2017 MLB Postseason Predictions

    The regular season is over and the MLB postseason is here! It kicks off tonight with the AL Wild Card Game with the Minnesota Twins traveling to Yankee Stadium to face rookie sensation Aaron Judge and the Bronx Bombers. With the postseason officially here, these my predictions of how I think it will all play out.

AL Wild Card Game: Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankeees

 Every team in the 2017 Postseason is really good. They wouldn't be here if they weren't. That being said, this matchup is the easiest decision of all the matchups in this group. No disrespect to the Twins. They're very good and the way that they went from the worst record in the league in 2016 to the postseason in 2017 is really impressive and Paul Molitor deserves Manager of the Year consideration for what he's done. But this is a one game playoff, the Yankees are deeper, more experienced, playing at home, and they have a man named Aaron Judge, who's only going to get better. The Twins are good, but this one goes to the Yankees.  

NL Wild Card Game: Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

Martinez: 29 HR, 65 RBI in 62 games with the  D-Backs

 In a series format, this would be great series. This matchup is loaded with stars that would make a Best-of-7 series pop off the page. But, this is a one game playoff. I personally don't like this format, but it's what we've got. It's also difficult to pick against the Rockies considering that the last time they made the postseason as a Wild Card team, they made a miracle run to the World Series. However, that was ten years ago, and almost that entire roster is retired. Different team, different results. The Diamondbacks have come into the postseason as the MLB's hottest team, aside from the Indians. They have more experience on their roster and the midseason acquisition of JD Martinez is probably the best signing of the season, as his bat energized that team for their playoff push. The Rockies also have a young pitching rotation, which gives Zack Greinke a clear advantage of the young Jon Gray. If they hold on to Arenado and continue to develop their young pitching the way they are, the Rockies will be back, but the Snakes get will get the best of them in 2017.

ALDS: Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros

Verlander: Acquired via trade Sep. 1

  Coming out of Spring Training, I picked the Red Sox to make it to the Fall Classic. A pitching rotation that includes Chris Sale and David Price and a lineup that encompasses Hanley Ramirez, Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi was hard to dislike. But then David Price got hurt. He's back in the rotation for Boston now, but how will he do? Houston has been one of the best teams all season. Jose Altuve won the AL batting title easily and the trade for Justin Verlander was huge for the Houston Rotation. This will be a great series since both rosters are deep, but in a shortened series where starters may only get one start, and the fact the home field advantage has most of the series being played in Houston, I'm picking the Astros to win in 5 games.

NLDS: Chicago Cubs vs. Washington Nationals

Murphy; .351 career postseason avg. 7 HR, 17 RBI

  This is arguably the most exciting series in the postseason, which makes it the most difficult one to predict. That being said, I'm sure the popular pick is going to be the defending champs. Last year was a magical year for the Cubs, but their players were the first to admit that they suffered the dreaded World Series hangover this year. I was an up and down year for the Cubbies, and at times, I found myself wondering if they would even make the postseason. Alas, the Cubs got in and they are the first defending champions to make the playoffs the following year since 2008. The Cubs roster may be full of young stars, but they are experienced when the calendar turns to October. So, no-brainer, right? Not so fast. Max Scherzer is the favorite for NL Cy Young, Stephen Strasburg has had a career year even while dealing with injuries, Bryce Harper is back, Ryan Zimmerman is having a spectacular season and Daniel Murphy is at his best in October. It's a lot to take in, I know. Max Scherzer is battling a hamstring issue, but should be available at some point in the series. I may be in the minority here, but I think the Washington Nationals will survive and advance in a series that will go the distance. It's a shame that this is only a best-of-5 series.

ALDS: New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians

Judge: 52 HR in 2017 (MLB rookie record)

   Aaron Judge and the Yankees have been a great story this season, but it's the Indians who were 2017's best story. For anyone who didn't believe that this year's version of the Indians is better than last year's AL champs, Cleveland's AL record 22-game win streak changed the narrative. It's scary to think that the Indians could be better this year, but it can't be ignored. As much as I may want to see a Yankees-Red Sox matchup in the ALCS (when the rivalry is at it's best), the Indians are too good for Judge and the Yankees. Cleveland in 6.

  NLDS: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 

   This series will be FUN! I like the D-backs a lot in this series. Their on fire and ready to go. However, from the moment that Yu Darvish traded in one blue cap for another, I had the Dodgers taking the National League. Say what you will about Clayton Kershaw's career struggles in the postseason, but I still wouldn't want to face him. Alex Wood is having the best season of his young career and the Dodgers have a couple of players in their lineup whose cases could be made for NL MVP. That seems unfair. Not to mention that if the game is close in the 9th, the Dodgers have arguably the most dominate closer in baseball. If this was a one-game playoff, this might be a different conversation, but in a 7-game series, the Dodgers will prove to be too much. Dodgers in 6.

ALCS: Houston Astros vs. Cleveland Indians

Indians: 22-game win streak in 2017 (AL record)

   I remember the date: if you had asked me on September 1st who was making it to the World Series out of the American League, I would've said the Houston Astros hands down. They had just added Justin Verlander to an already stacked rotation and paired him with a great offense. That hasn't changed. What has changed is a 22-game win streak by their series opponent. Like I said, that can't be ignored, so I won't. This series will probably go the distance, but the Indians are going back to the Fall Classic.

NLCS: Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
    I'll keep this short: As good as the Nationals are, they haven't gotten too deep in the postseason in recent history. As clutch as Daniel Murphy is, the Dodgers have been clicking since Day 1. At one point in the season, they were 66-29. Even in the midst of a late season 10-game losing streak, they never coughed up home-field advantage. Dodgers in 6.

    

World Series: Cleveland Indians vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 

Darvish: Traded to LAD on July 31

   This one is tough. After the Cubs victory in 2016, the Indians have the longest World Series drought in the MLB, having not won a title since 1948. The Indians are coming into October hot, which is often seen as the most important thing when it comes to the playoffs in all sports. I sincerely hope that this series goes 7 games. The star power on both sides of the ball is astounding for both teams. This, like last season would be a matchup between THE two best teams in baseball. It's hard to pick against Cleveland given what they've done for the past two seasons, but I'm going to have to. I think this is the Dodgers' year. I said it after the Darvish trade and I still believe it: The Dodgers will win their first title since 1988. Dodgers in 7.

 2017 World Series Champion: Los Angeles Dodgers 

    There you have it! These are my MLB postseason predictions. Who do you have winning it all? October is for baseball! Enjoy!

The Stupefying Effect of Bartolo Colon

    In the midst of a team rebuild that is nearing its end the Atlanta Braves signed 19-year veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon to a 1-year $12.5 million contract before the season. It was their hope that Colon would be a stabilizing force in the pitching staff and be able to eat a bunch of innings to take stress off of the Atlanta bullpen. Did it work? In a word: NO.

Colon: 2-8 in 13 starts; league-worst 8.14 ERA

    The Bartolo Colon experiment in Atlanta has been an absolute disaster. The 44-year old went 2-8 with a league-worst 8.14 ERA in 13 starts in 2017. After 13 starts however, the Braves have seen enough, as they designated Colon for assignment on Thursday. This is a welcomed sign for Braves fans as watching Bartolo Colon pitch this year has been the equivalent of an invasive prostate exam. Okay, that's a little harsh, but make no mistake, it was bad. But this is not a piece about Bartolo himself. This is about the effect Bartolo has on his teammates.

    The Atlanta Braves are overall having a good season. If you factor in the fact that they were expected to have a terrible year, the fact that the Braves are still rebuilding and the fact that their All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman was having a MVP season before fracturing his wrist in May, the Braves' 37-41 record is a bit surprising and is good enough for 2nd place in their division. But something strange happens when Bartolo Colon takes the mound-things go wrong.

Inciarte won a Gold Glove in 2016.

    The Braves are one of the few teams that are playing better than their record would show. Before his injury, Freddie Freeman looked like the runaway pick for the NL MVP, Ender Inciarte is 3rd in the MLB in hits, and if he gets one hit tonight against the Oakland Athletics, he will clinch back-to-back months with 40 hits, which is no easy task. Defensively, Brandon Phillips and Dansby Swanson are a lethal combination turning double plays in the middle of the diamond. The Braves also have one of the best defensive outfields in the game, with 3 Gold Glove Award Winners: Ender Inciarte, Matt Kemp and Nick Markakis being charged with keeping the ball inside the park. Matt Kemp is have a resurgent season with Atlanta, leading the team in batting average (.309) and 12 home runs and 37 runs batted in.

Colon was DFA'd by Atlanta Thursday

    However, we're not talking about what the Braves are doing right, we're talking about what Bartolo Colon does to them. First, let's talk about Colon himself went wrong: He had a league-worst 8.14 ERA. That's two full runs higher than the next closest pitcher. Of the 91 runs that were scored against the Braves in games started by Bartolo, Colon himself allowed 66 of them. The team was suffering from an average of 7.0 runs/game scored against them in Bartolo's 13 starts, and Bartolo was allowing 5.1 of them. In games not started by Colon, Braves pitchers allow 4.7 runs/game. That's a significant difference. In Colon's defense, he throws strikes...A LOT  of them. Too many of them. he has a bad habit of leaving balls in the middle of the plate, but this 44 year old pitcher doesn't have the velocity to get it past anyone. The result? Dinner is served. In one horrendous start on May 30th against the Angels, Bartolo Colon got through the first two innings with little issue, but then came the third inning. Colon got the first out, then the wheels fell off. Before the next out would be made, the Angels would score 9 runs off of Colon and he would be replaced, all with one out. Bartolo Colon was brought in as a veteran presence to eat up innings and save the bullpen,but he did just the opposite. In his 13 starts, he only pitched 63 innings-that's an average of 4.8 innings per start. For those keeping score, that's below the amount needed to qualify for a win. In fact, Colon only made it through 5 innings 7 times in his 13 starts and made it past the fifth inning only 4 times. Yikes!

    The worst of it all was defense. Normally, the Braves are one of the top ten defensive teams in the league, but in games started by Colon, the Braves have 10 errors, most of which have come in his past few starts. Watching them play, the Braves could be charged with more errors in those games, because they've made some truly boneheaded mistakes, but discernment has been on their side. The Braves seem stupefied on defense when Colon pitches, hence the title of this piece. Thank goodness, Bartolo's reign of terror in Atlanta seems to be over, but it may have lasting effects.

    What may be just as bad as the effect that Bartolo Colon seems to have on his teammates is the hangovers they seem to suffer the day after at the expense of the next day's pitcher, Jaime Garcia. Despite struggling in his last couple of starts, Garcia has arguable been the most reliable pitcher for Atlanta this season, but you wouldn't be able to tell by his record. Garcia is 2-6 on the season, but he leads the team in strikeouts and his 4.35 ERA is good enough for second on the team. However, his record can be attributed to two things. 1) Jaime Garcia has the lowest run support of any of Atlanta's starters, meaning that his offense isn't scoring for him. Scores like 2-1 and 3-1 have plagued Garcia multiple times in 2017. This can be attributed partially to the fact that the Braves averaged 5.0 runs  a game for Bartolo, a number which rarely held up, so naturally, they would be tired the following day with Jaime on the mound. 2) The defense has committed 9 errors in games started by Garcia. This means that both the offense and defense seem to suffer from hangovers post-Colon.So, as bad as the Braves suffer when Bartolo Colon pitches, those troubles are Colon's fault. However, the struggles that Jaime Garcia tends to have the day after also seem to be Colon's fault. That's just plain rough.

Newcomb: 1.48 ERA and 21 Ks in four MLB starts.

    The good news behind all of these disparaging stats is that Bartolo is gone. Whether his 19-year career is over or he'll get another chance as a bullpen arm for another club remains to be seem, but Braves fans can breathe easier knowing that the plague known as Bartolo Colon seems to have passed. What should make Braves fans even happier is that they already have a young arm in the rotation to take Colon's spot, and he's been phenomenal. 24-year old Sean Newcomb has made four big league starts since more or less replacing Colon in the rotation and has a 1.48 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 24.1 innings.

    I like to think that the only reason that the Braves allowed Colon to make one final start on Wednesday was as a tip of the cap to his long, entertaining and overall successful career. However, Colon's last start was as painful and unforgettable as the rest this season, but luckily for him, that's not how he'll be remembered. For the Braves, the future is bright and the headache is gone.