We were pretty dead on with our divisional predictions, but that shouldn’t be a shock since we rock it till the wheels come off. We hit the Red Sox and Rays on the nose predicting both would win 3-1 and we missed the Phillies series by only one. We knew the Dodgers had a chance, but we sure didn’t see a sweep coming so this was the one we truly missed.

Rays defeat Red Sox 4-3…This team just feels like the Marlins of ’03 for some reason. The Red Sox are the defending champs and have all the mystique, but the Rays aren’t scared. The Rays won the regular season series between the two and have the post-season jitters gone after breezing past the White Sox. The one other reason I think the Rays win is because Beckett isn’t healthy and without him the Rays will have just enough to make their first World Series.

Dodgers defeat Phillies 4-2…Manny, Manny, Manny. Ramirez has been in this spot a lot and his entire team right now is feeding off of him. That along with the fact I believe the Dodgers starting pitching is considerably better than the Phillies allows the Dodgers to make it back to the World Series for the first time in 20 years.

Thoughts???

Phillies defeat Brewers 3-1…The bottom line is the Brewers have no starting pitching outside of CC these days after Sheets went down with an injury and don’t even get me started on their bullpen. The Phillies are a well rounded team and will redeem their first round loss last year against Colorado.
Cubs defeat Dodgers 3-2…This series will be a lot closer than many people are predicting. I know the Cubs have the best talent in the National League hands down, but the Dodgers have been playing like the Rockies did last year. I think there is even a small chance the Dodgers could win, but in the end the Cubs offense and bullpen will win out in game 5.
Red Sox defeat Angels 3-1…For some reason it is never good to have the best record in the regular season in the MLB. Over the last 11 years only two teams with the best regular season record has won the World Series. I think this recent history in conjunction with how well the Red Sox have played in the postseason will lead to Boston winning the series.
Rays defeat White Sox 3-1…The Rays are getting healthy and the White Sox are gassed, nuff said.

The Milwaukee Brewers made a move today that leaves me scratching my head with wonder. There is only 12 games left in the season yet Brewers brass decided to fire manager Ned Yost today. I completely understand the Brewers have lost 7 of their last 8 games and I get Milwaukee tanked at the end of last year, but does it make sense to pull the plug this late in the season? Milwaukee hasn’t made the playoffs since 1982 so that has to be one of the major factors in the decision process to let Yost go and promote third base coach Dale Sveum to acting manager. The Brewers are tied with the Phillies in the Wild Card standings so we will know in two weeks if this was the right decision.

Texas Rangers +105

Overall Record:

MLB 19-8
College Football: 44-41-1
NFL 63-33-3
College Basketball 102-69-6
NHL 0-1
NBA 28-20

[eminimall]

Take the Brewers @ -116 to continue their winning streak.

Overall Record:

MLB 19-8
College Football: 44-41-1
NFL 63-33-3
College Basketball 102-69-6
NHL 0-1
NBA 28-20

The Los Angeles Dodgers recently acquired Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake to help boost their previous paltry offensive numbers. These two acquisitions have definitely helped the Dodgers offensive output so far and in turn their National League West rivals knew it was essential they added some beef as well. Yesterday the Arizona Diamondbacks traded three minor league players to the Cincinnati Reds for Adam “Big Country” Dunn. Dunn leads the National League in home runs and should help lift up the Diamondbacks offense that is currently 20th in the majors for runs scored. Noticed I said should because let’s not forget Dunn is batting .230 on the season and now the Diamondbacks will have three of the top five strikeout leaders in the National League on the same team! The Diamondbacks have great pitching and needed some help on offense, but is Dunn the missing piece?

Put at least a Benjamin down on Wakefield and the Red Sox -142

Overall Record:

MLB 18-8
College Football: 44-41-1
NFL 63-33-3
College Basketball 102-69-6
NHL 0-1
NBA 28-20

[eminimall]

The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching and outside of the Brewers acquiring Sabathia in what seems like months ago there hasn’t been many big trades to speak of overall. This has been the trend in recent years and unless something happens in the next day or so it will continue. That being said, I think the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pulled off a stellar deal yesterday with the injury riddled Atlanta Braves. The Angels picked up Mark Teixeira for hot young prospect Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Stephen Marek.

Many people are criticizing this deal because Teixeira’s contract will expire at the end of the season and the Angles won’t be able to resign him in the offseason yet they gave up a huge prospect. I say, who cares if you win a World Series! The Angels are arguably the best team in baseball, but definitely have some power issues with their lineup until now. Teixeira was the best bat available and the Angels went out and got the deal done. The Angels are now head and shoulders above the rest of MLB.

Twins -130

Overall Record:

MLB 17-8
College Football: 44-41-1
NFL 63-33-3
College Basketball 102-69-6
NHL 0-1
NBA 28-20

[eminimall]

Take the Diamondbacks @ -118

Overall Record:

MLB 16-8
College Football: 44-41-1
NFL 63-33-3
College Basketball 102-69-6
NHL 0-1
NBA 28-20