The National League and American League Divisional Series have just gotten underway, and the Emerald staff has been dying to talk about them. Today, digital sports editor Victor Flores and sports reporters Andrew Bantly, Madison Guernsey and Chris Mosch preview the four divisional series and look ahead to the World Series.
1) What’s the best series?
Victor Flores — Tampa Bay vs. Boston. The Rays and Red Sox have two of the best offenses in the league, and they each have the starting pitchers to neutralize the opposing bats. Boston’s left-handed hitters, such as Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz, are undoubtedly dreading their future plate appearances against lefties David Price and Matt Moore. Tampa’s Wil Myers and Evan Longoria probably feel the same way about some of Boston’s tough righties. The depth of talent in this series is arguably the highest in the entire LDS.
Andrew Bantly — Pittsburgh vs. St. Louis. The storyline for this series couldn’t be better. You’ve got the 2011 World Series-champion Cardinals, who have been in the playoffs each of the past 3 seasons, vs. the Pirates, who haven’t seen the postseason since 1992. That is 21 years! But this series is not just a good storyline, there will be a great pitching matchup in each game between these two NL Central teams who played each other 19 times last season.
Madison Guernsey — Oakland vs. Detroit. This is a rematch of the ALDS series last year that went five games after the Tigers were up 2-0 on the A’s. Oakland quietly led the AL West for most of the regular season and has a true Billy Beane roster. The Tigers are loaded with talent and have the likely Cy Young winner in Max Scherzer on the pitching staff, along with Justin Verlander and Aníbal Sánchez. Not to mention Triple Crown winner and possible two-time MVP in Miguel Cabrera.
Chris Mosch — Tampa Bay vs Boston. While no rivalry can compare with the Red Sox versus the Yankees, the clash between these two teams has become the one of the best in the league since the Rays have emerged as perennial contenders in the AL East. The benches have cleared numerous times over the years, most recently this past June after John Lackey threw at Matt Joyce. The Rays came back from nine games out to snatch away the AL Wild Card from the Red Sox back in 2011, which was capped off by Evan Longoria’s walk-off home run against the Yankees on a thrilling last day of the season. This will be definitely be a fun one.
2) Which specific player or matchup should people be most excited to watch?
Victor Flores — Myers might be the best young hitter in the game right now and he’s only a rookie, so this series against the Red Sox might be that moment everyone looks back on in 15 years as the first big performance he had in a Hall-of-Fame career. It’s obviously way too early to know if he’s going to have that type of career, but he has the potential and he has the perfect stage to show those skills off.
Andrew Bantly — Keep an eye out on Gerrit Cole. Cole has only pitched in 19 MLB games since his debut earlier this season on June 11, 2013. Cole will get the ball for Game 2 of the series and possibly Game 5 if needed. It will be interesting to see how the rookie handles himself under the bright lights of October but he has been quite impressive up to this point. Cole finished September with a 1.69 ERA and striking out 39 in 32 innings.
Madison Guernsey — David Freese. The Cardinals’ third baseman has established himself as one of the best postseason players in baseball history in a relatively short amount of time. He performs quietly but is consistent during the regular season and goes off in the playoffs. Freese is hitting .345/.407/.645 with six home runs and 25 RBI in 31 postseason games entering Thursday, and his heroics in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series are legendary.
Chris Mosch — It will be fascinating to see how Yasiel Puig follows up his incredible rookie season during his first playoff appearance. The Cuban rookie finished the season on a sour note, hitting just .214 during September and was hampered by hip and foot injuries during the final weeks of the regular season. Puig is built like a linebacker and is a good bet for at least a couple of highlight-reel plays this postseason. The better question is how will Brian McCann — noted fun cop — react when Puig executes his epic bat flip?
3) True or false: the Pittsburgh Pirates are the best story of the playoffs?
Victor Flores — True. Almost none of the current UO student body was alive the last time the Pirates made the playoffs (1992). In fact, that was the last time the Pirates even had a winning record, so the Pirates are easily the best story, and it’s not all that close. Plus, they have a starting pitcher in Francisco Liriano who went from a young player with huge potential to an oft-injured disappointment to a dominant starter in 2013. He’s a great story that has a chance to help a great story become even greater.
Andrew Bantly — No doubt. The last time the Pirates were in the playoffs, Barry Bonds was roaming the outfield for the Buccaneers. Though seeing the Texas Rangers lose another must-win game is a close second.
Madison Guernsey — True. Any time a club makes it into the playoffs for the first time in two decades — it’s a huge story. If they keep winning it will only get better. That’s not to say there aren’t other great storylines this October. The Dodgers were in last place in early July and find themselves in the playoffs. The Rays, (like the A’s,) have one of the lowest payrolls in the league and keep finding ways to win. Plenty to watch this October.
Chris Mosch —True. Second baseman and Pittsburgh native Neil Walker was just seven years old when the Pirates last appeared in a playoff game. The home crowd at PNC Park was crazy during the one-game playoff against the Reds and I expect it to be even wilder when the division-rival Cardinals come to town. “KEL-LY! KEL-LY!” doesn’t quite have the ring that “CUE-TO! CUE-TO!” had, but it’ll be entertaining to see what Pittsburgh’s crowd can come up with in Game 3.
4) Who should be considered the favorites to represent their respective leagues in the World Series?
Victor Flores — The Tigers and Dodgers are the favorites, which they might not want to hear because it feels like the best teams never meet in the World Series. Detroit has the most top-heavy team in the postseason. Miguel Cabrera is the best hitter on Earth, Prince Fielder has as much raw power as anyone, and Detroit’s pitching staff is ridiculous. The Dodgers might have the only staff that’s better than the Tigers’, with Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Plus, they have hitters like Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez that make them a complete juggernaut.
Andrew Bantly — It’s hard not to think of the Cardinals as a favorite for the National League. Winning the World Series in 2011 and coming within a game of getting to the World Series again in 2012, the St. Louis Cardinals have to be the favorite to make the World Series. For the AL, it is a little bit more complicated. Detroit’s the obvious favorite, but with Miguel Cabrera dealing with a leg injury I expect the A’s to take that series. Expecting Boston to beat Tampa Bay, an ALCS matchup between Oakland and Boston will be interesting. Though I think eventually the A’s will fall to Boston and Boston will face the Redbirds in the 2013 World Series.
Madison Guernsey — Red Sox vs Cardinals. It’s not an ambitious pick, but it makes the most sense. The Sox have been the best team in baseball for much of the season and have their mojo back under first-year skipper John Farrell. The Cards were consistent all season while playing in a competitive NL Central and always seem to step up their game even further in the postseason. Two of the best franchises in all of baseball, a lot of red, and two fairly inexperienced managers will make for an instant classic Fall Classic.
Chris Mosch — Tigers vs Dodgers. If you believe in the mantra that pitching wins championships, look no further than these two clubs. Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke combine to make a filthy one-two punch for Los Angeles and Hyun-Jin Ryu serves as a solid number three. Detroit features plenty of starting pitcher depth, with Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Aníbal Sánchez and Doug Fister making up a formidable rotation. Miguel Cabrera’s health will be a key for Detroit, but Cabrera at 80 percent is still one of the best hitters in the league.
5) Predictions?
Victor Flores — Pittsburgh Pirates over St. Louis Cardinals in four games. Atlanta Braves over Los Angeles Dodgers in 5. Boston Red Sox over Tampa Bay Rays in 4. Oakland A’s over Detroit Tigers in 5.
Andrew Bantly — Cardinals over Pirates in 5. Braves over Dodgers in 5. Red Sox over Rays in 4. A’s over Tigers in 4.
Madison Guernsey — Cardinals over Pirates in 4. Braves over Dodgers in 5. Tigers over A’s in 5. Red Sox over Rays in 4.
Chris Mosch — Cardinals over Pirates in 5. Dodgers over Braves in 4. Red Sox over Rays in 4. Tigers over A’s in 5.