Hello Fans,
Last night was a hot start to the A.L. Divisional round series. After dropping five of six regular season games to the Tigers, the Orioles exploded with eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to emphatically claim Game 1 and win 12-3. Ironically, the O’s and Tigers haven’t played since April and May when Baltimore STILL had the big bats and monster mitts of Matt Wieters, Manny Machado, and Chris Davis. Game 2 is set to get underway at Noon today to start off a March Madness-esque quadruple header of ballgames. In the other series, the Royals hung tough, exchanging pitching matchup-for-matchup blows with the Angels. Mike Moustakas, who spent several weeks earlier this season back down in the minors, was the hero in the 11th inning with a solo shot to supply a 3-2 win. Royals are the Cinderella of this ‘tournament’.
CORRECTION: The ALDS predictions were Tigers in 6 and Angels in 5. Well, that was a misnomer as the thinking was in terms of seven game series. I was locked into that do-or-die type atmosphere with the hoopla of the Wild Card Game 7-simulator games. To convert those predictions into 5 game series, make it Tigers in 5 and Angels in 4. That combination is possible, but both look unlikely after last night. Stay tuned.
NLDS: Tonight, the senior circuit gets started too. We have the Cardinals taking on the Dodgers in a game that features Adam Wainwright and Clayton Kershaw taking the hill. I love watching dominant pitching and this series has a plethera of it. Yep, I just said that. Plethera. The Cards are tough, but the Dodgers have more of those elite arms though and I’ll take them in a tight (FULL) five game set. The other half has the Giants and Nationals. San Fran. may still be on the every other year plan afterall. They took it all in ’10 and ’12, so why not ’14 too? Not only do they have mettle, but Buster Posey as well. Upset special here folks as the D.C. curse continues. Giants in five.
Later Fans.