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

Top 10 Yankees Rights Now

1 2B Robinson Cano
2 3B Alex Rodriguez
3 SP CC Sabathia
4 RP Mariano Rivera
5 CF Curtis Granderson
6 1B Mark Teixeira
7 SS Derek Jeter
8 SP Michael Pineda
9 RF Nick Swisher
10 LF Brett Gardner
HM: Kuroda, Robertson, Garcia, Nova, Hughes, Martin, Ibanez

Better, Worse or The Same 2012- Yankees

Yankees will be a threat again and will have some great seasons from a lot of players.

Russell Martin: Worse
Francisco Cervelli: Better
Mark Teixeira: Better
Robinson Cano: Better
Derek Jeter: Better
Alex Rodriguez: Better
Eduardo Nunez: Same
Raul Ibanez: Better
Eric Chavez: Same
Curtis Granderson: Worse, but still very good
Brett Gardner: Same
Nick Swisher: Worse
Chris Dickerson: Same
Andruw Jones; Worse
Russ Branyan: Same
Bill Hall: Same
Brandon Laird: Same

CC Sabathia; Better
Michael Pineda: Better
Huroki Kuroda: Worse, but still good
Ivan Nova: Worse
Freddy Garcia: Worse
Phil Hughes: Better
Joba Chamberlain: Same
Rafael Soriano: Same
David Robertson: Worse, but still good
Mariano Rivera: Same
Clay Rapada: Same
Boone Logan: Same
Cory Wade: Worse
George Kontos: Worse
Dellin Betances: Better

Hot Stove Day 1: Lowe, Sabathia, Santos

• Derek Lowe was traded to the Indians and he might have a few good starts but he will be a 4.70 ERa guy who fills the Indians five slot okay and it wasn’t a bad deal on their part but don’t expect a lot from him, he may improve slightly on last season based on his track record but other than that he’s slowly going to get worse.  The Braves need this, now they have a rotation of Hudson, Hanson, Jurrjens, Minor and Beachy full time with Teheran and Delgado to follow soon and they might be able to sign one more piece to help them make the playoffs.  The Braves also got lefty reliever Chris Jones, who could be a nice piece to their bullpen in a  few seasons.  EDGE: Braves
• CC Sabathia agreed to stay with the Yankees which is a win-win.  Sabathia will do good in New York and the Yankees would be in huge trouble without him.
• The Tigers have outrighted Brad Thomas and Omir Santos, though neither will be missed much the Tigers need a new back-up/emergency catcher, I suggest bringing back Matt Treanor and starting him in AAA.  Thomas may do so-so in a new home but will never be a real good reliever and Santos could be a good backup catcher somewhere.

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

Who Wins the AL East, Does It Matter?

WHO WILL WIN: I will say the Red Sox, even though they are struggling right now, they should snap out of it soon and just play good the ret of the way.  The Sox hitting and pitching is better.  The Yankees have a chance though, they are not a bad team but I just have a hard time seeing them hang on, I see them blowing a couple of games and they just don;t have enough.  They could be a strong Wild Card with all the good season they had from Granderson, Cano and Teixeria and veterans Rodriguez and Jeter but having only one really good pitcher will hurt them now especially.  It will be close though and the Yankees should play good, but it may not be enough.  Chance the Yankees win the Division: 35%
DOES IT MATTER: Yes, if the Red Sox don’t get home field they have a worse chance of beating the Rangers or Tigers, but probably still could.  If the Yankees win the wild card they may be in trouble because the Rangers or Tigers may already beat them anyway and it will be a lot easier for them to if the Yanks have to start on the road.  Either team has to win one of the first two road games in the playoffs though.  If the Red Sox lose Game 1 to Verlander and Game 2 to Scherzer or Fister, then if they go to Fenway, Fister is a ground ball pitcher so if the Tigers were to start him it would be bad for them and same with the Yankees at Comerica or Yankee Stadium, especially with their question marks.  The Rangers are just tough to beat all-around too so, that wouldn’t be good for either team.  I believe the team that wins the division has a LOT better chance to make it to the World Series.  The Red Sox are a much better playoff team and should be prepared and they should win.

ANOTHER NOTE: The Rays won;t make the playoffs but they could play close to how good these two teams play the rest of the year, if not a little better.  They could come out the gates strong next year.

Tigers at Yankees Preview and Opening Day

LINE-UPS
NYY

1. Brett Gardner- Will do awesome his first series as a leadoff man, he’s made for this role
2. Derek Jeter- He may do good and he will do good in this role
3. Mark Tiexeira- He may start off good or bad but he will have a decent season in this spot
4. Alex Rodriguez- You can expect a few homers and some good play from him
5. Robinson Cano- Could have a good opening day and another big season
6. Nick Swisher- He could either do great or terrible against the Tigers
7. Jorge Posada- He’s declining and will show it, especially in this series
8. Curtis Granderson- Could also have a big series and he will hit okay even with his oblique
9. Russell Martin- The Tigers will hold him

DET

1. Austin Jackson- Should start this season like he did last year
2. Will Rhymes- He won’t struggle at all, even against Sabathia
3. Magglio Ordonez- Could start the season off with a bang
4. Miguel Cabrera- He will have the best series of anyone in it
5. Victor Martinez- He will have some big hits versus the Yankees
6. Ryan Raburn- He won’t slump and get some extra base hits
7. Jhonny Peralta- Good spot for now, some pop at the bottom
8. Brandon Inge- Could hit a homer or two but not too much more in this series
9. Alex Avila- He is probably going to start off a bit slow

STARTERS
VERLANDER VS. SABATHIA- I think Verlander can easily outpitch Sabathia but both should be hard to hit and give up a few runs but I really think Verlander could win this one
PENNY VS. BURNETT- They will both give up a few runs but Burnett is a bit too wild.  it will be anybody’s game but I will say advantage Penny
SCHERZER VS. TBA(MOST LIKELY HUGHES): Scherzer is awesome and so is Hughes so I will just call this one a draw, the offense will win it
BOTTOM LINE: Tigers win 2 of 3

ALCS Preveiw: Yankees vs Rangers

PITCHING: I think Cliff Lee will win every game he starts and the Rangers rotation is slightly worse, they might not always pitch like that though.  Wilson could be great or really bad and if Tommy Hunter pitches on the road it won’t be good.  Sabathia should be really good but will be outmatched by Lee if they go against each other.  Burnett should have a good start along with Pettitte.  The Rangers bullpen is going to do good and is slightly better except for the closer, of course.  The Rangers starters shouldn’t give up more than five runs in any game.
MATCHUPS:
Sabathia vs Wilson- EDGE: NYY
Hughes vs Lewis- EDGE: NYY
Pettitte vs Lee- EDGE: TEX
Burnett vs Hunter- EDGE: NYY
HITTING: The Rangers will have speed and power and will be deadly some games and innings.  Everyone will hit and Kinsler will play like an MVP.  The Yankees should have Jeter, Granderson, and Rodriguez do good now.  The Yankees should score often and will be very tough to stop in this series but the Rangers won’t be able to be handled either.  I think the Yankees will just out power them and score many runs.  The Rangers will be big with driving in runs too but will be a bit easier to stop.
ANALYSIS: I’ll take the Yankees in 6.  Lee will win any game and Wilson might give a win or two but the Yankees are just way to powerful they can outplay you and will have a better series.  The offense and possible good pitching will give them a big edge.  There will be no stopping the Yankees once they start to go on a roll

Yankees might lose first

It will be mainly the pitching, but they will go through a slump and I think Tampa will heat up a bit too.  CC and Dustin Moseley.  Rivera will be the only bullpen ace too.  The Yankees will just have the toughest time of the year and then heat back up when they get to the playoffs.  Their whole offense should keep them around .500 this month though, Granderson will stay hot and Teixeria will keep all the pop in his bat.  The Yankees should struggle in most big games, especially against the Rays.  They should win a few games versus the Red Sox and Rangers though.  When the pitching is there they will win big and when it’s not they should lose close games.  The whole team will still surge after September and the Yankees should have no major problems.  If they lose first place they will have a better ALDS.  The Yankees still have a great chance to win it all and they are a huge powerhouse.