After a long season of jockeying for position, the best teams in the Major Leagues (Both American and National) are poised to take the field tomorrow. Baseball has long been a metaphor for sexual activity. Can it be no wonder that it also called our national pastime. The song Paradise By The Dashboard Light by Meatloaf uses metaphor exactly.

Here are the four teams going into the post season for the American League: Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees.

The teams for the National League are: Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, and Atlanta Braves.

Go Twins! I love identical twins.

Any thoughts? Ideas? Or could you care less?

 

Yanks vs Phillies in world series, Yanks win back to back :excited:

 

Don't count out the Giants. They have been a major surprise this year.

 

True, also the Reds...man what the hell. I'd like to see another Braves vs Yankees series...but I have a feeling the Phillies are gonna run the NL.

 

anything can happen on any given day.....who knows, just watch and see.......

 

I have many thoughts on this, but before anyone jumps, just remember----this is only MY OPINION, MY FEELINGS, MY TASTES and you all can have yours.


TAMPA BAY RAYS vs TEXAS RANGERS
I can't stand either one of these two teams and I wish they both could lose, but realistically, if Tampa's pitching can get itself together, they will win. If the pitching does not hold up and is patchy like it has been the last month, Texas has too much offense and will take the series in a close one.

NEW YORK YANKEES vs MINNESOTA TWINS
The only two teams in the playoffs that I would like to see win and they play each other in the first round. The Yankees' pitching is a train wreck and it would take a miracle for them to win this series if the Twins were totally healthy. I still think the Twins will take the series, but it may be a lot closer than it should be. This version of the Yankees has never gelled as a team and the Twins are a tight group. TEAMS win series, not individuals, despite the over-the-top yapping of the media.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES vs CINCINNATI REDS
Two more teams I can't stand for a number of reasons, but the #1 reason right now is the overblown arrogance of both of them. People talk about the Yankees and I laugh. The Phillies may very well be the best team in the major leagues right now, but the fact that they'll tell you ad nauseum that that are turns my stomach (pun intended). The Reds are a bigger joke, because, despite the fact that they surprised a lot of people and improved themselves quite a bit, their arrogance is incredibly misplaced. They are only the sixth best team in the National League. The Phillies will most certainly win, but the Reds do have a chance if they get some breaks. Too bad either of them has to move on.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS vs ATLANTA BRAVES
This one causes me the most distress. I am not a fan of either team, but I'd like to see them both move on and one of them get to the World Series. I think the Giants deserve it more, but I have a soft spot for Bobby Cox as the 'Old Man' of the game, and I'd like to see him get through at least one or two rounds before he retires with another disappointment.

 

Go, Gigantes!

 

Don't count on the Twins, however, I hope they do good...Go Twins!!!

 

Although the Giants have a potential weakness in that they don't put alot of runs on the board consistently - but their pitching staff (especially the bullpen) only need 2 or 3 per game to win games . . . I'd like to see the Giants sweep, but I'll throw the Braves a bone and say they make it to 4 games before they're ousted

For either one of these teams to get by Philly would require a minor miracle, though :-|

 

reds got as good a chance and any others in the playoff's. to win it all. been 20 yrs since the did.

 

I'm pull'n for the Yanks

 

You just like the size of their...bats, admit it.

 

I'm astounded at how profound this is.

 

As a die-hard Red Sox fan I have a very difficult time rooting for the Yankees.

But, I sincerely doubt that they need my cheering, IMO Yanks repeat.

 

To quote Ump - "I have many thoughts on this." And they are just that - my thoughts. As with any sport, we the viewing public have our own reasons for loving or hating the teams that play. Here's my opinions on the upcoming playoffs:

TAMPA BAY RAYS vs TEXAS RANGERS
The Rays - '08s bridesmaid to the Phillies. That year, they were the team to beat and the Phillies did just that. They beat them like a rag doll. This year, the Rays come back with essentially the same team with improvements in pitching. Longoria, Pena, Crawford and the rest of the batting order are formidable with the bullpen pitching way better than in '08. Hell, this year they even have a closer.

The Rangers - the perennial bridesmaid to the playoffs. Does anyone remember where the Rangers started? Prior to moving to the DFW area, they were lovingly known as the Washington Senators. Never a bride - always a bridesmaid. The Rangers have choked down the stretch more often that Linda Lovelace in Deep Throat. However, this year, they have a potent offense, albeit one that never seems to get off the ground against the Rays. And Josh Hamilton is iffy.

Rays over Rangers - 4-2

NEW YORK YANKEES vs MINNESOTA TWINS
Now we get to the nitty gritty of the AL playoffs. The perennial AL (and World Series) champions versus what has to be one of the best AL teams of the year. While the Twins don't have what is considered a long history of success, this year proves that when the Twins gel as a team, there are few teams that can play them and win.

The Yankees, well they are the Yankees. Lose a great player just to reload and start over. Seems each year they start off slower and slower, but as the season passes by, they just get better and better until October when they are considered THE team to beat.

Yankees over Twins - 4-2

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES vs CINCINNATI REDS
As for arrogance, there is more arrogance in the fans than in the teams themselves, especially Philadelphia. But this year, while the Reds are the surprise team of the year, Philly has basically kept the same team that has been the backbone for the past 3 years. Hitting and pitching have improved over their '08 Championship.

Phillies over Reds - 4-1

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS vs ATLANTA BRAVES
This is the hardest of all three to discuss. The Giants have proven themselves as the better of the two teams this year. But, they have issues with Zito (typical) and Rowland. Can they withstand the Braves? Then again, the Braves are without Chipper. The tugging of the heart strings leans toward the Braves since it's Bobby Cox's last year.

Braves over Giants - 4-3

As you can probably surmise, I am more of an AL fan that NL. I will be watching the playoffs this year. Hope to see some excellent games.

 

I like the way they stroke 'em up the middle, too.

 

Just a heads up the Divisional series are best of 5.

 

Dont get excited guys. It's just rounders for boys.

 

*Ooops - in reality, I knew that, just freaking forgot. Hence, updated predictions:

Rays over Rangers - 3-1
Yankees over Twins - 3-1
Phillies over Reds - 3-0
Braves over Giants - 3-2

 

On behalf of those Brits who DO have a brain and know something about baseball, I apologise for this latest outbreak of moronism.