Tagged: Playoffs
10/8 MLB Tonight – Red Sox-Angels Preview
We’re going to talk today about the only series that’s not underway yet and that’s Red Sox-Angels. There’s a lot of history between these clubs in recent years. This is their 4th postseason meeting since 2004 with the Red Sox winning the previous 3 times. Who will win this series? I’ll let you know by the end of this blog.
I think this is the best chance for the Angels to finally beat the Red Sox. Torii Hunter is in his 2nd year with the Angels and he is clearly now the leader of this team. He’s been a great signing by the Angels. You throw in the additions of Bobby Abreu and Scott Kazmir who were not part of any of the previous losses to the Red Sox and they may be able to win this series.
The pitching and hitting is pretty even. Both clubs have a balanced attack. However, I think this series is going to come down to the bullpens and I have to give the edge to the Red Sox. They can throw Bard, Okajima, Wagner, and Papelbon. That’s tough and makes a lot of these games 6 inning affairs for the Boston starters.
As I said earlier I think this is the best chance the Angels have to beat the Red Sox in the playoffs and I think this series will go 5 games, but in the end I think the Red Sox will find a way to advance once again.-Kevin Millar
10/7 MLB Tonight – The Hot Corner with Hazel Mae
Here’s what’s HOT……Quick Pitch and the Twins.
For those of you wondering where Quick Pitch has been. It’s back and better than ever just in time for the postseason.
Quick Pitch will be perfect for those who can’t catch every game live because we are going to condense each game down to around 12 minutes. You’ll be able to experience the game without missing any key plays, blended with the TBS and radio announcers calls directly from the game. Also included will be postgame reaction from the players, coaches, and our very own expert analysts.
It’s going to be the full highlight experience so sit back and enjoy! Make sure you tune in after MLB Tonight to the postseason edition of Quick Pitch.
All of the Division Series matchup’s are intriguing, but I’m really looking forward to the Yankees-Twins series. It looked bad for this Twins team as they were 7 games back in early September with Justin Morneau done for the season, but Joe Mauer and a group of role players exploded in September going 17-4.
This is what the Twins have done the last 20 years. They scratched and clawed their way to another AL Central crown.
Since Justin Morneau went down those role players stepped up big time. Position by position guys like Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Delmon Young, Nick Punto, and the self-proclaimed good luck charm Orlando Cabrera finished the season with a bang.
The Twins have had some bad breaks in the Bronx this season, but you can’t count them out after the heart they’ve shown down the stretch. We all know what to expect from the juggernaut Yankees, but let’s see what this Twins team has left in the tank in 2009.
Can you feel it? I can. The playoffs are heating up! – Hazel Mae
10/6 Path to the Pennant – The Leiter Side
Tonight we’re all excited about the tiebreaker game. My eyes will focus on one key guy, rookie hurler Rick Porcello.
The Tigers season falls on the 20-year-old shoulders and right arm of Porcello. Here’s a 20-year-old kid from New Jersey, who pitched in A ball last year, going up against the noise of the Dome, the Homer Hankies, 50,000 deafening and hostile fans, the turf, and a scorching line up.
The game will be won and lost right there.
The Twins have the mojo, and are in a great position going up against a Tigers team they always seem to handle in the Metrodome.
Pitching in a playoff atmosphere inside the Metrodome is an intense challenge for any opposing pitcher to face, so if Porcello pitches into the 7th, the Tigers will win.
Being no stranger to pitching these do-or-die games, I can say they’re the most compelling, do-all end-all this sport has to offer. It’s going to be the complete Game 7 experience tonight. A moment to be enjoyed by all who watch, and all who play.
Players who love and cherish the moment thrive and have a good game. Those who don’t will have all winter to think about it. – Al Leiter
10/2 MLB Tonight – Thing’s Things
So we’ve got two undecided playoff spots to debate tonight at 9.
The Rockies are going into this final weekend series against the Dodgers with plans to knock them from the NL West crown. Colorado wants to win the NL West and face St. Louis whom I feel they match up better with. The Rockies pitching matches up better with the Cardinals hitters. And their line up would rather face the Cardinals big right-handers than the Phillies big left-handers. So, look for Jim Tracy to go for it in these three games to try and take the division.
Looking to the AL Central, Detroit will finish this weekend on top. The Twins have given a valiant effort, but they will just come up a little short. It just goes to show that even though you can’t win a division in April, you can lose one. The Twins were just not able to get their season together in time.
And with the last series being played in the Metrodome, let me just say that it was the loudest place I’ve ever played in my life. Next year, those Twins better find some hairy ball players because it’s cold in Minnesota. – Mitch Williams
9/23 MLB Tonight – The Left Wing
Tonight we’re going to focus on teams that are postseason bound, mainly closer situations.
With the exception of Mariano Rivera, most playoff bound teams have some closer issues going into these last few games.
Ryan Franklin, Brad Lidge, and Brian Fuentes, have all been inconsistent this season, and going into the postseason, that’s never a good feeing in a managers gut.
What strikes me going into October this year is that any of the 8 teams in the mix will have as good a chance as any to win it all.
The Yankees are the best team right now, with the Cardinals right behind them.
Having a one-two punch of CC Sabathia/A.J. Burnett (who got back on track today) or Chris Carpenter/Adam Wainwright at the top of the rotation is solid, and adding those dangerous lineups into the mix is what makes them my favorites right now.
It’s important for teams like the Yankees and the Cardinals, who have their playoff births wrapped up to rest their players, but it’s usually the team playing their best at the end of the season that does the most damage. It’s time for them to turn it on.
To me, they’ve got some big targets on their backs this October; let’s see how they’ll handle that added pressure.
And how about Chad Billingsley tonight, taking a no-hitter into the 7th is a step in the right direction because the Dodgers really need him. Adding him to Randy Wolf and Clayton Kershaw will really step it up for them. – Dan Plesac
MLB Network 