AL Wildcard Play-In game: Texas Rangers vs. Baltimore Orioles
Even though the Rangers have stumbled as of late and fallen out of first place in the last calender year, and the Orioles are the surprise, feel-good team of the season, I believe it will be the Rangers' playoff experience that will win this game. The have won the American League Championship, yet come up short in the World Series two years in a row. This team is hungry and they will not let themselves lose this game. The Orioles are a young, talented team with the runaway Coach of the Year, Buck Showalter. They will be back, but their inexperience in the playoffs will cost them. But again, they'll be back. They're talented.
NL Wildcard Play-In Game: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves
The defending champion St. Louis Cardinals have something to prove as they try to repeat as champs, but in my opinion, this will be no contest. For one thing, the Braves have defeated the Cardinals 5 out 6 times this season. Not to mention that the red hot Kris Medlen will get the ball for the Braves, and the Braves have won the last 23 games Medlen has started. The Cardinals are a good team, but they will not be repeating.
NLDS: Cincinnati Reds vs. San Francisco Giants
The Reds are coming in with the second best record in the entire league, and are hosting this series, but this will not help them win. I believe the Giants will pull the upset and defeat the Reds in 7 games. Even though the Reds have a Cy Young candidate and a former NL MVP in Johnny Cueto and Joey Votto, the San Francisco Giants have ace pitcher Matt Cain and the likely 2012 NL MVP Buster Posey. The Giants have also had one of the best starting pitching rotations in the league. The Giants also have the sixth best starter ERA in the major leagues (3.75), so runs will also be at a premium. This, and the Giants' solid defense will win them this game and send the to the NLCS.NLDS: Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves
This will probably be the tightest and most competitive match-ups of the playoffs, because these teams are division rivals and are VERY familiar with each other. The Nationals are the league's best team and have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, this is the first playoff appearance by a Washington team since World War II, and this team is full of young players with little to no playoff experience. Even though it wasn't a problem during the remainder of the season, I believe this is when Washington will really feel Strasburg's absence. Despite all that, I think there is one crucial factor working for the Braves in these playoffs: Chipper Jones. This is his last playoff run, and I believe the Braves will play their most inspired baseball of the season. Braves Nation wants to send their beloved third baseman out as a champion. Plus, with Chipper leaving, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward are out to prove that they can be the faces of this franchise for years to come after Chipper. Their great pitching, stellar defense, and solid hitting, combined with the fire in their bellies to win for Chipper, will send them past their division rivals to the NLCS.
ALDS: Oakland Athletics vs. New York Yankees
Let's keep this short and sweet.The Athletics are this year's Cinderella team, as no one expected them to be here. but all good things must come to an end, and the ALDS will be the end of the road for Oakland. The Yankees are simply better and will move on. Nothing against Oakland, but I wouldn't be surprised if this
series didn't make it to Game 6.
ALDS: Texas Rangers vs. Detroit Tigers
This will be a 7-game series, as these two teams are evenly matched: good pitching, a lot of power, and solid defense. Yes, the Tigers have Prince Fielder, Justin Verlander, and probable MVP Miguel Cabrera (who won the first Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967), but as previously stated, the Rangers have a goal: get back to the World Series for a third straight year, and, unlike the previous two years, win it. Painful memories of the last two years, a squad full of talent, and pure want will fuel them into the next round.
NLCS: Cincinnati Reds vs. Atlanta Braves
This series will be one where runs truly must be earned, and I'm not just talking about good pitching. The Braves and the Reds are first and second in the National League in fielding percentage, as they don't make many errors. Therefore, there won't be any free runs. I think it will be the Braves' power, the consistency of Kris Medlen and Craig Kimbrel. and the playoff experience of Tim Hudson and Chipper Jones that will send the Braves to their first World Series since winning it all in 1995. Plus, closer Craig Kimbrel had 42 saves (second straight year with 40+ saves), and a ridiculous 1.01 ERA. If the Braves have the leading heading into the ninth inning, they will win.
ALCS: Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees
Even though both of these teams struggled to close out the regular season, this should be a great series. I expect it to go at least 6 games. However, the Rangers will make it to the World Series for the third straight year when all is said and done. I know I keep saying it, but the Rangers are on a mission to wipe away the scarring memories of two World Series losses in a row, and nothing will stand in their way.
2012 World Series: Texas Rangers vs. Atlanta Braves
Okay, so I know that everyone, including myself, thought that last year's World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and these Texas Rangers was the best in history, but if this was the World Series match-up, as I believe it will be, it could become just that. These are the two teams in this year's playoffs that have the most to lose. As has been stated, the Rangers are trying to avoid a third straight World Series loss, and the Braves want to send Chipper out on top. This potential match-up would be one of the most passionate and intense match-ups in history and would be about as good as a World Series could get. In the end, I believe the third time will be the charm for the Texas Rangers, defeating the Atlanta Braves in 6 games to win the 2012 World Series, finally accomplishing the ultimate goal for the first time in franchise history. Yes, I know, that will put a bitter end to the stellar career of future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, but he'll be able to ride into the sunset knowing that he was one of the best switch hitter's to ever play the game. Not to mention that he has that one World Series title from 1995 on his Cooperstown resume.
So there you have it. With the 2012 MLB Playoffs just around the corner, it should be a great couple of weeks as we begin the battle for a new champion. Tune in Friday at 5:07pm, to see it all begin. Ten teams, one goal, but only one can be crowned the 2012 World Series Champion. Let's do it!
