Well, we made it. Months ago, when the baseball season was restricted in its new format, with only 60 regular season games and a postseason as-of-then yet to be predicted, I didn’t expect to be looking at any bracket. I anticipated looking at newspaper headlines of “How MLB Failed,” or “Why No Bubble?,” or, for allegiances’ sake, “How the Marlins Destroy the Phillies Without a Single Pitch Being Thrown.”
When the Marlins were the first team to contract Covid-19 and MLB didn’t seem to have a plan for the scenario, I was sure this season was over. As it turns out, that was just the Fish being the Fish. Then it was Tribe-time. The Cardinals. Flu-like symptoms, for fans, were felt ferociously.
Somehow, Major League Baseball survived, prevailed, and thrived. The players, the staff, and the potently positive media and fans delivered a possibility for a season, and now, a postseason.
The flaws and all, this season has character.
There are some seriously exciting teams coming into this postseason, which starts Tuesday in its new format.
This is one of my favorite times of year. And in a year that hasn’t been so forgiving or friendly, finding a favorite part is TREMENDOUS.
The headline today? “Postseason Predictions!”
ROUND ONE
Rays versus Blue Jays: Jays, all the way. That offense, though young, is studly as it is stellar.
Indians versus Yankees: this is scary for the Tribe. And yet, so is Jose Ramirez. He hit .292 with a .386 OBP and a .993 OPS; 64 hits in 60 games; 17 home runs; 46 RBI.
The Indians’ offense hasn’t been consistent at all this season. Their pitching staff has been their breath, with the arguable MVP and inarguable Cy Young at the helm in Shane Bieber, and the controversial Zack Plesac and Mike Clevinger boys’ night out turning into a wake up call for Plesac and a trade of Clevinger for an accumulation of accolades to come. The team responded.
Twins versus Astros: let’s go Twins! The AL Central proved itself the most powerful of any division this season. The Twins were the favorite coming into pre-Covid MLB, but they had competition with a surprising White Sox squad and the Indians maintaining the team that lost Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer before this season, Mike Clevinger within.
A’s versus White Sox: as odd as this may have sounded preseason, this might be the toughest match-up to predict. The A’s and their eternally energetic pitching staff are sound, but the White Sox are scary. Again, the AL Central faced some fierce foes. The White Sox have beaten the best.
Dodgers versus Brewers: The Dodgers were 43-17.
Padres versus Cardinals: this Padres team is exceptionally exciting and excitingly exceptional. They made all the right moves in all the right places. They gave up a TON for Mike Clevinger at the trade deadline, but they solidified a staunch rotation of pitching. The Cards, of course, magically seem to find their way into any postseason. They got there the last day. That’s just history repeating itself. This is the most match-up based decision, and I’m going with the Cardinals. Remember the 2006 World Series Championship winners? They had a .516 record (83-78). It’s in their blood to win. In weird ways, sometimes. So, in the weirdest season, don’t discount the Cards.
Cubs versus Marlins: similar sentiment as with the Cardinals. Leave it to the Marlins to break barriers and boast beasts of a different breed in their postseason history. Most people ask how they even made it here. When they do, they do it massively. Cubs are cute. Marlins are monstrous.
Braves versus Reds: this is a great match-up, and it will be amazing baseball to watch. These two teams have played quality baseball all (*60 games) season, with the Braves more consistent, starting rotation notwithstanding, but the Reds more resilient. The East was, well, shitty. Braves beat bad teams more often. The Reds, in the Central? Whew. This was a team I predicted to win the division. I can see them winning it all.
So, Reds.
ROUND TWO
Blue Jays versus Indians: nevermind the studs, here’s Shane Bieber.
Twins versus White Sox: if I haven’t made it clear, I love the Central this season. This is some seriously good baseball. I hope this match-up happens, and I hope the Twins win. Logistically, they’re both damn good.
Dodgers versus Cardinals: the Cardinals are masters of mischief and mayhem in the playoffs. They won that previously mentioned 2006 World Series making history as the team with the worst regular season record to win the World Series.
The Dodgers are the better team, but the Cardinals are the better competitors.
Marlins versus Reds: the Reds are the better team and the better competitors. With this staff: Trevor Bauer – with his NL-league-leading 1.73 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 11 starts, highlighting it – was built for the duration of a full season. They didn’t get it, but they got the expanded postseason.
ROUND THREE
Indians versus Twins: the Twins have 16 straight playoff losses. 16 straight. This goes back to the 2004 ALDS versus the Yankees. And yet, they’re playing a team they match up with for talent and depth, the Indians have been inconsistent at the plate, and this is certainly a year to break streaks.
However… Shane Bieber (1.63 ERA, 122 K’s); Zack Plesac (2.28 ERA, 57 K’s); Carlos Carrasco (2.91 ERA, 82 K’s); Aaron Civale (4.74 ERA, 69 K’s); and rookie Triston McKenzie, who has a 3.24 ERA with 42 strikeouts in just six starts.
Pitching. Wins. Championships.
Cardinals versus Reds: and to further prove the pitching point…
Trevor Bauer (1.73 ERA, 100 K’s); Sonny Gray (3.70 ERA, 72 K’s); Luis Castillo (3.21 ERA, 89 K’s).
The Cardinals may have postseason craftsmanship down, but the Reds’ rotation is craftier by the game.
WORLD SERIES
Indians versus Reds: O-H-I-O!
Baseball fans would surely enjoy this, regardless of allegiances. Going back to the August 5th series when Cincinnati played at Cleveland, the fight was a flighty kind of fun on social media.
“@Reds: Ahhh, Cleveland. So nice, LeBron left it twice.”
“@Indians: How many titles has Cincinnati’s NBA team won?”
“@Reds: They’ve never lost a game.”
This rivalry of two deeply discouraged teams could be the story line to emphasize a year so, well, often deeply discouraging. The pitching is stellar on both teams, but the Indians’ pitching is deeper. And the offense, though streaky, is seasoned to the postseason. Many of the members of this Indians’ lineup were members of the team who, in 2016, transformed the Tribe into the MLB franchise with the longest tenure without a World Series Championship.
The Cubs beating the Indians in the 2016 World Series put the Indians in their place as the new lovable losers. 1948 was Cleveland’s last World Series Championship. The Tribe has their own Bob Feller in Shane Bieber. Larry Doby would tip his cap to Jose Ramirez, potential MVP. Lou Boudreau would happily manage this team, but also be gladly managed by Terry Francona – though Terry leaves six-hole to Francisco Lindor. This team is beautifully built and delightfully determined. They are as well-built as they are fun to watch. It’s a rarity and a scarcity and a treasure.
Maybe this year, the weirdest one we’ve known, the Indians are not “still shitty.”
