I'm going to start by revisiting my MLB playoff picks:
AL
E: Yanks
C: Sox
W: Angels
WC: Rays
NL
E: Phils
C: Cards
W: Giants
WC: Brewers
I'm going to make a few changes. I tossed a coin between the Reds and Brewers for the wild card in March and boy do I look stupid for settling on the Brew Crew. I'm switching to my backup choice the Reds. As for the NL West, it is so hard to predict something that is the result of random chance, but I'm going to switch to the Rockies.
In the AL, I'm going to replace Kendry Morales's Angels with the Rangers, who already clinched the division I think. Everything else remains the same... you hear that Atlanta? Sox over Phils in 5 in the World Series.
And now for the Playoff teams in our league....
The Rise of Wang
Preseason Rank: 4
Current Rank 1 (17 game playoff cushion)
Play South Side Hit Men and Trolley Dodgers twice
Why they will make the playoffs: The Wangs have been very lucky all year and have built a huge cushion, but on top of that- they have great pitching. Doc Halladay and Adam Wainwright have been the two best pitchers in the game this year.
How they could miss the playoffs: The Wangs' offense is not great and has been dismantled by injuries. At the very least, they will need to plug some gaps to make a run in September.
South Side Hit Men
Preseason Rank: 3
Current Rank 6 (17.5 GB, 6 games out of playoffs)
Play The Rise of Wang and L-Trains twice
Why they will make the playoffs: The South Side Hit Men have made some bad moves this year. Drafting Gordon Beckham over Zimmerman and cutting Josh Hamilton look real bad right now. Despite that, the Hit Men have recovered to put together a solid offense with players like CarGo, Michael Young, Elvis Andrus, and Miguel Montero coming from free agency. Morneau and Crawford have been there all along and had great years. Their pitching staff has been above average most of the year with good closers and Cliff Lee.
How they could miss the playoffs: They have the toughest road, playing the Wangs and L-Trains twice. They also are on the outside looking in right now. The Cliff Lee trade could also cause problems if Ron Washington doesn't let him complete every game like Wakamatsu did.... judging by his first game though, this won't be a problem.
The Dynasty
Preseason Rank: 2
Current Rank 3 (9.5 GB, 5.5 game playoff cushion)
Play Trolley Dodgers and OzzieGuillens twice
Why they will make the playoffs: Awesome pitching.
How they could miss the playoffs: Shitty hitting.
I was gonna leave it at that, but I'll elaborate... The Dynasty pitching is ridiculous. Late picks Ubaldo Jimenez and David Price started the all-star game. Throw in early round aces Josh Johnson, Felix Hernandez, and Chris Carpenter and you have a force to be reckoned with.
Offensively, The Dynasty scares no one. Kung Fu Panda? Brett Gardner? Ricky Weeks? Yawn.
L-Trains
Preseason Rank: 1
Current Rank 2 (9 GB, 8 game playoff cushion)
Play The Giant Killers and South Side Hit Men twice
Why they will make the playoffs: The L-Trains have the best offense there is. They hit homers and then they hit some more. If Carlos Quentin continues to produce, The L-Trains will not be stopped. The L-Trains pitching staff has been decimated by injury, but if they can get anything out of the 74 rehabbing pitchers that they signed this week, they should have a chance to put together a solid staff behind Lester, Lincecum, and Latos.
How they could miss the playoffs: Carlos Quentin punches his bat, Jimmy Rollins gets hurt again, Adam Dunn gets traded to the Yomiuri Giants.... I dunno you tell me.
AL
E: Yanks
C: Sox
W: Angels
WC: Rays
NL
E: Phils
C: Cards
W: Giants
WC: Brewers
I'm going to make a few changes. I tossed a coin between the Reds and Brewers for the wild card in March and boy do I look stupid for settling on the Brew Crew. I'm switching to my backup choice the Reds. As for the NL West, it is so hard to predict something that is the result of random chance, but I'm going to switch to the Rockies.
In the AL, I'm going to replace Kendry Morales's Angels with the Rangers, who already clinched the division I think. Everything else remains the same... you hear that Atlanta? Sox over Phils in 5 in the World Series.
And now for the Playoff teams in our league....
The Rise of Wang
Preseason Rank: 4
Current Rank 1 (17 game playoff cushion)
Play South Side Hit Men and Trolley Dodgers twice
Why they will make the playoffs: The Wangs have been very lucky all year and have built a huge cushion, but on top of that- they have great pitching. Doc Halladay and Adam Wainwright have been the two best pitchers in the game this year.
How they could miss the playoffs: The Wangs' offense is not great and has been dismantled by injuries. At the very least, they will need to plug some gaps to make a run in September.
South Side Hit Men
Preseason Rank: 3
Current Rank 6 (17.5 GB, 6 games out of playoffs)
Play The Rise of Wang and L-Trains twice
Why they will make the playoffs: The South Side Hit Men have made some bad moves this year. Drafting Gordon Beckham over Zimmerman and cutting Josh Hamilton look real bad right now. Despite that, the Hit Men have recovered to put together a solid offense with players like CarGo, Michael Young, Elvis Andrus, and Miguel Montero coming from free agency. Morneau and Crawford have been there all along and had great years. Their pitching staff has been above average most of the year with good closers and Cliff Lee.
How they could miss the playoffs: They have the toughest road, playing the Wangs and L-Trains twice. They also are on the outside looking in right now. The Cliff Lee trade could also cause problems if Ron Washington doesn't let him complete every game like Wakamatsu did.... judging by his first game though, this won't be a problem.
The Dynasty
Preseason Rank: 2
Current Rank 3 (9.5 GB, 5.5 game playoff cushion)
Play Trolley Dodgers and OzzieGuillens twice
Why they will make the playoffs: Awesome pitching.
How they could miss the playoffs: Shitty hitting.
I was gonna leave it at that, but I'll elaborate... The Dynasty pitching is ridiculous. Late picks Ubaldo Jimenez and David Price started the all-star game. Throw in early round aces Josh Johnson, Felix Hernandez, and Chris Carpenter and you have a force to be reckoned with.
Offensively, The Dynasty scares no one. Kung Fu Panda? Brett Gardner? Ricky Weeks? Yawn.
L-Trains
Preseason Rank: 1
Current Rank 2 (9 GB, 8 game playoff cushion)
Play The Giant Killers and South Side Hit Men twice
Why they will make the playoffs: The L-Trains have the best offense there is. They hit homers and then they hit some more. If Carlos Quentin continues to produce, The L-Trains will not be stopped. The L-Trains pitching staff has been decimated by injury, but if they can get anything out of the 74 rehabbing pitchers that they signed this week, they should have a chance to put together a solid staff behind Lester, Lincecum, and Latos.
How they could miss the playoffs: Carlos Quentin punches his bat, Jimmy Rollins gets hurt again, Adam Dunn gets traded to the Yomiuri Giants.... I dunno you tell me.
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