MLB 2009 American League Playoffs
The Major League Baseball playoffs are set to begin in less than a week and the stage is just about set. Here we take a look at the match ups in the American League and see how the teams stack up with one another in round one.
We start out in the AL east where the New York Yankees (102-57) pretty much had the division locked up in by late August. They have had plenty of time to rest their starting rotation, and review scouting reports as they await the winner of the AL central division. After falling to the Twins on Thursday, the Detroit Tigers (85-73) still have not clinched the AL central division title, as the pesky Minnesota Twins (82-76) are still in the hunt. The winner won’t be decided until this weekend or early next week if a tiebreaker is necessary. If Detroit beats the Chicago White Sox twice at home, it will win the division. If not, the Tigers will hope for a little help from the Kansas City Royals, in ending Minnesota’s season. My prediction is the Tigers hang on to open the first round of the playoffs at Yankee Stadium next Wednesday.
If they do, the Tigers will have their hands full with the Yankees and New York will need to remember the 2006 playoffs when the Tigers eliminated Yankees in just four games. The playoffs come down to strong pitching. Detroit may increase their chances with a strong performance from starter Justin Verlander in Game 1. If the Tigers can win one early, they may put a little pressure on New York making the series interesting, otherwise the Yanks when this one in four.
If by chance the Twins sneak into the postseason, the outcome will be the same.
Out west the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (94-64) are preparing for yet another first round fight with rivals, the Boston Red Sox. The Angels have won just one playoff series since winning Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. The Boston Red Sox (91-67) have knocked the Angels out of the first round in each of the past two years, and the Angels have won just one game in the clubs’ three postseason meetings over the past five years.
If the Angels want to turn things around they will need to win both Games 1 and 2 in Anaheim. The Red Sox certainly won’t be the favorites going into this postseason but are no strangers when it comes to being the underdog. The Angles break the cycle and win this in five.
Matt Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
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