Yes, I know I said I would assess the Championship series more thoroughly on Tuesday, but given the first results I felt it was better to do it today.
Who would have thought that home-field advantage would mean so much in the Division series? With the exception of the Mets, that sealed the deal in LA, the other three teams won their series in their respective ballparks.
In the ALCS Kansas City proved how hard it is to beat them, especially at home and with their pitchers playing the way they are playing. It’s not easy to keep this Toronto line-up quiet like that.
In the NLCS, the prophecy is closer and closer to not being fulfilled. Syndergaard and Wright managed to keep the Cubs attack under control, but most of all the Mets won the game Arrieta pitched. I’m pretty sure Chicago didn’t see that coming.
Anyway, let’s try and project how the rest of the Championship series will develop. And I’m a man of my word, so I won’t change the predictions I made at the end of my last post even if I’m having second, third, fourth and fifth thoughts about it.
ALCS
Kansas City Royals vs. Toronto Blue Jays: This is a life or death situation for a good Toronto team. If the Royals open 3-0 with two games yet to be played at home, the Blue Jays can kiss the World Series goodbye. And they have a great challenge in front of them: Johnny Cueto will be pitching for Kansas City. He had his ups and downs during the season, but seems to be finding his rhythm in the playoffs. That should make things harder for the Blue Jays. Stroman can hold the Royals attack for a while, but Bautista, Encarnacion, Colabello and Donaldson will have to produce.
NLCS
New York Mets vs. Chicago Cubs: The Chicago Cubs are in an even worse position than Toronto. They lost the game their best pitcher threw. This was catastrophic. Furthermore, the Mets still have deGrom up their sleeves while the Cubs don’t have another pitcher they can rely on so much. Besides, how do you stop Daniel Murphy from hitting everything? And if that was not enough he is having some help from players like Curtis Granderson who is also having a phenomenal postseason and Travis D’Arnaud who hit the apple on Game 1. I don’t know how much the crowd at Wrigley can help their home team, but the Cubs are going to need all the help they can get.
Current playlist:
Listening:
Paul McCartney – New
Paradise Lost – The Plague Within
Motörhead – Bad Magic
Watching:
Hitler: The Rise of Evil
Be sure to check out my book “Straight and Lethal”
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