Post by Dodgers GM on Aug 23, 2021 12:28:03 GMT -5
My previews / predictions are back for another year! I've had good years predicting and bad years, but this year I'm picking a big upset - and not an Expos-Cubs matchup for the 4th year in a row! Have a look:
Quarterfinals
1. Expos vs 8. Giants
Big upset time!! At least based on records. However, if you dig a little deeper:
237, 270.5, 323.5, 287
325, 397, 318, 361
One of those teams have cracked 300+ points only once in the last 4 weeks. The other is the Giants. See why I'm picking the upset (on paper)?
I just think the Expos are too banged up this year. Started off incredibly strong, but half their pitching staff & Acuna are on the IL. They'll be back next year and will be up towards the top again but I feel like the Giants are hot enough and Expos are too injured right now.
Pick: Giants
2. Astros vs 7. Braves
2 teams that both entered the playoffs off a loss are looking for redemption in the first round. I think this matchup will be close (and their scores the past few weeks have been close) but I'm picking the Astros. Stroman has had a great year, Wainwright has turned back the clock, and Kris Bryant has been just as good with his new team as he was with the Cubs. I'd love to pick the Braves here but the horrible injury to Chris Bassett and no Kershaw makes it a little too hard to beat the other division winner.
Pick: Astros
3. Cubs vs. 6. Tigers
A rematch from last year's playoffs! Unfortunately I'm picking the Cubs to win again; it's going to take another week like the last one from the Tigers to have a shot to take down the defending (x3) champs. I would like the Tigers' chances a lot more if Carlos Rodon and Patrick Sandoval were healthy, much less Mike Trout (just won in a furious bidding war that we usually only see in offseasons). Tigers have a nice chance next year if their pitching staff can stay healthy, just have to get under the 2022 cap first!
Pick: Cubs
4. Angels vs. Red Sox
The two most active teams at the trade deadline meet up in the first round. Funny enough, we traded with each other when Shane sent over Charlie Morton. I do really like my chances this year (you'll see the rest of the picks) so I'm picking myself in the first round. Losing Springer, Grandal, and the April-June version Vladdy does hurt my chances and Shane's Red Sox could always pop off but I think I have enough to take this matchup.
Pick: Angels
Semifinals
4. Angels vs. 8. Giants
Picking myself again here to make a final and not finish 3rd for what feels like the 10th time in a row (Hooray!), but by no means do I expect the matchup to be an easy one. The real-life Giants are on a heck of a run this year and the Giants players on this team are riding that wave too. Who knew Logan Webb would be so good or that Buster Posey would rediscover the fountain of youth? I think (hope) that even though the Giants have been great recently, and may knock off the number one seed, I have enough starting pitching to squeak by into the finals.
Pick: Angels
2. Astros vs. 3. Cubs
We should have a really, really nice matchup here. Highest scoring team vs 3rd highest. Remaining division winner vs highest seed. I'm picking the Cubs because 1. you don't pick against the defending champs 2. they have the best starting pitching 3. Astros are still missing Bregman, and that's a key piece. I do expect this to be a close matchup overall but one that the Cubs still take in the end.
Pick: Cubs
Finals
3. Cubs vs. 4. Angels
What did I say in the last paragraph? "You don't pick against the defending champs". I'll be happy if I can make a final and not finish 3rd for a change, but I don't think I have quite enough to knock off the Cubs. If it happens it'll be from huge performances from my Jays, hoping Springer comes back and is still a monster, and that my pitchers have some good weeks while the Cubs have off weeks. Too much has to go right for all that to happen and win, I think.
Pick: Cubs
Past Predictions:
2020: 4/4 for the quarters, 2/2 in the semis, but got the finals wrong - Cubs 3 peat! 6/7
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. Giants
Big upset time!! At least based on records. However, if you dig a little deeper:
237, 270.5, 323.5, 287
325, 397, 318, 361
One of those teams have cracked 300+ points only once in the last 4 weeks. The other is the Giants. See why I'm picking the upset (on paper)?
I just think the Expos are too banged up this year. Started off incredibly strong, but half their pitching staff & Acuna are on the IL. They'll be back next year and will be up towards the top again but I feel like the Giants are hot enough and Expos are too injured right now.
Pick: Giants
2. Astros vs 7. Braves
2 teams that both entered the playoffs off a loss are looking for redemption in the first round. I think this matchup will be close (and their scores the past few weeks have been close) but I'm picking the Astros. Stroman has had a great year, Wainwright has turned back the clock, and Kris Bryant has been just as good with his new team as he was with the Cubs. I'd love to pick the Braves here but the horrible injury to Chris Bassett and no Kershaw makes it a little too hard to beat the other division winner.
Pick: Astros
3. Cubs vs. 6. Tigers
A rematch from last year's playoffs! Unfortunately I'm picking the Cubs to win again; it's going to take another week like the last one from the Tigers to have a shot to take down the defending (x3) champs. I would like the Tigers' chances a lot more if Carlos Rodon and Patrick Sandoval were healthy, much less Mike Trout (just won in a furious bidding war that we usually only see in offseasons). Tigers have a nice chance next year if their pitching staff can stay healthy, just have to get under the 2022 cap first!
Pick: Cubs
4. Angels vs. Red Sox
The two most active teams at the trade deadline meet up in the first round. Funny enough, we traded with each other when Shane sent over Charlie Morton. I do really like my chances this year (you'll see the rest of the picks) so I'm picking myself in the first round. Losing Springer, Grandal, and the April-June version Vladdy does hurt my chances and Shane's Red Sox could always pop off but I think I have enough to take this matchup.
Pick: Angels
Semifinals
4. Angels vs. 8. Giants
Picking myself again here to make a final and not finish 3rd for what feels like the 10th time in a row (Hooray!), but by no means do I expect the matchup to be an easy one. The real-life Giants are on a heck of a run this year and the Giants players on this team are riding that wave too. Who knew Logan Webb would be so good or that Buster Posey would rediscover the fountain of youth? I think (hope) that even though the Giants have been great recently, and may knock off the number one seed, I have enough starting pitching to squeak by into the finals.
Pick: Angels
2. Astros vs. 3. Cubs
We should have a really, really nice matchup here. Highest scoring team vs 3rd highest. Remaining division winner vs highest seed. I'm picking the Cubs because 1. you don't pick against the defending champs 2. they have the best starting pitching 3. Astros are still missing Bregman, and that's a key piece. I do expect this to be a close matchup overall but one that the Cubs still take in the end.
Pick: Cubs
Finals
3. Cubs vs. 4. Angels
What did I say in the last paragraph? "You don't pick against the defending champs". I'll be happy if I can make a final and not finish 3rd for a change, but I don't think I have quite enough to knock off the Cubs. If it happens it'll be from huge performances from my Jays, hoping Springer comes back and is still a monster, and that my pitchers have some good weeks while the Cubs have off weeks. Too much has to go right for all that to happen and win, I think.
Pick: Cubs
Past Predictions:
2020: 4/4 for the quarters, 2/2 in the semis, but got the finals wrong - Cubs 3 peat! 6/7
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
