League Championship Preview

We have our first contributing post here at Gimme Some Onions! An appetizing preview of the National League and American League Championship Series was written up by our favorite resident USC homer. After a 162 game season, Major League Baseball is finally playing some games that matter. Check out this article and know who to follow:

New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers

Both teams come into the series with question marks in their pitching staff. The Yanks are led by CC and then have Phil Hughes, Andy Pettitte, and AJ Burnett. Not the murderers row of pitchers they have had in previous years but similar to the one that worked to win the World Series last year. The Rangers counter using CJ Wilson, Colby Lewis, Cliff Lee, and Tommy Hunter. Lee is the obvious anchor in this young staff. Using Lee for Game 5 against the Rays sets him back to start Game 3. The Rangers pitching do not go far into the games and eat into the bullpen too much. While the Yankee pitching has been inconsistent throughout the year, the Rangers’ staff has a lower ERA but lacks experience in the postseason. The postseason changes players and the Yankee pitchers are a known commodity that will be solid while the Rangers could be terrific or terrifically horrible. For the hitters, former Rangers ARod and Texeira lead the Yankees. The Yankees have outscored the Rangers (859-787) this season. The Rangers counter with Josh “I have been Reborn with Ginger Ale” Hamilton. Nelson Cruz has been clutch lately with a walk-off homer against the Yanks in September and hit four homeruns against the Rays. Let’s just say Cruz has been Appalachian State hot, hot, hot.

Onions Says: The Rangers have a Jekyll and Hyde face last series with their ability to score more than 3 runs before the seventh in Games 1, 2, and 5 (all wins) and less than 2 in games 4 and 5 (losses). Cruz cannot do it all and even though he is healthy, Hamilton does not look like the MVP he was in the season. The Yankee bullpen will shut down the games. Look for the Yankees get off to a 2-1 lead after Game 3 and close it up before Cliff Lee can see the mound in Game 6 again. (I really do not want to hear about how Hamilton cannot be tempted by the vice of alcohol again.)

Bonus Question Time: What is larger: CC's Postseason ERA or the number of pinstripes on his jersey?

 

Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Francisco Giants

Chicks dig the long ball so expect this series to be a sausage-fest. Both teams have the best staffs left standing. Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Jonathan Sanchez lead the Gigantes with Madison Bumgarner bringing up the rear. All three pitchers sport ERAs less than 3.50. Lincecum leads the staff with his 14K, 2 hit, shutout in Game 1 in one of the greatest postseason performances ever. This is only the second-best postseason outing by a pitcher this postseason because Doc Halladay decided to throw a no-hitter to kick off postseason baseball. Behind Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels (and Joe Blanton) lurk. Roy-O looks rejuvenated in the second half of the season going 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA after being traded from the Astros where he looked defeated from the perpetual lack of run support. Halladay, Roy-O, and Hamels shut down the best hitting NL team, the Reds, by holding them to 6 runs in 3 games. GM Ruben Amaro built the team for the postseason having 3 frontline aces for games 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 (Game 4 will be irrelevant as well as Games 6 and 7). It is going to be hard to hit against either staff but give the Phils the edge. On the batting side, the Phillies have the better edge. 33 year-old Aubrey Huff leads the Giants in batting this year after his post Rays wanderings from the Astros, Orioles, and the Tigers. The second best hitter has been ROOKIE Buster Posey. The Big Panda looks likes he has been eating too much. Even though, the Phillies’ hitters have not had the best season (batting only 3 percentage points better than the Giants .257 team average), there are more pieces to like. Ryan Howard is always a threat to hit being one of the premier hitters in the league. Utley and Rollins can always deliver. Neither team hits well but the Phillies have a better lineup. The Phillies replaced Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand for a reason.

Onions Says: Pitching will dominate the series. Expect the bats to stay quiet but Ryan Howard will start hitting. Jayson Werth needs a fatter contract next year and the spotlight provides an opportunity to become the “Savior.” Brad Lidge closes out the games without a problem due to the lack of Pujols. The Phillies return to the World Series in 4 games. 

Haiku- Doc, Roy-O, Hamels/Pitching Wins All Championships/ Need I Say More, Eh?