Power Rankings: 5/5/13

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

NLCS Preview 2012: Cardinals vs Giants

Prediction: Giants in 7
his will be a good series and I could see either team repeating what they did to get to the World Series in 2010 for San Francisco and 2011 for St. Louis and there is so many great players who could make their mark this series.
Head To Head
C: Buster Posey vs Yadier Molina-Posey- The top two catchers in the league, but Posey is better
1B: Brandon Belt vs Allen Craig-Craig-Belt is good and could hit a big HR or two but Craig will help more
2B: Marco Scutaro vs Daniel Descalso-Scutaro-It’s close but I’ll take the more experienced guy
3B: Pablo Sandoval vs David Freese-Freese-Regular season it would take Sandoval, but postseason is Freese
SS: Brandon Crawford vs Pete Kozma-Kozma-Both are close but Kozma has come through more in the clutch and on offense, Crawford could play a big defensive role
LF: Gregor Blanco vs Matt Holliday-Holliday-Blanco has been great so far for replacing Cabrera but he doesn’t match Holliday
CF: Angel Pagan vs Jon Jay-Pagan-I think Pagan is going to have a big series and wins, but not to take anything away from Jay
RF: Hunter Pence vs Carlos Beltran-Beltran-It’s so close but Beltran has been so good in OCtober his whole career and that’s not going to change
Rotation: Giants, Cain and Bumgarner are going to be the Giants two guys to go to and there aren’t many that are better and the Cardinals is good and Carpenter is cold, not bad but just an ice in his veins type of pitcher whose great and better in the playoffs but Wainwright ahs gotten bombed and there isn’t as much behind them
Bullpen: Giants, barely
Manager: Bruce Bochy vs Mike Matheny: Bochy

KEYS
ST LOUIS: Keep up their recent postseason success and eat up the pitchers in the late innings
SAN FRANCISCO:DO not fall behind in the series and don’t take a break once you have a lead, go hard the whole series

GRADES:       SF     STL
Starters           A-      B+
Relievers        B        B-
Line-Up          B-      B+
Bench              B-      B-

LINE-UP: The catchers could control this series with Molina and Posey being both great defensive catchers who can handle these experienced staffs and get the big, key clutch hit to win the game.  Beltran and Freese should be the biggest performers for the Cards and Holliday hits the Giants decently.  For the Giants, Sandoval has been their man all year.  Also, the Giants outfield will help a to, like they did in 2012.  Offense will be back and forth in this series and each game a new hero could be made like Belt or Kozma and all the guys on both sides will help at some point.  These offenses are pretty good.

PITCHING: The Giants pitchers have been great. Cain is one of the best pitchers in baseball, Bumgarner is on his way and both can pitch decent in the playoffs and we know Cain can win a game where it’s win or go home.  Vogelsong has also proven he is no joke and he will prove himself in the postseason and his stats are good and Zito has postseason experience and though he may not be great, he could put up a game where he keeps the Giants in it and could just pitch are really great game at some point in the series.  Romo and Casilla are two of the best late the past few years and I’d be scared to face Romo and Lincecum is pitching great since the postseason has started.  The Cards have Carpenter who, as I explained is better and Wainwright and Lohse who despite their great season could struggle a bit and their stats could look a bit different after the series.  Edward Mujica has been a great pick-up not allowing many runners to cross the plate.  Lynn has been giving up too many HR for their bullpen and Joe Kelly and Shelby Miller are young but could step up.  Their closer, who had 42 saves, Jason Motte is going to be almost automatic in save situations.

STAT TO NOTE: 32 vs 18- The numbers of runs in the NLDS by the Cards and Giants respectively, it could look different with the Giants pitching and luck but that’s a big difference

MLB Postseason Pick’em: 10/14/12

Tigers over Yankees 7-6
I know I said NYY would win Game 2 and it will be close but I see losing Jeter as a big factor in this game and the Tugers slugging away ln Kuroda
Giants over Cardinals 6-3
The Giants won Game 1 of the NLCS in 2010 and I expecta repeat of that, the home crowd will help while their pitching does what it does and they win a big Game 1

Why I’m Taking Nationals In Game 5

The Nationals are such a talented and just a great team.  They finished with the best record in the MLB this regular season, but so did the Phillies in 2011 when the Cardinals, a tough team to beat, especially in the playoffs shocked the world and upset the Phillies in 5.  Tonight the NAtionals just scraped into Game 5 after a huge walk-off HR for Jayson Werth, who is earning his contract in the playoffs.  I like the Nationals tonight because they are the best team, even though they barely are right now, they are and should win.  Gonzalez has out pitched Wainwright this year and that should stay true for the most part and we know we are likely to see a decent start by both tonight.  I like the Nationals beyond that too, the Cardinals may be their toughest opponent, so if they can win this they could beat the Giants.  It won;t be easy either time but with the way all these players have played individually and as a team this year they can take on these teams.  Bryce Harper really needs to step up too, he can be a big number two guy and make it easier for Werth and Zimmerman.  In the World Series it’s still a toss-up, and if they do make it there, I might let Strasburg go in a game or two.  The Nationals have what it takes in almost eery aspect though and they can win this test.  I give them an 80% chance to win tonight.

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.

Under The Radar Players To Watch this Postseason

CARDINALS: Daniel Descalso- He can play defense that for sure but he’s under pressure as he is getting more playing time with Rafael Furcal getting hurt and though he may not breakout and be a hero, he could be a key factor for the Cardinals if he hits well, and could be one of the big reasons they advance, if they beat the Nats and if he gets going in the playoffs the Cardinals could really start rolling.  I expect him to do well, but it really depends on if the Nationals pitchers are on or choke a bit.
NATIONALS: Ryan Zimmerman- The Nats best hitter had waited since 2005 to get the chance and he’s too good of a player not to put up some good numbers or help his team, and maybe have a legendary postseason.  Even if the Nats get eliminated I expect him to do good and if they make a run i think he will get better and batter as the playoffs go on.
REDS: The Outfield I could pick Votto but we know he will hit well and be a hard out, I think the whole outfield will be worth watching the postseason with the Reds.  Jay Bruce is the best, most powerful and talented player out of the bunch and could easily power his way into the record books.  Ryan Ludwick is off to a hot start and should keep that up along with his power.  Heisey could do well in his spots and Stubbs should hit a lot better than he did in the regular season.  They may not be legendary this postseason but they could help a lot
GIANTS: Pablo Sandoval- He will hit for this team and provide some power, and I can see him coming through in the big situations this postseason.  The Giants will do well as a whole if they do good, but Sandoval could very well be their best hitter this postseason
YANKEES: Ichiro Suzuki- He finally gets his chance to be a postseason hero and with his track record, I expect a lot of hits for him this postseason, and some of them being really big ones.  The Yankees would be smart keeping him in the two spot.
ORIOLES: Manny Machado- He gave the Os’ the spark to finish off their improbable season and he might be to the Orioles what Miguel Cabrera was to the 2003 Marlins, that extra piece.  It’ hard to pick from this team since most of these guys found their spot all at the right time kind of like the 2010 Giants did, but Machado needs to help lead them on all sides of the ball, regardless of age.
TIGERS: Avisail Garcia- Speaking of Miguel Cabrera, this guy could really put his name on the national map.  He has power he hasn’t shown yet but his big way of helping the Tigers this postseason is on defense and getting hits at the bottom of the order.  I think he can do a lot of big things.
ATHLETICS: Yoenis Cespedes- He’s a five tool player and a showcase, he can help the A’s any way and he is by far the best player on their team.  He could turn in more performances like Game 2 in the ALDS.  He is by far the A’s best player.

Can Only Add To Legacy and Just Might
Tigers: Miguel Cabrera
Athletics: Too Young
Yankees: Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano
Orioles: Jim Thome
Cardinals: David Freese
Nationals: Jayson Werth
Reds: Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips
Giants: Buster Posey

X-Factors To Doing Well
Reds: Aroldis Chapman
Giants: Ryan Vogelsong
Nationals: Bryce Harper
Cardinals: Jon Jay
Tigers: Jhonny Peralta
Athletics: Brandon Moss
Yankees: Rafael Soriano
Orioles: JJ Hardy

MLB Playoff Pick’em: 10/7/12

Tigers over Athletics 8-1
Cabrera and Fielder wake up, Tigers go up 2-0, FIster keeps up the Ks and good perfromance
Nationals over Cardinals 5-4
Cardinals play hard but Nats use magic to put up a comeback win for first win as a franchise in the postseason
Giants over Reds 6-3
Red put up a fight, but Bumgarner to tough
Orioles over Yankees 10-9
Slugfest in Baltimore is won by the powerful and cinderella team

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

2012 MLB Playoff Prediction: Pre-Postseason

AL Wild Card
Orioles over Rangers 6-5
NL WIld Card
Braves over Cardinals 7-5
ALDS
Yankees over Orioles 3-2
Tigers over Athletics 3-1
NLDS
Nationals over Braves 3-2
Reds over Giants 3-2
ALCS
Tigers over Yankees 4-2
NLCS
Nationals over Reds 4-2
World Series
Tigers over Nationals in 7

MLB Power Rankings: First Two Weeks of 2012 season

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