Post by Dodgers GM on Sept 7, 2020 12:17:18 GMT -5
My previews / predictions are back for another year! I've had good years predicting and bad years and I think this year will be a bad one because with only 1 week matchups almost anything can happen! Here goes:
Quarterfinals
1. Expos vs 8. Braves
The "Expos" formerly Pirates are back again as a 1 seed after beating the Cubs earlier in the year. Usually that would get them a decent matchup but if I were them I would be really afraid of this Braves team who started slow over the first two weeks but then exploded for 300+ the next 4. I don't know that they have enough to get past the Expos (who are my pick) but I'm sure they will be seeded higher than 8th next year.
Pick: Expos
2. Angels vs 7. Giants
I won a division! Woooooooo! Don't think I'll win much more than that but hopefully I can keep the perfect 6-0 season going a little longer. The Giants have been a little bit like the opposite of the Braves, starting off with 4 300+ point weeks but now under 300 the past two with injuries. Davies and Bundy have been fantastic this year but I think I have enough additions from the deadline (and hopefully pitchers coming back) to take the matchup.
Pick: Angels
3. Cubs vs. 6. Tigers
The defending champs didn't win a division this year, but they didn't win last year either and look how that turned out (pretty well for them, obviously). They're my pick over a Tigers team that sold at the deadline, and who also just lost Santander.
Pick: Cubs
4. Astros vs. Cardinals
An interesting matchup and one that I think is really close. Close matchups can always come down to injuries and things may be trending up for both teams, with Donaldson back for the Cards and Bregman possibly back this week for the Astros. I'm going with the Astros in a close matchup because I think they have a little bit more pitching, but I feel confident that Tucker, Acuna and Conforto are going to make it a tough matchup.
Pick: Astros
Semifinals
1. Expos vs. 4. Astros
The Astros may get past the Cardinals but I think their road ends here. Behind Bieber, Cole, and others the Expos just have too much pitching. Anything can happen over one week (especially with Bregman back) but I feel pretty confident in an Expos win.
Pick: Expos
2. Angels vs. 3. Cubs
I think my perfect season ends here. I picked myself in the semis last year and lost a heartbreaker to the Pirates / Expos on the very last day of that matchup. If Verlander can make it back that may swing the series, but I think the Cubs additions at the deadline outweigh mine by a lot. Guess I should have dealt for Darvish and Lowe in the offseason, huh?
Pick: Cubs
Finals
1. Expos vs. 3. Cubs
A battle of the titans in last year's finals re-match. Easy enough to pick the two highest scoring teams in the league to make a final, but that's why I'm so good at predictions
Last year the Cubs won, but in this regular season the Expos beat them out to win the division earlier in the year. I think the name change from Pirates to Expos turns out to be the key, and they end the Cubs run of dominance at 3 straight years and reclaim their title after a 5 year drought. Although, if the Expos do lose to the Cubs then I think we officially name them the Bills and the Cubs the Cowboys because that'll be 3 straight years of Cubs / Expos (Pirates) finals matchups ending in a Cubs win.
Pick: Expos
(Oh, also I win the 3rd place matchup for the 6th year in a row or something. Eventually I'll make it over the hump - just like the Dodgers, there's always next year!)
Past Predictions:
2019: 3/4 for the quarters, picked myself and lost in the semis, but got the finals right! 5/7
2018: Not so good this year...got all quarterfinals right but wrong on the rest. 4/7
2017: Got all picks right! 7/7
2016: Got all quarterfinal and semifinal picks right, got the final wrong. 6/7 in predictions
Quarterfinals
1. Expos vs 8. Braves
The "Expos" formerly Pirates are back again as a 1 seed after beating the Cubs earlier in the year. Usually that would get them a decent matchup but if I were them I would be really afraid of this Braves team who started slow over the first two weeks but then exploded for 300+ the next 4. I don't know that they have enough to get past the Expos (who are my pick) but I'm sure they will be seeded higher than 8th next year.
Pick: Expos
2. Angels vs 7. Giants
I won a division! Woooooooo! Don't think I'll win much more than that but hopefully I can keep the perfect 6-0 season going a little longer. The Giants have been a little bit like the opposite of the Braves, starting off with 4 300+ point weeks but now under 300 the past two with injuries. Davies and Bundy have been fantastic this year but I think I have enough additions from the deadline (and hopefully pitchers coming back) to take the matchup.
Pick: Angels
3. Cubs vs. 6. Tigers
The defending champs didn't win a division this year, but they didn't win last year either and look how that turned out (pretty well for them, obviously). They're my pick over a Tigers team that sold at the deadline, and who also just lost Santander.
Pick: Cubs
4. Astros vs. Cardinals
An interesting matchup and one that I think is really close. Close matchups can always come down to injuries and things may be trending up for both teams, with Donaldson back for the Cards and Bregman possibly back this week for the Astros. I'm going with the Astros in a close matchup because I think they have a little bit more pitching, but I feel confident that Tucker, Acuna and Conforto are going to make it a tough matchup.
Pick: Astros
Semifinals
1. Expos vs. 4. Astros
The Astros may get past the Cardinals but I think their road ends here. Behind Bieber, Cole, and others the Expos just have too much pitching. Anything can happen over one week (especially with Bregman back) but I feel pretty confident in an Expos win.
Pick: Expos
2. Angels vs. 3. Cubs
I think my perfect season ends here. I picked myself in the semis last year and lost a heartbreaker to the Pirates / Expos on the very last day of that matchup. If Verlander can make it back that may swing the series, but I think the Cubs additions at the deadline outweigh mine by a lot. Guess I should have dealt for Darvish and Lowe in the offseason, huh?
Pick: Cubs
Finals
1. Expos vs. 3. Cubs
A battle of the titans in last year's finals re-match. Easy enough to pick the two highest scoring teams in the league to make a final, but that's why I'm so good at predictions
Last year the Cubs won, but in this regular season the Expos beat them out to win the division earlier in the year. I think the name change from Pirates to Expos turns out to be the key, and they end the Cubs run of dominance at 3 straight years and reclaim their title after a 5 year drought. Although, if the Expos do lose to the Cubs then I think we officially name them the Bills and the Cubs the Cowboys because that'll be 3 straight years of Cubs / Expos (Pirates) finals matchups ending in a Cubs win.Pick: Expos
(Oh, also I win the 3rd place matchup for the 6th year in a row or something. Eventually I'll make it over the hump - just like the Dodgers, there's always next year!)
Past Predictions:
2019: 3/4 for the quarters, picked myself and lost in the semis, but got the finals right! 5/7
2018: Not so good this year...got all quarterfinals right but wrong on the rest. 4/7
2017: Got all picks right! 7/7
2016: Got all quarterfinal and semifinal picks right, got the final wrong. 6/7 in predictions
