MLB Division Series Preview

The postseason is finally here, after a month and a half of spring training and a five month regular season. Plus, the Rays and Pirates had to play another two and one game respectively just to get into the division series. The Rays had to beat the Rangers for the second wild card spot, and then beat the Indians in the Wild Card game to advance. The Pirates, yes, those Pittsburgh Pirates who have been an afterthought in MLB for the past 21 seasons beat the Reds for the NL wild card spot. But, now it's time for the real postseason to start with the Division Series, which begin today in the NL, and the AL begins tomorrow. All games will be on TBS, with the exception of game two of the Pittsburgh-St. Louis series which is on MLB Network and probably the Detroit-Oakland game 3 which will also be on MLB Network. Now, on to the previews.

National League

Pittsburgh-St. Louis

These two teams know each other very well, having played each other 19 times in the regular season, and the Pirates came out on top, barely, winning the season series 10-9, but the Cardinals won the final four games to help propel them to the division title. The Cardinals are very good all around, with plenty of balance up and down the lineup, with plenty of hitters getting good on base, and the Cards led the league in average with runners in scoring position (RISP). Plus, the Cardinals have excellent starting pitching, led by Adam Wainwright, who is a premier pitcher, followed by Lance Lynn and Michael Wacha, who progressed significantly in the second half. The only real weak spot for the Cardinals is the bullpen, who demoted their closer, Edward Mujica last month, and are now going with a committee for a closer, which throws everything off as far as each person's role.
The Pirates meanwhile, have this "team of destiny" feel to them. This is the first postseason or even winning season for the Pirates since 1992 when the team lost to the Braves in the NLCS. Since then, no team has had more futility than the Pirates, who have just been awful. Now, it's a new ballgame, with leadership in place with Russell Martin and Andrew McCutchen. Plus, the bullpen is perhaps the second best in the entire postseason, behind the Braves. The defense is also very solid, with each player making the plays they have to make.
This is a hard pick, but I'll take the experience over the hungry newcomer. Pick: Cardinals in 5.

Los Angeles-Atlanta

As a Braves fan, this is not the match up you wanted to see coming into the postseason. The reason why? The Dodgers have been playing .700 baseball since June 1, which is about the time their superstar, Yasiel Puig came up to the big leagues and set the league on fire. He is not the only reason for the Dodgers success though, as baseball is very much a team game with a lot of individual achievements. The Dodgers also have had success with their huge trade from the Red Sox last season, with excellent defense from Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. Plus, they get a good batting average from Hanley Ramirez along with solid defense. Finally, the starting rotation is probably the best in the postseason, with probably the NL Cy Young winner in Clayton Kershaw and his below 2 ERA, followed by strikeout master Zack Greinke, and then Korean import Hyun-Jin Ryu and Ricky Nolasco, who are both very good.
The Braves meanwhile, are also a very good team, but the problem with the Braves is that they strikeout way too much and rely on their power way too much. So, the team is incredibly streaky, and that is ok in the regular season, not so much in the postseason. The Braves starting pitching is good, but doesn't have postseason experience, and the fact that Freddy Garcia is your number four starter is a problem. The bullpen more than makes up for it though, with getting to the seventh inning with a lead essentially means game over with Jordan Walden, Alex Wood and Craig Kimbrel closing out games.
As a Braves fan myself, I would love it if the Braves advanced, but as an analyst, I don't see their being a chance for the Braves. Pick: Dodgers in 4.

American League

Tampa Bay-Boston

Boston is a worst to first story, with them unloading salary in the trade with the Dodgers last season. It allowed Boston to sign second tier free agents like Koji Uehara, who has become their closer. Shane Victorino who has excelled in right field and provided his speed and little bit of power. Mike Napoli, who has become a de facto leader with his beard and actually playing good defense at first and providing raw power to the lineup. Jonny Gomes has also provided decent defense in left and plenty of power. Finally, they signed Stephen Drew, who is a suitable stopgap solution until uber prospect Xander Boegarts arrives next season. Boston's starting pitching has also been very good, with John Lackey having his best season since arriving in Boston, Clay Bucholz being a top pitcher, Jon Lester and then acquiring former Cy Young winner in Jake Peavy, who has been fantastic since arriving from Chicago. Boston also made a mid-season change in closer, putting Uehara in that role, and he has excelled, converting all but one save chances. And don't forget the managing change from control freak Bobby Valentine to laid back John Farrell who has led the team to its first AL East title since 2007.
Tampa Bay meanwhile has done their usual thing, getting very good managing from Joe Maddon, getting production from low cost free agents like James Loney, making shrewd trades like trading James Shields to the Royals and getting back super prospect Wil Meyers, who has made an impact in the outfield. The pitching has been very good, and the defense spectacular as usual. They are the typical underdog story, and you always want to root for them.
This series is going to be very good, and go back and forth. Tampa has been hot, winning five straight, including two straight elimination games. But, Boston has been very good all season, winning home-field throughout the entire playoffs. Pick: Tampa in 5.

Detroit-Oakland

This is again, a underdog versus powerhouse team. Oakland is the underdog despite having homefield. Oakland plays in a dump of a stadium comparative to Detroit's barely decade old park. The reason why Oakland has a dump of a stadium is due to sewage backups and because it's the only multipurpose stadium left in MLB on a full time basis. Toronto shares with the NFL's Buffalo Bills for one game a year. Oakland doesn't really have any name players either, with the biggest being Yoenis Cespedes, who was in the home run derby this year. Detroit meanwhile has four easily recognizable stars in probable AL Cy Young winner in Max Scherzer, 2011's Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, 2012's MVP Miguel Cabrera, and masher Prince Fielder. The starting pitching and relief pitching is stellar, the lineup is filled with very good hitters and a little bit of speed. The defense makes all the plays they're supposed to make, they may not make it to all the balls, but they're solid.
This is a rematch of last season's ALDS, which went five, and I expect the same here, with a different outcome, Oakland winning in 5, due to the underdog story and just having a slightly better bullpen.