Post Season Baseball Projections

As you may know I watch a lot of baseball.  (I particularly like DirecTV this weekend because its opened up MLB Extra Innings for free viewing).

Granted it's just the middle of July but based on what I've seen, my picks to win each league are the Oakland A's and the Los Angeles Dodgers. This would be a repeat of the 1974 & 1988 World Series.  The A's won in '74 and the Dodgers in '88.

The Western Divisions of both leagues are the toughest in baseball.  I see the Dodgers beating the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS and the A's beating the Anaheim Angels in the ALCS.  I just heard the announcer on Fox Sports 1 say if these four teams make the playoffs it would be the first time four teams from California ever made the playoffs in the same season.

And my pick to win it all is: the Oakland A's.  Oakland can do it all.  They have pitching, defense and hitting.

But, thank God there are still two plus months of baseball left to enjoy in the regular season.

American League All Star Team

Two weeks ago I selected the players I would have on the National League All Star Team if I were doing the voting.  Well, now that the fans have mucked it up as usual, here is the list of guys I would like to see starting for the American League on Tuesday night.


 C      Kurt Suzuki     Seattle Mariners
1B     Jose Abreu     Chicago White Sox
2B     Ian Kinsler     Detroit Tigers
3B     Adrian Beltre     Texas Rangers
SS     Erick Aybar     Anaheim Angels
OF     Mike Trout     Anaheim Angels
OF     Nelson Cruz     Baltimore Orioles
OF     Jose Bautista     Toronto Bluejays

As  you know the masses were smart enough to elect only a few of these guys to start on Tuesday night.  And there you see why giving the winner home field advantage for the World Series is a joke.  Hopefully, the game to played at Target Field in Minnesota this year will produce an interesting game.
  

Albert signs with the Halos

Reports this morning indicate Cardinal All-Star First Baseman Albert Pujols has signed a $250 million contract with the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles. Pujols has played with the Red Birds for the past eleven years and has been the team's, no the Major League's, best and most productive player over that period. He was also a huge part of the 2006 and 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis teams.

My initial reaction is I'm certainly sorry to see Pujols leave St. Louis. Not only is he a giant among all players all time who have played the game, but he is also a giant of a man with a heart for charity as large as his skills are on the field.

But, in reflection I have to say thank you Albert for all of the great times, big hits and memories of the last decade. It has been a wonderful ride, but all good things must come to an end. Albert, may God bless you and continued success and best wishes for you as you begin the next phase of your career with the Angels.

Fortunatly,the Cards Aren't Alone

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have done the rest of the baseball world a favor by eliminating one of the most overhyped overpaid ballclubs that made the playoffs. Goodbye, Boston Red Sox.

The Angels came from two runs down in the top of the ninth this afternoon to beat the Sox and sweep them out of the American League playoffs. The final this afternoon was 7-6.

I am not a hater of the Red Sox, but I am glad to see their high priced team go the way of the rest of most MLB clubs. Now if only the Twins can bounce back against those low life Yankees.