MLB Playoffs ’09: It Takes A Tough Man To Make A Tender Forecast
PHI v. COL: Very. very close series. It’s hard to pick a team with the Phillies’ bullpen, and the last month reminds us that while he obviously does the big stuff very well Manuel makes a lot of weird decisions (let’s stick with our 59 ERA+ closer! Why can’t Pedro throw 130 pitches?). If the Rockies had a left-handed starting pitcher, I’d pick them comfortably. But they don’t giving the Phils edges offensively and in the rotation, and it’s not as if the Rockies’ pen is rock solid either. My guess is that the Phillies’ pen doesn’t explode on them until the next round. PHILLIES IN 5.
LA v. STL Obviously, the Cardinals push the “in a short series, depth don’t count” CW to the brink. But I think there’s a lot of truth to it, and I think the Cards are the class of the league. I’m not unduly worried about the Dodgers’s slump, and I must admit I have a hard time accepting “Joel Pineiro and Ryan Franklin, excellent starter and dominant closer” at face value, but I’m taking the Cards here. CARDINALS IN 4.
BOS v. ANA NYY v. MIN
…midwest product and djw are right to note that I blew one position comparison: Span is a lot better than Melky. I’ll still take Swisher over Kubel, though.