Spring Break
MLB playoffs top October TV lineup
Dave D'Amore
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: Sports
Actor and comedian Dane Cook said it way too many times last year: "There's only one October!"
Well this October, the MLB playoffs are framed to give fans numerous reasons to tune in and watch. Even before the season ended, the final baseball weekend became must-see TV.
On the final day of regular season, the Milwaukee Brewers literally jumped on the rather large back of pitcher CC Sabathia and rode him to their first playoff appearance since 1982.
While this is an incredible story in itself, what's even more amazing is that the Brewers knocked out the New York Mets, leaving them watching the playoffs for a second straight year.
Before the season started, I told anyone within earshot that the Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks were the class of the National League and locks to make the NLCS.
With the Mets trading for star Johan Santana and the Diamondbacks featuring a rotation of ace Brandon Webb, newcomer Dan Haren and future hall of famer Randy Johnson, I felt pretty safe with my prediction-162 games later, both teams are headed for the golf courses.
In an effort to redeem myself, I've highlighted the four main reasons you should watch this October, followed by a few predictions.
Reason No. 4: The Boston Red Sox
For another October, everyone's favorite team (since 2004, anyway) is looking to make another World Series run. This attempt will be much different than ones of years past, however. Can the Red Sox find October magic once again? Can pitcher Josh Beckett be the dominant force he was in last year's playoffs? Will Jason Bay come up with the same clutch October hits that Manny Ramirez often did? Will MLB
commissioner Bud Selig openly weep if the Red Sox get eliminated and the ALCS does not include Boston or the New York Yankees? These questions will be answered in the month ahead.
Reason No. 3: The Milwaukee Brewers
In almost any other season, a team making its first playoff appearance in more than 25 years would be the main storyline. However, the Brew Crew can become October's headline if they ride the momentum they gained at the end of the regular season.
Milwaukee's fortunes during the next month will depend highly on Sabathia. If he performs as he has since coming over to the National League, they can cause problems against any opponent.
Reason No. 2: The Chicago Cubs
The main question on the minds of many baseball fans, including most here in Oxford, is "will this finally be the year the Cubs win a
World Series?"
Many fans see the Cubs the same way many see teams such as the University of Southern California, Ohio State University and University of Notre Dame: you either love them or you love to watch them lose and suffer. During the next month, one of these two groups will be happy as the Cubs look to end their 100-year World Series drought.
Reason No. 1: The Tampa Bay Rays
While more people care about the Cubs, the Rays are without question the most incredible story of year.
Having the worst record in baseball last season, they came literally out of nowhere this year to not only make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but also deny the historic Yankees from their annual playoff appearance.
This story is so unbelievable that if you pitched this to a movie writer, you would not only be denied, you would probably get laughed out of the room. In a nation that loves the underdog, I have to believe that most fans, like myself, will be jumping aboard the Rays bandwagon.
Predictions:
While I love the potential storylines of the Cubs finally winning it all or the Rays making the most improbable run in playoff history, I see the Angels as the strongest team. With one of the best managers in Mike Scioscia and one of the best closers in Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez, the Angels look poised to go all the way.
Sorry, Wrigleyville, I just don't see the Angels going down. Regardless, tune in and watch what could be some of the best baseball we have seen in a long time. Because, remember, there is only one October.
ALDS: Rays over White Sox; Angels over Red Sox
NLDS: Brewers over Phillies; Cubs over Dodgers
ALCS: Angels over Rays
NLCS: Cubs over Brewers
World Series: Angels over Cubs
Well this October, the MLB playoffs are framed to give fans numerous reasons to tune in and watch. Even before the season ended, the final baseball weekend became must-see TV.
On the final day of regular season, the Milwaukee Brewers literally jumped on the rather large back of pitcher CC Sabathia and rode him to their first playoff appearance since 1982.
While this is an incredible story in itself, what's even more amazing is that the Brewers knocked out the New York Mets, leaving them watching the playoffs for a second straight year.
Before the season started, I told anyone within earshot that the Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks were the class of the National League and locks to make the NLCS.
With the Mets trading for star Johan Santana and the Diamondbacks featuring a rotation of ace Brandon Webb, newcomer Dan Haren and future hall of famer Randy Johnson, I felt pretty safe with my prediction-162 games later, both teams are headed for the golf courses.
In an effort to redeem myself, I've highlighted the four main reasons you should watch this October, followed by a few predictions.
Reason No. 4: The Boston Red Sox
For another October, everyone's favorite team (since 2004, anyway) is looking to make another World Series run. This attempt will be much different than ones of years past, however. Can the Red Sox find October magic once again? Can pitcher Josh Beckett be the dominant force he was in last year's playoffs? Will Jason Bay come up with the same clutch October hits that Manny Ramirez often did? Will MLB
commissioner Bud Selig openly weep if the Red Sox get eliminated and the ALCS does not include Boston or the New York Yankees? These questions will be answered in the month ahead.
Reason No. 3: The Milwaukee Brewers
In almost any other season, a team making its first playoff appearance in more than 25 years would be the main storyline. However, the Brew Crew can become October's headline if they ride the momentum they gained at the end of the regular season.
Milwaukee's fortunes during the next month will depend highly on Sabathia. If he performs as he has since coming over to the National League, they can cause problems against any opponent.
Reason No. 2: The Chicago Cubs
The main question on the minds of many baseball fans, including most here in Oxford, is "will this finally be the year the Cubs win a
World Series?"
Many fans see the Cubs the same way many see teams such as the University of Southern California, Ohio State University and University of Notre Dame: you either love them or you love to watch them lose and suffer. During the next month, one of these two groups will be happy as the Cubs look to end their 100-year World Series drought.
Reason No. 1: The Tampa Bay Rays
While more people care about the Cubs, the Rays are without question the most incredible story of year.
Having the worst record in baseball last season, they came literally out of nowhere this year to not only make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but also deny the historic Yankees from their annual playoff appearance.
This story is so unbelievable that if you pitched this to a movie writer, you would not only be denied, you would probably get laughed out of the room. In a nation that loves the underdog, I have to believe that most fans, like myself, will be jumping aboard the Rays bandwagon.
Predictions:
While I love the potential storylines of the Cubs finally winning it all or the Rays making the most improbable run in playoff history, I see the Angels as the strongest team. With one of the best managers in Mike Scioscia and one of the best closers in Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez, the Angels look poised to go all the way.
Sorry, Wrigleyville, I just don't see the Angels going down. Regardless, tune in and watch what could be some of the best baseball we have seen in a long time. Because, remember, there is only one October.
ALDS: Rays over White Sox; Angels over Red Sox
NLDS: Brewers over Phillies; Cubs over Dodgers
ALCS: Angels over Rays
NLCS: Cubs over Brewers
World Series: Angels over Cubs
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Will
posted 10/03/08 @ 8:13 AM EST
Too bad we can't watch the games in the dorms.
WE WANT OUR TBS!
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