Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Comments: At this point, this has become pretty much an exercise in futility. At least I got one division series right. Anyway, the NLCS features two NL West teams who could not be more surprising still playing baseball in mid-October. The Rockies have won 17 of their last 18 games, but the time off may have stunted that momentum somewhat. The Diamondbacks, who have some of the worst home crowd support in all of baseball, at least have the Brandon Webb factor – although Webb was 0-3 with a 6.47 ERA in his five previous starts against the Rockies until clinching a playoff birth by beating Colorado the last time he faced them. Arizona had the worst batting average (.250) in the National League this year, but thanks to 32 one-run victories, now find themselves four wins from playing in the World Series. In fact, not one single hitter has even an .850 OPS for Arizona, unless you count pitcher Micah Owings (1.033 OPS). The Rockies continue to play terrific defense and have an underrated bullpen. Still, the D-Backs take the pennant.
DIAMONDBACKS 4-3
Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox
Comments: This has the makings to be one of the best championship series in years, and it starts with the game of the year Friday (Josh Beckett vs. C.C. Sabathia). The likely first and second place finishers for this year’s Cy Young face off with patient lineups behind them. Beckett has a tremendous postseason track record, but Game 2 starter Curt Schilling’s is even better. Still, he’ll face Fausto Carmona, who may have turned in the season’s best pitching performance during Game 2 of the ALDS. The lack of strikeouts from Carmona this season tempered my expectations moving forward, but after watching that gem, I’ll be recommending him next year. That 96 MPH sinker is unhittable. Still, the Sox play superior defense, and despite Dice-K’s struggles, also have a slightly deeper rotation and better back end to the bullpen. Additionally, their offense also gets the edge, especially with a now healthy Manny Ramirez in the middle of the order. Boston moves on.
RED SOX 4-3.
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