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From The Blue To You : MLB Playoff Picks For 2009
Arbiter Staff, Journalist
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As August wraps up and we roll on into September, talk of the Major League Baseball playoffs begin. Excuse me if this seems a bit premature, but I’m making my predictions for the 2009 playoffs. With a month to go, I feel it’s a good time to pick those who are in and those who are not.
The American League West belongs to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. LA took the top spot back in June from the Texas Rangers and haven’t let go. However, Texas is within striking distance. Texas and LA meet two more times before the season ends. If Texas continues to play well, they could be at the top once again. It’s risky but I pick the Rangers to take back the AL West.
In the AL Central, there isn’t much guessing. The Detroit Tigers have a lead over the Chicago White Sox of 4.5 games. That’s a manageable deficit but Chicago hasn’t won consistently this season. Detroit will win the Central.
The AL East favors the New York Yankees. New York has a 5.5-game lead over the Boston Red Sox with one series remaining between the two rivals. That series, in September, will be critical. The result of the series is either New York shutting the door on Boston or Boston making a last-minute run for first place. I pick the Yankees to hold off the Red Sox and return to the playoffs.
The National League West is the tightest of all the divisions. The Los Angeles Dodgers had cushion over the rest of the West early in the season. That soon faded and the lead has slipped to just a couple of games.
This past week, the Colorado Rockies and the Dodgers faced each other. This was an important series for both teams. It meant LA was keeping its lead at a safe distance or Colorado would move to an even record with the Dodgers. LA won two of three increasing their lead to four games. There is still hope for Colorado when they wrap up the season against LA. That series is crucial because the division could be decided on the final day of the season. LA has let their lead slip but I see them not letting go and winning the West.
The NL Central is a lot like the AL Central. St. Louis is ahead of the Chicago Cubs by nine games. The Cards, led by Albert Pujols, would have to implode in order to give up that lead. No question, I pick St. Louis.
The NL East leader, the Philadelphia Phillies have a 7.5-game lead over the second place Florida Marlins. The defending champions are too good to let that lead disappear. The Phillies will win the NL East easily.
That just leaves the wildcard races. The AL is a close one. Boston leads Texas by just a couple of games. The Tampa Bay Rays aren’t too far behind either. I picked Texas to win the West so I pick the Angels to win the AL wildcard over Boston. The Red Sox haven’t won consistently this season because of injury and slumping batters.
The NL is even closer. Either Colorado or the San Francisco Giants will win the wildcard in the NL West. This pick is tough but I choose Colorado. They are playing good baseball right now. If they continue their winning ways, they will hold onto the wild card.
What makes September baseball so much fun is nobody knows what is going to happen and what surprises lay ahead. I might just be surprised myself.