Orioles vs Yankees ALDS Game 5

The Orioles have stayed in it all year and lately the Yankees have struggled in these games.  It will be close for sure.  The Orioles will stay close and did what they did last night, only the offense could be a lot better
Keys:
Orioles: Manny Machado and the offense to keep the Orioles in it
Yankees: Sabathia to keep the Yankees in it

Pitching Match-Up
Jason Hammel vs CC Sabathia Sabathia will have a decent outing no matter what and could be dominant like always, and he could have a start that is only a bit worse than Verlander did yesterday.  He needs to keep control and o 6 strong at least and get the big outs and just have a normal CC game and be the ace that he is.  PREDICTED LINE: 6.2 IP 3 ER 6 H 3 BB 7 K  Hammel should surprise everyone and not be untouchable but play very well and he should overpower hitters and I don’t see him getting bombed or anything like that at all.  Hammel is a good starter and should be starting this game for the Orioles

Line-Ups: The Orioles line-up is good and McLouth, Davis, Jones and Wieters could make some production and 3 RBIs at least,b ut I’d start Thome oer Ford even with a lefty.  They have enough in their line-up to win though and guys like Machado or Reynolds could come up huge.  Sitting Rodriguez is a questionable move for New York, I may have just started Chavez at DH and hit Rodriguez ninth.  Regardless this offense is non-stop and tough, but they can be stopped and the O’s pitching has found a way to do that in some games this year.

This game is a complete toss-up and almost even.  The Yankees have more talent but the Orioles are so good at taking advantage of things and playing well I wouldn’t be surprised either way, though I picked the O’s.  It could be a classic postseason match-up.  If the O’s do get eliminated I think they had a successful year and great postseason too.

Potential Hero: SP Jason Hammel or 2B Robinson Cano

MLB Pick’em for 10/12/12

Orioles over Yankees 5-4
CC tends to do well in these games and against the O’s but if he’s a little wild, they’ll jump all over him.  The Orioles will stay in it no matter what and I see them puling out a close one.

Nationals over Cardinals 7-6

Gonzalez has been struggling a bit but the Nationals can hit Wainwright okay too, and even though the Nationals are the better team, the Cardinals will stay in it like they always do.

Orioles Still Have a Shot

The Orioles may not have the best chance to win it all, but I wouldn’t count them out.  Is till think the Yankees will move onto the ALDS, but baseball is wacky and so is this Orioles team that really shouldn’t be in this position.  Tonight is the Orioles big shot with Saunders going, he could have a strong game like he did in the Wild Card and if he does I think the Orioles can get some runs off of Hughes and they can win, even on the road and if they win tonight, their chance of winning tomorrow gets a lot better.  The offense needs to roll though and not just hit homers but get hits and they have to execute in key situations like they have all year, that’s why they’re here and that’s why I won’t count them out.  Even if they lose, they will lose close ones like last night.  Jim Johnson really needs to get the save too, because now he can’t blow a save and still be alive, and he’s the part I’m nervous for the Orioles for, but he can do it most of the time.  If the series comes down to a Game 5 on Friday night, I will take the Orioles to play close and tough and the orioles to give Sabathia a bit of a tought time, but it’s too close to say who will win for sure, even though the Yankees are the favorites.  Girardi and Showalter should make some interesting, but likely good choices in their bullpens and game selections too.  Alex Rdoriguez probably won’t perk out of his slump these next two games either.

Tigers at A’s ALDS Game 4 Preview

Keys
Tigers: Scherzer has been hot, but the offense needs to go out and score some runs early and often
Athletics: Support AJ Griffin because he won’t turn in as good of an outing as Brett Anderson did

Line-Ups
Tigers

1. CF Autin Jackson
2. LF Quintin Berry
3. 3B Miguel Cabrera
4. 1B Prince Fielder
5. DH Delmon Young
6. LF Andy Dirks
7. SS Jhonny Peralta
8. C Alex Avila
9. 2B Omar Infante

I like the look of this line-up more than last night’s.  It can score some runs and maybe hit a few homers tonight.  It could even go crazy which it needs to do.  One thing is I like Berry hitting in the two hole after what he did in Game 1 there but Garcia needs to pinch hit late in the game if it’s close.  Cabrera and Fielder could lead this group tonight.

Athletics

1. CF Coco Crisp
2. SS Stephen Drew
3. LF Yoenis Cespedes
4. 1B Brandon Moss
5. RF Josh Reddick
6. 3B Josh Donaldson
7. DH Seth Smith
8. C Derek Norris
9. 2B Cliff Pennington

This is a decent line-up, but I can’t see it production more than four runs max.  Cespedes and Smith have been the only ones to really impress me during the series, but Crisp, Drew, Reddick or Moss could help out tonight.  I like the Tigers line-up a lot better though

PITCHING MATCH-UP: OAK: AJ Griffin vs DET: Max Scherzer: Scherzer should pitch a great game and his stuff has been on lately for the Tigers.  I expect a lot of Tigers strikeouts today.  Griffin is good and he should do a decent job but I see him letting some baserunners on today and the Tigers hitting him decent and scoring some runs, but he could turn in a decent performance.  Scherzer should be his normal self that he was in the last two months of the year.  PREDICTED LINES: Scherzer 7 IP 10 K 2 BB 2 ER 6 H Griffin 5.1 IP 4 K 3 BB 5 ER 9 H

Hero will be…Miguel Cabrera
Goat will be…Josh Reddick

Prediction: Tigers 9 Athletics 3

Yankees vs Orioles Preview ALDS 2012

HEAD TO HEAD POSITIONS
Catcher: Matt Wieters vs Russ Martin: Wieters
1B: Mark Reynolds vs Mark Teixeira: Teixeira
2B: Robert Andino/Ryan Flaherty vs Robinson Cano: Cano
3B: Manny Machado vs Alex Rodirguez: Rodriguez, but Machado could just match Rodriguez one day
SS: JJ Hardy vs Derek Jeter: Jeter
LF: Chris Davis vs Ichiro Suzuki: Suzuki still
CF: Adam Jones vs Curtis Granderson: Jones this year
RF: Nate McLouth vs Nick Swisher: Swisher
DH: Jim Thome/Wilson Betemit vs Raul Ibanez/Eric Chavez: Orioles
BENCH: Orioles
STARTERS: Yankees
RELIEVERS: Yankees
Manager: Buck Showalter vs Joe Girardi: Showalter
NYY 8 BAL 5

REPORT CARD
PITCHING BAL B- NYY: B+
RELIVERS BAL A- NYY A
HITTING BAL B NYY A

Match-ups: The Yankees will have the advantage in most pitching match-ups with Sabathia, Kuroda, and Pettitte but the O’s pitching flies under the radar with Britton, Matusz, and Hunter who could be great starters and are starting to be and could really show it on a showcase this postseason and Hunter and Saunders can really help with their experience.  I don’t expect many ninth inning comebacks either with Johnson and Soriano in the ninth.  Today, Hammel could outpitch himself and put up a fight with CC, who usually so smooth seems to have lost his postseason pitching least year as he struggled with control.  Tomorrow Chen can use his wacky mechanics to help too.  Pettitte is a postseason legend and has a delivery that can hold up all season and postseason fool hitters, you have to love him.  It will be close but you would be lying if you said the Yankees didn’t have the advantage

Prediction: I took the Yankees but I wouldn’t be surprised if the O’s won it, I think the Yankees take one at Oriole Park though, which really hurts the O’s.  It will go more than three games for sure.

MLB Postseason Picture: DS Games

Power Rankings

1. Nationals
2. Yankees
3. Reds
4. Tigers
5. Athletics
6. Orioles
7. Giants
8. Cardinals

TIGERS: These guys may have squeezed in the playoffs, but anything can happen, the Cardinals won 83 games in 2006 and they were World Champions and this team is a tough postseason team with their rotation and their hitting, especially if they are hot, and they are.  If the bullpen comes together they will do so great too.  Their options off the bench are decent too.  They have tough competition for sure but I can see them faxing it well.

ATHLETICS: I don’t see them making it passed here, even if they are being compare to the 1969 Mets.  Their rookie pitchers have never been through any of this.  That is no reason they can’t make it, but I see their defensive luck coming to an end, and I think the Tigers outmatch them, especially since the Tigers get the first two games at home.  If the A’s win this round, I do see them in the World Series.

REDS: This team could be the toughest in the postseason but I still need to be sold on Bronson Arroyo and the bottom of the line-up, until then I see them beating the Giants in a close one.  They have a strong team and have gotten more wins than I thought they could,  Plus when they get hot they are unstoppable against any team this year.  This group of guys plays really well together too.  I have confidence they will have a nice showing even if they don’t win it all.

GIANTS: Losing Melky hurt, but they kept winning and they can put up a fight against the Reds with their pitching and experience.  There is no way that the Giants will lay down and they have a small possibility of repeating their 2010 World Series run.

ORIOLES: They are making an improbable run and can play the Yankees well, but their power hitter really need to turn it up this series and Yankee Stadium will help them out a lot.  They also need their group of misfits to keep playing up to the par they have, because it will be a quick playoff run if they don’t.

YANKEES: I see them making at least the ALCS, but the O’s could upset the,  I like the way the their pitching has come together and Soriano will be tought at the end of the game.  I could see them scoring a ton of runs too with their mix of power, experience, good hitters and everything else.

CARDINALS: I can see them winning a few games but the Nats are really tough, they may just to mcuh for the Cards, but you can’t count a team like this out even with the injuries and postseason heroes David Freese and Yadier Molina should keep up their status.  They are a good team, but they aren’t great.  Their pitchers will also need to pitch good  games.

NATIONALS: Some see these guys laying down but I don’t.  I see them being like the 2006 Tigers in the playoffs, they have talent and the younger guys will help a lot too.  Their pitchers are very talented too and they will really get to show off their stuff  the playoffs.  I like this team.

Anybody or any team can become legendary in the postseason.

Follow this blog and me on Twitter, @Niktigs, for postseason coverage

Tigers Playoffs Predicitions

The Tigers are going to win at least 1 of 3 in Kansas City to win the division and even if somehow a playoff is forced, which is a 1 in 1,000 chance at this point or at least it feels like it, Justin Verlander will start at Comerica Park.  this isn’t 2009 though the Tigers aren’t choking and the Twins arent surging, it’s quite the opposite.  The White Sox are choking in an epic way and the Tigers keep getting stronger and this team has played all of the playoff teams well, so they do have a decent shot in the postseason and I think they can at least make the ALCS and will be happy if they do but here is my predictions of how they would do in a 5 game series against any of the teams they could possibly face in the ALDS as they will be the three seed, so games 3 and 4 would be at home just like 2006 or 2011 for the Tigers.  In the playoffs the pitching staff looks very strong and this team can score runs and get wins.  I can see the Tigers closing the season with a bang too and Cabrera, Fielder and Young getting really hot.  The Tigers are 11-4 against the Royals this year and 11-1 if you take out the three game sweep where the Tigers just couldn’t play well.
Vs. Baltimore: Tigers in 5, they win games 1,3, and 5
Vs. Yankees: Tigers in 4, they win 1,3 and 4
Vs. Athletics: Tigers in 3
Vs. Rangers: Rangers in 5, Tigers win 3 and 4

These predictions are sunject to chaneg as all predictions about baseball always are

Who has The Better Chance At Winning?

DETROIT AT NEW YORK: I will say the Tigers because Fister is better than Nov and I’ll say Game 1 was a fluke for both because of the way it was resumed.  The Tigers offense will need to step up a bit an if it does it will do awesome and even if it doesn’t live up to it’s fullest it can beat the Yankees.  The Yankees do have a really good shot, especially with their offense.  I also like the Tigers because I think Scherzer could be big in relief and JV could come in to get one or two clutch outs by using his gas.  Benoit and alverde will be ready too and Soriano could let down the Yanks.  The Tigers have a slight edge I think, they are better all-around and can beat the Yankees.
ST. LOUIS AT PHILLY: I have to say the Phillies have the advantage because of Halladay and the fact that they’re just a better team but the Cards have a serous chance at an upset with the way Freese and Berkman are going and the rest of team as shown up.  I also expect something big of Pujols, win or lose.  Carpenter can handle pressure well and will pitch a good game and do what he does best, give up barely any runs if any.  The Phillies lien-up could be the advantage here though and I’ll take them in a close one.  The Phils are the best team in the playoffs and at home too.
EXTRA: if the Brew Crew loses tonight they might not have an edge anymore but I wouldn’t be surprised if they won.  The D’backs [play great baseball though

What The Tigers Line-Up Should Look Like For ALDS Game 5

Here’s what I’d do

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

I’d do this because Jackson has been getting on and I’m not sure Dirks would do much better and Maggs had his best game in the two hole.  I trust Inge more than Kelly or Betemit right now and I’d put Avila in the seven hole because even though he’s struggling he can hit a homer just like that in Yankee Stadium.  Santiago will start doing worse and worse if he plays everyday and Raburn will come up better and I like Peralta in the six hole for some reason.  Betemit then Kelly then Dirks would be my pinch-hitting options in order of who I’d want up there the most.

Leyland said Kelly and Maggs will start so I’d put Kelly hitting ninth and Raburn seventh in that case and the lien-up Leyland is putting out there is decent but could easily win more importantly.

MLB Pick’em: MLB Postseason Games 3 and 4

FAVORITE-Rays- Hellickson is better than Harrison  UNDERDOG- Rangers- Won’t go down easy and offense will be tough but Hellickson and bullpen may slow it down

FAVORITE-Cardinals- Jamie owns the Phillies and it’ an upset alert here but I still expect the Phils to come back from their hole  UNDERDOG: Phillies- Could still win this game

FAVORITE-Tigers- They kill Burnett and Porcello shows up, could be similar to Game 4 of ALDS in 2006  UNDERDOG-Yankees- Season is put of AJ Burnett’s shoulders…that doesn’t sound to good to me

FAVORITE-Diamondbacks- They won’t go down without a fight  UNDERDOG- Brewers- the road record from the first half shows up today but maybe only today