No Playoff Baseball for New York

Fans have seen the Yankees’ demise coming long enough to still enjoy Mike Mussina’s 20th victory on the last day of the season. But for Mets fans, the 2008 season is just another example of coming so close to the postseason and falling just short.

While not quite as disastrous as last season’s fade into nothingness, the Mets’ inability to fend off the challenging Milwaukee Brewers, bringing a sudden end to Shea Stadium’s history, will leave a stinging feeling in the hearts of Mets fans for quite some time. Just as Ryan Church’s deep drive in the bottom of the 9th against the Marlins gave the Mets a few seconds of hope before being caught by Cameron Maybin, the Mets came into September with strong playoff hopes only to fizzle out.

So who’s left to play for the title of 2008 World Series champion? In the ALDS, the major-league-best Los Angeles Angels take on the AL Wild Card Boston Red Sox and the surprising Tampa Bay Rays do battle with the Chicago White Sox, fresh off an exciting 1-0 win over the Minnesota Twins in a one-game playoff for the AL Central title. The NLDS pits the Chicago Cubs against Joe Torre’s Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Lots of interesting potential World Series matchups this postseason. Boston against Manny’s Dodgers? Freeway Series of Angels and Dodgers? Windy City Showdown of Cubs and White Sox?

Here are my predictions:
ALDS- Angels 3, Red Sox 1: The Sox pitching staff limps into the postseason while the Angels are seemingly unstoppable. Their ability to control all facets of the game gives them my vote.
ALDS- Rays 3, White Sox 1: People forget that the White Sox lost five straight before winning three in a row against three different teams to earn their playoff berth. And they’ve used multiple starters on three days rest. Oh, and the Rays are really good.
NLDS- Cubs 3, Dodgers 2: A day after Carlos Zambrano no-hit the Astros, Ted Lilly almost did the same. Their starting staff is a serious threat. The Dodgers are no chumps, and this one will go five games to determine a winner. Definitely a series worth watching.
NLDS- Phillies 3, Brewers 2: CC Sabathia can only start 2 games, so the Brewers can only win 2 games. The Phillies are the superior team here.

ALCS- Angels 4, Rays 2: The Angels have been there before while the Rays are mostly untested in the playoffs. This is not the year for Tampa Bay; the Angels are just too good.
NLCS- Cubs 4, Phillies 1: Honestly, whoever wins the Cubs-Dodgers gets the NL Pennant in my opinion. The Cubs are a much deeper team and should be able to sweep the Phillies aside.

WS- Angels 4, Cubs 2- I don’t see this one going all 7. The Angels are the best team in baseball for good reason. They have superior starting pitching, bullpen, defense, hitting, speed, bench. The Cubs will give them a run for their money but I pick the Angels.

This isn’t to say I WANT the Angels to win. I’d love to see the Cubs or Dodgers take it home. Realistically, though, it’s going to be the Angels.

MLB Trade Deadline Winners and Losers

The non-waiver baseball trade deadline has come and passed, and many talented players now find themselves with new teams. Some of these trades helped contenders strengthen up for the playoff run while some helped cellar-dwellers start anew. Let’s take a look.

CC Sabathia to Milwaukee for Matt LaPorta and 2 minor leaguers
Milwaukee’s rotation greatly improves with the acquisition of Sabathia. He has pitched very well thus far for the Brewers. Whether that’s enough to take the NL Central is yet to be determined. Meanwhile, Cleveland knew they couldn’t afford to sign Sabathia to a long-term extension and got some value back for him. Oh, and Sabathia used the trade as an opportunity to change his first name to “CC” from “C.C.”

Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yankees for Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Dan McCutchen, and Jeff Karstens
The Yankees added the right-handed outfield bat (Nady) they needed to replace Hideki Matsui, who is likely out for the year with a knee injury. Marte provides a solid lefty option in Joe Girardi’s bullpen. The Pirates add some promising prospects for their future. Tabata was seen as the top Yankee outfield prospect before personality issues arose this season. Ohlendorf can potentially help Pittsburgh as a starter or out of the bullpen.

Mark Teixeira to the Angels for Casey Kotchman and a minor leaguer
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim needed a bat, so they added Mark Teixeira of Atlanta. Teixeira is due to become a free agent at the end of the season, so unless the Angels can sign him to an extension, this trade may not work out well. Who exactly is going to play 1B next year?

Ivan Rodriguez to the Yankees for Kyle Farnsworth
The Yankees decided they could not withstand another blow to the catching position, so they instead gave up setup man Farnsworth for two months of Pudge Rodriguez’s services. The bullpen takes a bit of a hit as a result. Farnsworth, however, was pitching at his peak performance and is due to become a free agent, so just being able to trade him for anything more than a bag of baseballs is more than the Yankees could have asked for. Classic “sell high” strategy.

Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers, Jason Bay to Boston, Andy Laroche, Brandon Moss, Craig Hansen, and a minor leaguer to the Pirates
Where to start with this one? Manny gets to be Manny for Joe Torre, which should be interesting to watch. Pittsburgh might be building a very solid future with this trade as well as the deal they made with the Yankees. Jason Bay will provide a defensive upgrade in LF for the Red Sox but is not the same presence at the plate as Manny is. I call the loser in this deal the Red Sox. Manny, Moss, Hansen, and cash for Jason Bay? I smell a ripoff. But if Bay plays well then this deal will be well worth it.

Ken Griffey, Jr. to the White Sox for Danny Richar and Nick Masset
The White Sox now have a bit of a crowded lineup with OF/1B Nick Swisher, OF Griffey, and 1B Paul Konerko all competing for playing time. The Sox plan to use Griffey in CF. He had been moved to RF by the Reds previously because of his age and declining defensive skills. Somebody better tell Ozzie Guillen that it’s 2008, not 1998. Griffey may help the lineup, but at what cost defensively?

That’s it for now. Further updates when I feel like it. It’s my blog after all 😉