Well if were going on predictions hopefully no one listened to me. Reds Choked, Baltimore came back to earth, the cards are showing how solid of a team they really are, the giants are just a good team, the tigers are just dominant, the yankees choked one series too late, and the A's also came back to earth.
Lets start with the three teams that are left. Detroit has been so very very impressive, their pen has been really not used but when they have been they have done the job. Their starters have been amazing, Verlander is almost expected to 9 every game, Fister, Scherzer, and Sanchez have been very solid as well. When you have pitching performing like they do your bats don't have to be at full force. But there have been, the Tigers currently have 4 players hitting over .300 with the highest being Jhonny Peralta hitting .389. They have 4 players that have gone deep this post season as well, which this year is impressive, 2 of those guys have multiple home runs. The way these guys are playing is impressive, solid D, good bats, great pitching, simple efficient baseball.
St Louis really surprised me this year. I didn't see them getting past the wild card round. They did that then they got through the Nationals with an unreal comeback in game 5. They have rode that all they way to a 3-1 series lead against the Giants. The Cards pen has been most impressive to me. So hard to hit off of, Jason Motte has been the best closer this post season hands down. There bats haven't been outstanding by any margin but they have been clutch. Fact is they only have 1 guy hitting over .300 (Yadier Molina). They have 3 hr which isn't outstanding but when those homers have come have been pretty important. The big thing with the Cards this year like i said before is how clutch they have been. They have been getting big hits in late innings with guys on. They are going to be playing the Tigers in the World Series but they will need to hit more consistently to have a chance because that Tigers lineup will hit off anyone.
The Giants are a solid team but didn't expect them to do much when they were in the playoffs. Posey, Sandoval, Pagan, Scutaro, and Pence have played pretty big roles whether good or bad. Pence finally got a rbi last night, Scutaro is hitting over .400 he is zoned in right now, Posey looks like he is going to be the best player around for awhile guys a stud, Pagan is hitting ok and playing really good D, Sandoval has been scoring people bad avg but solid with runners in position. There pitching has been suspect. Very streaky when they are on they are very tough to hit, Cain has been pretty good, Vogelsong also pretty good but getting past those two it open up a little, Lincecum looked wild again last night, Barry Zito is Barry Zito and you never know what you get with him. There pen has been decent but they definitely miss Brian Wilson. It's surprising to me that they made it this far honestly If the NLDS would have been Nats/Giants i think we would be having a different NLCS right now.
The A's ran a good streak for as long as they could but that Tigers team was just too good. The Reds choked severely, up 2-0 winning both game in SF and then losing all 3 in Cincy. Baltimore was so close and I would have loved to see a Baltimore/Detroit series in the ALCS, the yankees played as your typical high payed team. Things go wrong they can't fix it too concerned with appearance and/or personal playing time. I do have tons of respect still for Joe Girardi, he is 1 of 2 guys i really respect on that team (Jeter).
Overall it's been a pretty fun postseason to watch, not exactly dream match ups for the MLB but they have been good to watch. Can't wait to see the Tigers win it.
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