American League
The easy and simple call in the AL is to say that the New York Yankees are going to take the pennant in the AL, but if you would like to hear some crazy scenarios that I think might take place, please read on...
So, the Yankees will lose tonight against Pavano in a must-win for the Twins. Then what happens?
The Yankees stole Game 1 last night and it was a good thing they did. I think they lose tonight against Pavano, which forces Phil Hughes to go out on the mound in another must-win situation for the Yankees in Game 3.
Phil Hughes will get lite up by the Twins in the Bronx in Game 3 and now you are looking at a 2-1 Twins lead. So, you're in the Yankees' shoes and you pitch CC for Game 4 as it is a must-win at home. The Yankees will win that game nine out of 10 times and force a Game 5 back in Minnesota.
If you thought that the crowd was going nuts in Game 1, imagine a Game 5. Hopefully the Twins save Liriano for Game 5 at home, but I doubt they do so you are looking at a rematch of tonight's game with Pavano against Pettitte.
In my opinion tonight's game will be a very good look at who wins the series and although I threw out all these longshots, I think that the Yankees will win this series simply because they stole Game 1 last night. However, the road doesn't get much easier for them.
The Rangers are going to beat the Rays pretty easily and find themselves waiting for the finish of the Yankees-Twins series. The Rangers will have home-field advantage for this game and will probably be the deciding factor in this series.
In Game 1 Lee and Sabathia will fight until the bitter end but based on what I saw in their Game 1's yesterday, Lee was much more dominant and I think will take Game 1 in Texas.
Game 2 and Game 3 are really up for grabs and will come down to whose starter can last longer and keep their team in the game. Both of these offenses are really good and will find ways to score runs.
The simple breakdown that I have is that Lee is going to win two games for the Rangers at least in this series and the other three pitchers will have to get two wins combined.
I do not see Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes or AJ Burnett getting the Yankees four wins, which is going to be the major factor in the Yankees losing this series.
National League
Same thing going here. The Phillies are the "lock" to go to the World Series, especially after seeing Doc throw that no-hitter in Game 1 yesterday. However, if you like some weird twists and turns and something to think about, please keep reading...
Cincinnati Reds will win this series. WHAT???
Yes, you heard it here first everyone. If the Reds can win Game 2 against Oswalt, and I think they can, then the Reds win this series.
Call me crazy, call me stupid call me whatever you wish, but hear me out first.
Arroyo keeps the Phillies' runs down just like the Reds did after the second inning last night and the Reds will hit the ball in Game 2, you can guarantee that. The Reds bullpen is unreal now with Chapman setting up Cordero and these two guys will shut down the Phillies in the late innings.
Game 3 back in Cincinnati is Cueto against Hamels. Home-field advantage and Cueto will win this game, which will bring a rematch of Volquez and Halladay for Game 4 in a must-win game for the PHILLIES!
What happened last time Doc threw a no hitter earlier in the season? Look for the struggles to happen again. Doc will lose Game 4 in Cincinnati and the Reds will move on to the NLCS!
Lincecum, Cain and just about any pitcher on the Giants are too good for the Braves right now and the Giants will win that series pretty easily and carry home-field advantage into the NLCS against the Reds.
Again, the Reds don't know enough that they are suppose to get shut down and lose this series. That's the scary part. I think that this series goes six or seven and the Reds keep finding ways to scrape wins out and win in the late innings like they have been doing all year. Chapman is the X-factor in this series because he has the ability to come in and absolutely shut down whoever is coming up to bat that inning.
World Series
Texas Rangers at Cincinnati Reds.
I bet you nobody else had this matchup except for me! This is going to be a very high-scoring series and the Rangers will win two games behind Lee, which will shorten up the series for them, however the Reds are too stubborn and have way too much heart to lose without a fight.
I think that the pitching matchups are fairly even (other than Lee) and the Reds will hit the ball hard and scrape out the series.
That's right. The Cincinnati Reds—a team that just got no-hit—will win the 2010 World Series.
I know this is a long shot, but hey, better than reading the same Yankees-Phillies World Series talk right?
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