Game 1 Preveiw: Tigers at Yankees, Yankee Stadium, 8:37 start

Pitching Match-up: Verlander vs Sabathia: Sabathia one the first duel between these two but he may find some struggles this time around.  Verlander will fatten up his CY Young credentials and not let any factor to get in his way.  Sabathia won’t do bad but he likely won’t do as good.  Expect a lot of pitches and strikeouts from Verlander and then Benoit and Valverde to wrap it up
Analysis: The Tigers are better overall and will play like it tonight, especially with their offense.  The Yankees are limping in here too, remember they were swept by the Rays and could continue their losing streak.  Also, there is NO home field advantage tonight.  The Tigers will use the middle and bottom of the order to hit and look for spotty contributions from New York, some vets, like A-Rod and Jeter.  Cano and Teixeira could come up big.  Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez will be big for the Tigers
X-Factor: For Tigers it’s Delmon Young, they need him and Yankees need a big game from Derek Jeter
Keys: For Detroit it’s Verlander handling the Yankees and for New York it’s scoring early
Prediction: Tigers 5 Yankees 3

What To Watch: ALDS Day 1

• CJ Wilson to pitch like a true ace
• Matt Moore to prettty much mat him, a few mistakes may be made but a lot of strikeouts and a good strike-ball ratio
• An outburst from the Tigers offense
• Justin Verlander to be every bit as good as he was in the regular season
• Players To Watch Today: Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Evan Longoria, Josh Hamilton, and Robinson Cano
• The closest to a lock to win would be the Rangers today
• The Rays will play hard tonight though and watch for their explossivesness and for them to score early
• Sean Rodriguez to do something in the leadoff spot
• BJ Upton and Desmodn Jennings play great on defense and get off to a great start
• The Rangers tos teal a lot of bases and look like they did in last years postseason
• CC Sabathia does ok in his start but nothing special

ALDS Position by Position Comparsion and Rankings

Position-Tigers-Yankees-Edge
Catcher-Avila vs Martin: Avila
First Base- Cabrera vs. Teixeria: Cabrera
Second Base- Raburn vs Cano: Cano
Third Base- Inge vs Rodriguez: Rodriguez
Shortstop- Peralta vs Jeter: Peralta
Left Field- Delmon Young vs Gardner: Delmon Young
Center Field- Jackson vs Granderson: Granderson
Right Field: Ordonez vs Swisher: Swsiher
DH: Martinez vs Posada: Martinez
Starters: Verlander,Fister, Scherzer and Porcello vs Sabathia, Nova, Garcia and Colon: Tigers
Relievers: Valverde, Benoit, Alberquerque and Coke vs Rivera, Soriano, Robertson and Hughes: Tigers
Manager: Leyalnd vs Girardi: Leyland
DET 8 NYY 4

Position-Rays-Rangers-Edge
Catcher: Schoppach vs Napoli: Napoli
First Base: Kothcman vs Morleand: Kothcman
Second Base: Zobrist vs Kinsler: Kinsler
Shortstop: Rodriguez vs Andrus: Andrus
Third Base: Longoria vs Beltre: Longoria
Left Field: Jennings vs Gentry: Jennings
Center Field: Upton vs Hamilton: Hamilton
Right Field: Joyce vs Cruz: Joyce
DH: Damon vs Young: Young
SP: Shields, Price, Moore, Davis and Niemann vs Holland, Harrison, Wilson and Lewis: Rays
RP: Fransworth, Peralta, McGee and Howell vs Ogando, Adams, Uehara, and Feliz: Rangers
Manager: Joe Maddon vs Ron Washington: Maddon
TEX 6 TB 6

RANKINGS
Pitching Staffs

1. Rays
2. Tigers
3. Rangers
4. Yankees

Line-ups

1. Tigers
2. Rangers
3. Yankees
4. Rays

BULLPEN

1. Rangers
2. Rays
3. Tigers
4. Yankees

Managers

1. Joe Maddon
2. Jim Leyland
3. Ron Washington
4. Joe Girardi

ALDS Game 1: Pick’em

WINNER-Rangers: If they lose this game they are doomed for sure but they take advantage of a tored Tampa, at least for today  LOSER-Rays: They should play well and rebound but Wilson will be too tough for Friday night

WINNER- Tigers: They win of of two in New York and Verlander is unstoppable  LOSER: Yankees: They will give the Tigers a tough time and could play ba great Game 2

WHAT THE TIGERS LINE-UP SHOULD BE TOMMOROW

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Magglio Ordonez RF
3. Delmon Young LF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Alex Avila C
7. Wilson Betemit 3B
8. Jhonny Peralta SS
9. Ryan Raburn 2B

Yankees Line-up should be…

1. Derek Jeter SS
2. Curtis Granderson CF
3. Mark Teixeira 1B
4. Robinson Cano 2B
5. Alex Rodriguez 3B
6. Nick Swisher RF
7. Russell Martin C
8. Jorge Posada DH
9. Brett Gardner LF

Rays Line-up should be…

1. Desmond Jennings LF
2. Johnny Damon DH
3. Evan Longoria 3B
4. Ben Zobrist 2B
5. BJ Upton CF
6. Matt Joyce RF
7. Casey Kotchman 1B
8. Kelly Schoppach C
9. Sean Rodriguez SS

The Rangers Line-up should be….

1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Elvis Andrus SS
3. Josh Hamilton CF
4. Michael Young DH
5. Adrain Beltre 3B
6. Mike Napoli C
7. Nelson Cruz RF
8. Mitch Moreland 1B
9. David Murphy LF

MLB Playoff Predictions

ALDS
Tigers at Yankees
PREDICTION: Tigers in 5

Rays at Rangers
PREDICTION: Rays in 4

NLDS
Cardinals at Phillies
PREDICTION: Phillies in 3

Diamondbacks at Brewers
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks in 5

ALCS
Tigers over Rays in 6

NLCS
Phillies over Diamondbacks in 6

World Series
Phillies over Tigers in 7

RANKING (In terms of playoff series strength)

1. Phillies
2. Yankees
3. Tigers
4. Brewers
5. Diamondbacks
6. Rays
7. Rangers
8. Cardianls

MY ODDS TO WIN WORLD SERIES
Cardinals 1-100
Rangers 1-60
Rays 1-55
Brewers 1-40
Diamondbacks 1-40
Tigers 1-30
Yankees 1-20
Phillies 1-10

Ranking Teams How Could Be In The Playoffs

1. Phillies
2. Yankees
3. Brewers
4. Tigers
5. Diamondbacks
6. Rangers
7. Rays
8. Braves
9. Red Sox
10. Cardinals

Who Will Win The Wild Card In The AL

RAYS: The pitching staff and them staying hot and I say they end up winning the Wild Card.  I think they could do very good in the playoffs but they could be beaten by the Tigers.  It may require a playoff game but the Rays have the advantage there with them having a deeper bullpen and I could see them sweeping the Yankees this weekend and their offense staying hot.  All that it will take is for the Rays to keep playing like the have and they have it for sure.  CHANCE THEY WIN: 70%, before Thursday: 37%
RED SOX They could still win but it will be tough.  With all their slumping players and the O’s being hot I can’t see them winning more than one of the next two games.  Their biggest offense will be Pedroia and Ellsbury and their pitching won’t get any better just like any other part of their game.  Britton can out duel Bedard but Lester has the advantage.  CHANCE THEY WIN THE WILD CARD: 30%, before Thursday: 20 %
The Rays are better and will do better from here on out

Tigers Playoff Question 3: Who Starts at Second?

THE CASE FOR RABURN: He’s a better hitter and will likely stay hot in October after his good September and can hit second, seventh or eighth or ninth.  I like him better and he will provide more power but his defense stink and it could even out.  I would view him as a better version of what Brooks Conrad was for the Braves last year who will perform on offense and most likely not make three errors in one game.  Raburn should hit in between .300 and .400 and get on but won’t be a guarantee or rally killer.  He should just do a  good job and make some big contributions and small ones no matter how much he plays in the ALDS and beyond.
THE CASE FOR RAMON: He’s streaky and always will be that way but he’s hot and will stay that way in the playoffs, just like Raburn, but he should be a worse hitter and just not do as well but keep doing good.  I would say he hits between .200 and .300 but closer to .300 and with some pop and maybe a big homer.  His hits will mostly be big in some way but some will just be normal and his defense at second will do good all-around.  I like him but not as much as Raburn.  He will do decent in the ALDS at least and pretty well overall in the playoffs.
WHO WINS: I say Raburn most of the time and he does better but it should be a platoon with Santiago getting less playing time and both doing well in their roles.  Betemit might not be a bad idea to start a game or two at second either

MLB Power Rankigns: Phillies fall from first

1. Yankees
2. Phillies
3. Brewers
4. Rangers
5. Tigers
6. Diamondbacks
7. Rays
8. Braves
9. Red Sox
10. Cardinals
11. Angels
12. Giants
13. Blue Jays
14. Indians
15. Dodgers
16. Nationals
17. Reds
18. Mets
19. White Sox
20. Rockies
21. Athletics
22. Royals
23. Marlins
24. Orioles
25. Padres
26. Pirates
27. Mariners
28. Cubs
29. Twins
30. Astros

Tigers Playoff Question 2: The ALDS Roster

THE LOCKS
C Avila
1B Cabrera
2B Raburn
2B Santiago
SS Peralta
3B Betemit
3B Inge
3B Kelly
LF Young
CF Jackson
RF Ordonez
DH Martinez
SP Verlander
SP Fister
SP Scherzer
SP Porcello
CL Valverde
SU Benoit
RP Coke
RP Alberquerque

THE LIKELY
OF Dirks

SHOULD ROUND OUT ROSTER
RP Pauley
RP Below
RP Schlereth
RP Perry

TWO MORE TO CONSIDER:
P Penny
2B Rhymes

Perry hasn’t been hot lately but could provide a couple good innings at Comerica in the ALDS.  I see no need for Penny yet and don;t think he will get out of his slump or be a terribly good reliever and.  Below has been good and nobody is more deserving.  Schlereth is decent and a couple good lefties is awesome and Dirks is a good player and is a no brainer to replace Boesch.  Inge should do decent in the playoffs but Betemit, better.  Santiago and Raburn will be a really good platoon too.