FRONT PAGE

CAMPUS NEWS:
     WINTERM
     NEW PRES
     FRANCE
     ALUMNI

SPORTS:
     PICKS
     GOLF
     VBALL
     
FEATURES:
     SIMPLE

OPINION
     FAN

PROFS:
     LEY

SENIOR PROFILE
     JACKMAN
    
A&E:
     CELEB VOTE

FOOD 4 THOUGHT
     REALLY?

PAST ISSUES

Baseball postseason picks

     The Major League Baseball postseason is underway, and four of The Exchange's sports writers discuss their thoughts and picks all the way through the World Series.

ALDS

Dave Vishniac: As a Red Sox fan, how can I pick against my team? That being said, the Angels have had no success in the postseason against Boston in the recent past, and this year they are facing the defending World Series champions. Pick: Red Sox in 4 games.

Adam Stahl: The Angels have the best overall record in Major League Baseball, despite being in the weakest division. While the Angels have faltered in the post season and the Sox will be re-vamped with the return of Beckett, the Angels also have the best away record at 50-31 in the regular season which is one of my go-to-stats for the postseason. Pick: Angels in 5 games.

Tony Catinella: The Angels are a better team, so all the pressure lies on them. The Red Sox will win this series because they have more experience. This is Jason Bay' s first time in the playoff and he will carry Boston's offense on his back. Pick: Red Sox in 5 games.

Casey Williams: Sorry Sox fans. Nobody has better pitching than the Angels, who model the well rounded Champion Red Sox teams of this decade. Too much power and too many arms on one side, while the Sox have lost a big bat (Ramirez) and Josh Beckett just isn't his usual, nasty self this year. Pick: Angels in 4 games.

DV: What has been one of the major stories this season, the Tampa Rays have gone from one of the worst teams in the league to being one of the best, clinching the franchise's first playoff birth. With a pitching staff anchored by Scott Kazmir and quality offense up and down the lineup, the Rays will easily handle a team that barely reached the playoffs. Pick: Rays in 3.

AS: The Rays were one of those feel good stories of the regular season ascending to glory after dropping "Devil" out of their name. Though they faltered a bit in the second half of the season, the Rays have the most dominant presence at home in the MLB with a 57-24 record and that should be more than enough to carry them over the barely-in-the-postseason White Sox. Pick: Rays in 4.

TC: The Rays are an overall better team. They have young pitching but they will produce. They will also get their best hitter Carl Crawford back from injury. Pick: Rays in 4.

CW: So it's the Chicago Twins, er... White Sox, who won the play-in game, and the right to be swept by the red hot Rays. The biggest question of the series: will there be more than 4000 people at any of the Rays home playoff games? Pick: Rays in 3.

DV: The Brewers would not be in the playoffs without C.C. Sabathia. Last year's Cy Young winner obviously can't pitch every day for his team, although he will start at least two games in the series. Pick: Phillies in 5.

AS: The Phillies are riding a 3-game win streak into the post-season and lucked out that the Brew Crew and Cubbies were in the same division, diving the Phils the lowest-seeded opponent. The Phils closed out the regular season in solid fashion and I think they can take this young Brewers team out of the playoff picture post-haste. Pick: Phillies in 4.

TC: The Brewers will only win the games CC Sabathia pitches. He is their whole team. The Phillies are a much more complete team. Pick: Phillies in 4.

CW: This is the 2nd straight year that the Mets have given the Phillies a playoff birth, while CC "Superman" Sabathia has carried this battle-tested Brewers team through weeks of must-wins. He'll pitch every other playoff game if they need him to (and they may). Plus, is there a more energized playoff atmosphere than Milwaukee? Pick: Brewers in 5.

DV: The trade for Manny Ramirez was a brilliant move for the Dodgers. It's a calm atmosphere in L.A., perfect for Manny, and the Dodgers have been rolling with him in the lineup. Pick: Dodgers in 3.

AS: The Cubbies have not won a World Series in just under a century but come of the regular season as the #1 seed in the National League. The Cubs might have some backlash from their lack of postseason experience at first but I think they will be able to take the Dodgers in the long haul. Pick: Cubs in 5.

TC: Cubs have a dominant pitching staff and they will eventually quiet down the bat of Manny Ramirez. First baseman Derek Lee and outfielder Alfonso Soriano must step up for the cursed Cubes. Pick: Cubs in 5.

CW: The laid-back LA attitude is a perfect fit for Manny Ramirez; too laid back here as the Cubs cruise past with ease. Look for Carlos Zambrano, whose been wild and undependable, to put it all back together with a championship on the line. Pick: Chicago in 3.

DV: Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Rays - It's all about experience in this exciting match-up. While the Rays have been a thorn in the side of the Sox this season, Terry Francona and the Red Sox will show what it takes to reach the World Series, as the Yankees did to the Sox in 2003. Maybe next year, Tampa fans. Pick: Red Sox in 7.

AS: Tampa Rays vs. Los Angeles Angels - The Rays were a strong looking team in the season I suspect them to ride that through the postseason regardless of their opponent. Pick: Rays in 6.

TC: Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Rays – Pick: Red Sox in 7.

CW: Los Angeles Angels vs. Tampa Rays - The end of the line for the Cinderella Rays, as experience bests young talent.  But prepare for a power shift in the AL East. Pick: Angels in 6.

DV: Philadelphia Philllies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: The Phillies had a brief stint in the postseason last year, but they have to go up a team that is high on it's horse down the stretch of the season. Joe Torre has done a tremendous job in his first year with the Dodgers, and his playoff success will continue this year too. Pick: Dodgers in 5.

AS: Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies – I think this year is destiny for the Cubbies and I expect them to ride that drive to the Series. Pick: Cubs in 7.

TC: Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies – Pick: Cubs in 6.

CW: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs - Can you see it? Zambrano vs Sabathia in a Game 7 for the ages.  As for that playoff atmosphere in Milwaukee, Zambrano is the only pitcher to one-up Sabathia there this season (the relocated Cubs/Astros no-hitter).  Glory for Zambrano, a $175 million contract for Sabathia in the off-season. Pick: Cubs in 7.

DV: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Boston Red Sox - Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra vs. Boston. Joe Torre vs. Terry Francona. Derek Lowe vs. Josh Beckett. The list of stories in this match-up goes on in what could be one of the most-watched World Series in history. Pitching, hitting and defense for each team will have to be at their best, as the Sox and Dodgers look to prove they picked up the better player: Manny or Jason Bay. Pick: Red Sox in 7.

AS:  Chicago Cubs vs. Tampa Rays - As I said, I just have a feeling for the Cubbies this year (despite being a Pirates and Braves fan). Pick: Cubs in 7.

TC: Chicago Cubs vs. Boston Red Sox – Pick: Cubs in 6.

CW: Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Angels - 100 years of frustration ended. It had to happen this way. This has been the Cubs' year. K-Rod gets his saves record, Chicago get their title. And hey, maybe their Senator wins his race, too. Pick: Cubs in 7.
 

The MLB Postseason outlook.

Photo Courtesy Google