ALCS PREDICTION
Lineups- EDGE: Even. Surprise, surprise... but I think the Rays total offense (hitting, power, and speed) is vastly underrated. I think Longoria, Pena, Crawford, Upton, Iwamura, Navarro, are as potent as Ortiz, Youkilis, Pedroia, Bay, Drew and Ellsbury.
Starting Rotation- EDGE: Slightly to the Red Sox. The Rays rotation is deeper with Shields, Kazmir, Garza, Sonnanstine and/or Jackson, but they don't have two studs at the top of their rotation like the Red Sox do.
Bullpen- EDGE: Even. Once again, I give the Rays the edge in depth with Balfour, Wheeler, Howell, Bradford, and Miller. But they don't have the one stud at the back end of their bullpen like the Sox do.
As you can see, I think this series is as close as a series can get. BUT, in the end I like experience and Lester or Beckett pitching in a game 7.
PREDICTION: Red Sox in 7. MVP: Dustin Pedroia
NLCS PREDICTION
Lineups- EDGE: Even. Both teams have potent lineups. Ramirez, Ethier, Loney, Blake, Kemp and a very underrated Russell Martin vs. Howard, Utley, Rollins, Burrell, Victorino and Werth will be very fun to watch.
Starting Rotation- EDGE: Moderately to the Phillies. The Dodgers have thevery impressive Billingsley and D-Lowe loves the ball in big games. However, the Phillies have a significant edge with their third and fourth starters. Hamels, Myers, Moyer and Blanton is a very underrated rotation. The Dodgers could sure use Brad Penney and Jason Schmidt in this series.
Bullpen- EDGE: Huge edge to the Phillies. The Dodgers have no one that can match Brad Lidge.
This is a tough call, but ultimately the Phillies superior pitching will prevail.
PREDICTION: Phillies in 6. MVP: Ryan Howard
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) And there will ALWAYS be BASEBALL fans that roots for the underdog.
