Suburban Family Guy's 2011 MLB Playoff Preview

As I look back at my 2011 MLB Season Preview and prognostications, I actually did okay in choosing four out of the eight playoff teams, which would have been five out of eight if the Red Sox hadn't choked in historical fashion. The Yankees, Rangers, Phillies and Brewers are all heading to the postseason, leaving me a little off on a couple of teams (Giants and Red Sox) and gigantically off for the other (Twins and Dodgers). But what's done is done, and now I'll see if I can look into the proverbial crystal ball for our playoff results.

ALDS: Rays vs. Rangers. The reality is that the Rays haven't played excellent ball in recent weeks, and their ticket into the postseason had more to do with the Red Sox collapse than any sort of torrid streak on their part. The Yankees practically handed them a couple of games in the last series of the season, and the fact that they fell behind in a matchup of Jeremy Hellickson vs. a barely functional Bartolo Colon and 7-0 with David Price on the mound in a must-win game doesn't give me a lot of confidence in their pitching beyond James Shields. The Rangers are much better than advertised, and in addition to an underrated pitching staff and home field advantage, they're mashing the ball. Rangers in three.

ALDS: Tigers vs. Yankees. A lot of Yankee fans shudder at this matchup, and rightfully so. The reality is that this Yankees team is way too similar to the infamous 2004 team which blew a 3-0 lead in the ALCS. If success in the playoffs comes down to starting pitching, the Yankees are in big trouble. The Yankees only "no worries" starting pitcher is going to face off against an MVP candidate and best pitcher of the year in Justin Verlander, and then follow that with an untested rookie with a great record but bad peripheral stats and a Freddy Garcia who barely hits 85 on the radar gun. The Tigers pitching is slightly better, but isn't exactly pressure-tested with Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer and Doug Fister. The Yankees home field advantage means something, and that's enough to give them the edge. Yankees in five.

NLDS: Diamondbacks vs. Brewers. The home-field advantage battle came down to the last game of the regular season, and that matters to a Brewers team which plays much better in Miller Park than on the road. Having the extra home game helps, and a better pitching staff of Yovani Gallardo, Zach Greinke and Shawn Marcum manage to squeak past a strong Diamondbacks team. Brewers in five.

NLDS: Cardinals vs. Phillies. Here's where I go double-contrarian. I've noticed that there are a number of pundits that are picking the Cardinals to beat the heavily-favored Phillies in an upset, and there's merit in those arguments. The Cardinals are the hottest team in the league while the Phillies have struggled, enduring an eight-game losing streak over the last couple of weeks. The Cardinals, because of their fight to the finish to get the wild card, have been playing with playoff intensity for a few weeks now, while the Phillies have been focused more on setting their rotation and getting some of their players healthy. I understand all those points, but my gut still says that the Phillies prevail, more easily than people expect. Phillies in four.

ALCS: Rangers vs. Yankees. Yeah, yeah, I know that the Rangers have a bunch of left handers which are supposedly the Achilles' heel for a left-handed Yankees lineup and I know that the Rangers offense has been smoking hot of late. But the key left-handers in the Yankees lineup like Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson aren't fazed by left-handed pitching. The Rangers can mash, but the Yankees can mash more. Yankees in six.

NLCS: Brewers vs. Phillies. The Phillies have owned the Brewers in the regular season and it doesn't stop in the playoffs. The Brewers ride great playing at home to steal one game, but the better pitching and offense ends up carrying the day. Phillies in five.

World Series: Yankees vs. Phillies. This rematch of the 2009 World Series also matches up two of my favorite teams. The difference is that the Yankees actually had an excellent 2nd starter in Andy Pettitte (well, third starter if you consider that A.J. Burnett was remotely reliable back then) and the Phillies staff was comprised of Cliff Lee, a washed up Pedro Martinez and a totally-gassed-from-2008 Cole Hamels. The Phillies' advantage in starting pitching proves too much for the Yankees bats to overcome, and the Phillies get to celebrate another parade down Broad Street. Phillies in six.

Bonus Musing. As a New Jersey resident and Yankees fan, I share the irritation of many when the Mets blocked the Yankees from using Riverfront Stadium in Newark as a temporary home while their AAA team's stadium is Scranton, PA is being renovated. In a well articulated piece in the Star Ledger, an op-ed blasts the move as petty and hurtful to the city of Newark, the Yankees and ultimately the Mets. Newark and Newark residents clearly could use full stadiums of baseball fans to help drive local commerce, which they will miss out on. Yankees fans in New Jersey would benefit by being able to see future or rehabbing stars without taking out a second mortgage. What exactly the Mets gain? They gain the disrespect and disdain of both the aforementioned groups. News flash to the Mets: The presence of local Yankees minor league baseball isn't what keeps people from being fans of your franchise. It's because your team stinks, and manages to alienate people along the way.