MLB Divisional Playoffs Predictions

Unfortunately, due to the copious amount of homework that I now have due to college, I don't have the time to produce a long, in-depth post for these predictions. However, I'll give a short explanation for my picks.

American League

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers

The Rays have home field advantage, as well as playoff experience. The Rangers have been the feel good story of the year, but this is probably the end of the road for Texas, barring terrific pitching performances by their top three starters.

Prediction: Rays in four

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

I want to root for the Twins, but something tells me that the end result will look the same as last year's Divisional Series between these two teams. Once again, pitching will probably be the story of this series, and New York holds the upper hand in that department. The Twins will put up a better fight than last year, but won't be moving on.

Prediction: Yankees in five


National League

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds

If this were a League Championship Series rather than a Divisional Series, my prediction would probably be different. Cincinnati is a tough, gritty team that I think could win a seven game series against Philadelphia. However, the Phillies trio of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels will be very difficult to beat, especially with home field advantage. Whoever wins this series has a great chance of making it to the World Series in my opinion.

Prediction: Phillies in five

San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves

Like the Phillies, San Francisco's top three in their pitching rotation are extremely difficult to beat. Tim Lincecum is playing very well right now, and the Braves weren't exactly lighting it up heading into this postseason. With that being said, San Francisco should be able to take care of an Atlanta team that limped into the playoffs. Literally.

Prediction: Giants in four


Again, sorry that this post is so short and uninformative. Hopefully I can do a more in-depth post when the League Championship Series are set. At any rate, on Friday I will be back with my weekly installment of the college football weekend preview. I should also have some baseball related polls to vote on by tomorrow. Any questions, comments, or thoughts can be sent to aroundthecornsportsblog@gmail.com or by posting in the comments section below. Thanks everyone.



- K. Becks

Wow, Really?

The title is directed at both Dan Gilbert and the Miami Heat organization. For Gilbert, did you really have to make a fool of yourself by writing a letter to the fans, bashing Lebron James in the process? I always say that when you're too passionate about something, you lose your reason, and that is exactly what Gilbert did in the letter. Guaranteeing an NBA championship for Cleveland before Lebron and Company get theirs is preposterous, not only because Cleveland has nowhere near the talent to do such a thing, but because that sort of promise is something you'd hear from someone who is around the age of twelve. As for the Heat organization, was it really necessary to squirt lemon juice into the eyes of Cleveland fans the day after they had just been sucker-punched below the belt? No one but fans of the Heat really cared about the introduction celebration, so why was it necessary to broadcast it on ESPN2? Lebron did not look happy to be there, and if you were him, would you be either? The last thing he wanted to do was pour salt into the city of Cleveland's wound that, by the way, he created. Once again, I'm not saying that he should have stayed; I'm just saying that his departure created the somber mood felt in his hometown.

Now that "The Decision" is over, at least we can get back to focusing on sports that are actually in season. Today one of the bigger trade deals took place in baseball, with Seattle pitcher Cliff Lee being traded to the Texas Rangers. Early in the day, it looked as if Lee was going to be traded to the Yankees, which would have made it almost worthless to watch the MLB come September with the pitching that they would have had. However, this trade makes the American League much more intriguing. With Lee in Texas, the Rangers have a very decent shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 1999, while the Yankees cannot assume the role as overwhelming favorites to win the World Series. Had Lee gone to New York, it would have been extremely hard to contend with the pitching combination of Lee, C.C. Sabathia, Phil Hughes, and Mariano Rivera. Granted, they are probably still the team to beat, but with Lee they could have been runaway favorites. No matter how much New York fans disagree, that would not have been good for baseball.

On Sunday, the World Cup will culminate in Johannesburg when either Spain or the Netherlands will hoist the famed goblet for the first time ever. Unlike Spain, the Netherlands have been to the Finals twice before but have not yet broken through to win the Cup. I predicted that Spain would win it from the beginning, but I think that either way it should be a tremendous game. Both of these teams are well deserving of being called World Cup champions, and it should be an absolute party for whichever country comes away with the win. Something that is worth noting is that the top goal scorers in the tournament (Netherland's Wesley Sneijder and Spain's David Villa) will be playing, and the Golden Boot award winner could very well be the man who wins the World Cup for his respective nation. As long as the game doesn't come down to penalty kicks, because quite frankly it's a tossup at that point, then it should be a wonderful game to watch.

I'm thinking about making shirts to promote the blog, but mostly because I want to wear one myself. I'll be posting some more information about it on the Around The Corn Sports Blog Facebook fan page, so check that out in the next few weeks if you're interested in getting one. Also, if you have any questions or comments about anything sports, always feel free to email me at aroundthecornsportsblog@gmail.com. Thanks everyone.



- K. Becks