Baseball Mea Culpa

I am officially out of the baseball prediction game. I was 3-1 in the division series, which isn't bad, although I only picked one series perfectly (winning team and number of games). I then went 0-2 in the championship series. Ironically, I did pick both series to be over in six games, though. While I won't pick a Series winner because I am no good at it, if I did one can safely assume that the other team will win. Nor will I watch the World Series because, let's be honest, who else is going to?

In conclusion, this tidbit from the NYTimes article on the Giants' sloopy win over the hapless Cowboys last night is pleasing:

On Monday, a Dallas newspaper reporter coyly predicted that the Rangers would win more games in November (Games 5 through 7, if necessary, would be after Halloween) than the Cowboys.

Championship Series

Phillies – Giants
Game 1 of this series has the potential to be shown the following day on ESPN 8 “The Ocho” under the file Instant Classic. Tim Lincecum and Roy Halladay likely had the two most impressive post season debuts…ever. Timmy: CG, 2 hitter, 14 K’s.Doc: something about a no hitter. If the Giants can win the first one this series might go 5 or 6 games, but otherwise it’ll be over quickly. Let’s be honest, postseason baseball is about pitching and the Phillies have the best starting rotation in baseball. Period. Phils in 6.

Yanks – Rangers
The key to this series for the Yankees is to keep it short and only have to face Cliff Lee once. The key for the Rangers, then, is to drag this out to seven, pitch Lee twice (games 3 and 7) and clinch at home. I am excited to see Josh Hamilton at the new Stadium and in the spotlight. The Rangers lineup is pretty stacked generally so the Yankees staff will have their work cut out from them. The matchup of Texas pitchers vs. Yankees batters should be interesting, too. Texas takes the bullpen-by-committee approach and manager Ron Washington is not afraid to warm up anybody – starter or reliever – to come in and pitch when he feels the time is right. This is either reflective of managerial brilliance or zero confidence. I think the Yanks will take at least one in Texas, that Game 3 will be an unreal Lee v. Pettite matchup, and that the Yanks will win it in 6 as well.

Halladay Throws No-No in Playoff Debut

Glad that he's out of the AL East (not that that helped my team).

Playoff rambler

The Scutaro Watch brings you TCD's officially unofficial MLB Postseason preview. We'll call it "Light on the NL Side"

ALDS

Trampa – Tejas
Kicking us off tomorrow at 1:37 pm – because, let’s be honest, no one is working in Tampa, Fl at 1:37 pm on a Wednesday so the team should be able to draw a crowd - is a series spiced up by one Josh Hamilton. This dude is MVP good, has an insane back story and a flair for the dramatic, and can straight up crush the ball. Chics love the long ball. The Texas 'Gers also have a rookie closer fresh off setting the rookie season save record. The Rays are dirty and David Price is nasty and they generally terrify me as a Yankees fan. That's why I am liking the short series and going totally on heart and saying Rangers in five

'Sota - New York
New York is to Minnesota as the Allman Brothers are to the Whipping Post. That is, they own it. The Yanks seem to dominate the Twins each postseason, but the Bombers have stumbled down the stretch as the Twins have soared. Home field for the Twins helps immensely and the pitching staff is highlighted by game one starter Liriano. With the exception of Sabbathia, the Yanks' staff has been a bit of a mystery as of late. Burnett straight up sucks and luckily does not have spot in the rotation in the short series. But I don't think the playoff magic of Pettite is up yet, My Cousin Philly has the potential to light it up and the bullpen is strong. And then there's the offense. 'Nuff said. Yanks in four.

NLDS

Frisco - Hotlanta
Tim Lincecum versus Jason Heyward will be fun to watch. Tim Hudson sitting until Game 3 hurts the Braves. It would be cool to see a Giants - Yanks WS (1962 Subway Series all over again) so I'll try to keep that dream alive and say Giants in five.

Grossadelphia - Graters Ice Cream and Skyline Chili
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto doesn't let the fact that he's Canadian prevent him from being a nasty, nasty baseball player. Likely the NL MVP, the series pretty much rests on his shoulders against what is a scary three man rotation. Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels. Are you kidding me? Phils in three.

Game 5 Inspiration

As promised late last week, some highlights from Sabres-Bruins Game 4. This video is too long, but if you want to get fired up for tonight's game these highlights confirm what we know about this series:

It's intensely physical.
Ryan Miller is nasty. The bit of the video from 5:20 to 6:10 is a stunning display of goaltending.
Tuuku Rask ain't half bad.

Ryan Miller

The highlights (data) will be posted tomorrow to (re)confirm this, but in case you had any doubt after the Olympics, Ryan Miller is the best goalie in the NHL. In fact, he is the best player in the NHL (sorry Alex Ovenchicken, Mr. Miller doesn't have off nights). Actually, at this moment he might be the best player at his position in professional sports. I will defer final judgement based on the degree to which Lebron has to carry the Cavs and how far he actually carries them, but MIller just robbed the Bruins of three unquestionable game-winning goals in the first overtime of tonight's Game 4 matchup.

The Bruins are out skating the Sabres all over the ice, but Miller somehow bails out his teammates at every turn.

Turn this game on. B's about to go on the power play.