Zetlin:
Today, put the Badger banter on hold, put NFL talks aside; it’s Oct. 1, and the baseball playoffs are underway.
Will the Red Sox repeat? Can the Rays continue their miraculous run?
No, and no.
It kills me to say it, but I think this is “The Year.” Yes North-siders, I’m referring to you. The drought will end this season, on the 100th anniversary of the Cubs’ last World Series Championship.
Chicago’s lineup is stacked from top to bottom with the likes of Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. The rotation is solid with Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden leading the pack.
But the glaring difference between the Cubs and the rest of the National League postseason squads — yup, Brewers fans, you know best — is their bullpen. Former Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has looked solid down the stretch, Carlos Marmol has one of the nastiest sliders in the game, and closer Kerry Wood is still Kerry Wood, assuming his right arm is still attached to his body.
The Milwaukee bullpen will be its demise, teams will pitch around Manny, and the Phillies just don’t match up pitching-wise to the Cubs. Whoever makes it out of the American League — my guess is the Angels — won’t stand a chance against the Cubbies, because if they even get a whiff of the trophy in Wrigley, they ain’t falling short this time.
Forget Bartman; forget the goat. Wrigleyvillers, I know you know the words: Go Cubs Go!
Mason:
You made my point against the Cubs for me, Zet. Thank you.
People need to remember: They’re the Cubs! One hundred years is a long time. This is a franchise destined to crush dreams and false hopes. This postseason won’t be any different.
Instead, this year’s World Series trophy will return to a place it has been not too long ago. No, not Boston. Think Hollywood.
It ain’t the Dodgers either.
That’s right. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, winners of the 2002 series, will take baseball’s title home yet again.
Surprisingly, the Angels are probably one of the least talked about teams in the postseason. But fans shouldn’t be surprised when Mark Teixeira, Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter hit their way to the World Series.
The Angels made a few moves — both during and prior to this season — that solidified their lineup. They signed Hunter as a free agent from the Twins in the offseason, and he went on to hit 21 homers and drive in 78 runs. They also picked up Teixeira before the trade deadline, and he finished with a .358 average.
And then there’s the pitching.
Aces Ervin Santana and John Saunders both won 16 or more games for the Halos, and John Lackey looked impressive all season as well, finishing 12-5 with three complete games.
Oh yeah, they’ve got this guy named Francisco Rodriguez. You know, the single-season saves leader. And with a strong bullpen needed come October, I’d say the Angels have as good a guy as any.
Cubbies to win it all? Forget that noise. There are Angels watching down on this postseason.
