2011 MLB Postseason Preview

     Last night was the greatest night of baseball that I have ever seen. I'm supposed to be a Red Sox fan, but since I am not at all interested in rooting for Kevin Youkilis and Jonathan Papelbon among others, last night I was a baseball fan. As a fan of the game, you could not have been disappointed with the ending of the AL Wild Card race and the NL Wild Card race for that matter. The Rays and the Cardinals capped off two of the greatest comebacks in baseball history. Now, will they carry that momentum into the postseason as teams like the Yankees and Phillies are rested and ready to go. I expect this postseason to be just like the end of the regular season; exciting and thrilling. Here are my predictions for this postseason as I break down the Division Series'.

American League
Detroit Tigers v.s. New York Yankees
      Both teams haven't played in a real meaningful game in a while and both teams are healthy for what should be a tough series for both teams. Justin Verlander will square off with C.C. Sabathia in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium. I think if the Tigers can take Game 1, they are set up really well for the rest of the series. If the Yankees happen to Game 1, I believe they will go on to win the series in four. Postseason baseball comes down to bullpens as well and while both teams have stellar bullpens, whichever one can shut down the opposing offense in late inning situations will win the series. I think the Tigers will definitely make this a series, but with too many great hitters from top to bottom and enough pitching and defense, the Yankees will take this series and move on to the ALCS.
New York in Five
Series Complexion (underline indicates home win)
1 Detroit 4-3  2 New York 7-5  3 New York 6-1  4 Detroit 8-3  5 New York 10-7


Tampa Bay Rays v.s. Texas Rangers
      A rematch of last year's Divisional series but this time, the Rangers do not have Cliff Lee. The Rays have all the mojo going for them and they are on a hot streak. Texas has been resting for a while and they have all their guys healthy and ready to go for the postseason. I think Tampa Bay has the advantage with starting pitching, but if Texas can get into the late innings with the lead, their bullpen will take care of the rest. However, I see Tampa Bay picking up right where they left off and they will extract revenge from last years defeat by denying Texas another trip to the World Series.
Tampa Bay in Four
Series Complexion
1 Texas 8-5  2 Tampa Bay 7-3  3 Tampa Bay 13-5  4 Tampa Bay 4-2


National League
St. Louis Cardinals v.s. Philadelphia Phillies
     The Phillies are automatically in the World Series right? Well not so fast. The Cardinals are coming into the playoffs playing their best baseball of the season while the Phillies haven't really played a meaningful game this whole season because they clinched so early. Everyone assumes this series should be a cake walk for the Phillies. It happens to the best teams sometimes where they overlook a first round matchup. It happened with the Celtics in 2008 when the mediocre Atlanta Hawks came in and took them to seven games. The Celtics also went on to win the championship. I think the Cardinals give the Phillies a good scare but ultimately the Phillies pull through and edge by the Cardinals.
Philadelphia in Five
Series Complexion 
1 Philadelphia 4-3  2 St. Louis 6-2  3 St. Louis 9-1  4 Philadelphia 7-2  5 Philadelphia 4-0


Arizona Diamondbacks v.s. Milwaukee Brewers
     The Diamondbacks are the surprise team of 2011 while the Brewers are trying to win their first playoff series since 1982. I think that if the Diamondbacks want to have any chance in this series, they will need to play well early in the series because I think given the fact that Milwaukee will be charged up to play in front of a raucous atmosphere along with their offense that is capable of putting up double digit run totals, the Diamondbacks could very well be blown out in the first two games, leaving them like Cincinnati last year who was swept by Philadelphia. I think Arizona will hold it's own, but Milwaukee is on a mission to win a World Series and Arizona is not going to get in their way. 
Milwaukee in Four
Series Complexion
1 Milwaukee 5-1  2 Milwaukee 6-4  3 Arizona 9-3  4 Milwaukee 7-2 


ALCS
Tampa Bay Rays v.s. New York Yankees 
     The Rays have the edge in this series because of their pitching. The Yankees fell victims to a solid Texas pitching staff last season and they will fall victim to another good pitching staff again if the Yankees can't get deep outings from their pitching staff. After C.C., someone on the Yankees staff will need to step up. I don't see that happen as the Rays advance to the World Series in an epic series. 
Tampa Bay in Seven
Series Complexion
1 New York 5-4  2 New York 3-2  3 Tampa Bay 8-6  
4 New York 6-3  5 Tampa Bay 12-10  6 Tampa Bay 6-4  7 Tampa Bay 9-5


NLCS
Milwaukee Brewers v.s. Philadelphia Phillies

     I believe that if the Brewers can get by the Phillies, they will roll to the World Series title. I also believe that if the Phillies get by the Brewers, they will have defeated their biggest roadblock in their attempt to win another World Series title. Both teams have high caliber offenses, but it will be up to Milwaukee's pitching staff to match whatever Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels do. I think Zack Grienke is that guy that will step up for the Brewers. But ultimately, too much all around depth and experience to go along with their unbelievable pitching staff allow the Phillies to scrape past the Brewers and march onto the World Series. 
Philadelphia in Six
Series Complexion
1 Milwaukee 2-0  2 Philadelphia 1-0  3 Milwaukee 14-8  4 Philadelphia 5-3  
5 Philadelphia 3-1  6 Philadelphia 7-6


2011 World Series
Tampa Bay Rays v.s. Philadelphia Phillies
     A rematch of the 2008 World Series, I expect that if this series were to happen, it would be more competitive than the last time these two teams met in the Fall Classic. It would be up to the Rays bats to step up and manufacture runs. The Rays would be underdogs in this series, but I think based off their mojo and charisma, the Rays can grab at least a game or two. But this Phillies team is too talented and they will go down as one of the more dominant teams in baseball history.
Philadelphia in Six
Series Complexion
1 Philadelphia 10-1  2 Tampa Bay 8-0  3 Philadelphia 7-6  4 Tampa Bay 6-5  5 Philadelphia 8-4
6 Philadelphia 7-2