before the All-Star break, salvaging some dignity with a four-game sweep of the Reds to close out the season’s first half in third, behind the Braves and even the soon-to-be-pedestrian Mets. The second half has been decidedly different, with Philadelphia winning an even two of every three games (50-25) and its division going away. Now the Phillies meet the Reds, an upstart team that had everything it needed to go right go right this season. In the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, Cincinnati is a big-time underdog looking to shock the two-time defending NL champs.
6
Oct
Posted by John S in MLB Preview Bonanza, Sports. Tagged: 2010 MLB postseason, 2010 postseason predictions, american league, Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, cliff lee, David Price, division series, Evan Longoria, Josh Hamilton, Juan Gonzalez, MLB postseason preview, Nelson Cruz, Rangers/Rays division series preview, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Vladimir Guerrero. 1 Comment
Texas Rangers (90-72) at Tampa Bay Rays (96-66)
OVERVIEW
Two teams that missed the playoffs last year face off in a series where, amazingly, the Rays are the “Goliath” in a David vs. Goliath matchup. The Rangers are in the playoffs for the first time since 1999, have only one playoff win in their franchise’s history, and have never appeared in a League Championship Series, let alone a World Series. Meanwhile, the Rays won the pennant just two years ago with more or less the same roster that they have now, and finished this year with the best record in the AL.
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In many ways, this is a rematch of last year’s Division Series—the main way being that these same two teams played each other in last year’s Division Series. But things are much different now. The Twins are no longer the underdogs that snuck into the playoffs at the last minute, and the Yankees are no longer the dominant force in the AL. The Twins went 48-26 after the All-Star Break, essentially wrapping up the AL Central with a month to go. The Yankees, on the other hand, stumbled down the stretch, losing the AL East to Tampa Bay and settling for the Wild Card thanks to a 13-17 record in September/October. In other words, do not expect a repeat of last year’s one-sided Yankees sweep.
