At the halfway point, who looks like your Championship Series finalists?

[WeatherWonk]

I watch a LOT of baseball. Maybe 4-6 hours per day;  usually moving around from game to game during each time zone. So, I see a lot of teams each year.

The half way point is a legitimate point to begin talking about who looks good and who doesnt.

Who makes it to the Championship Series, in your opinion, based on what you have seen? Of course, injuries and the trading deadline can change the mix, somewhat.

Here's my picks:

AL CS-Cleveland vs Houston

NL-Dodgers vs Washington

World Series-Cleveland vs Dodgers

I really like the Indians lineup. Very solid. They get on base, dont strike out, work counts. And a few of their hitters, Lindor, Kipnis, Santana and Encarnacion havent really begun hitting yet. Neither has their young catcher Perez, who had such a good playoff last year. But they have gotten major contributions from Austin Jackson, Brantley and Zimmer. Very deep bench, including Guyer.

Then, there is that lights-out bullpen. Kluber is back and looking REALLY good. Tough to beat a team that has him for 2-3 starts in a five or seven game series. Solid defensive club, too.

I still like the Indians to win it all. They didnt get off to a good start, but they are playing well now.

 

[Ray McKigney]

Don't forget about Cerrano, Dorn, and Willie Mays Hayes.

[Ohtaniland]

3 hours ago, WeatherWonk said:

I watch a LOT of baseball. Maybe 4-6 hours per day;  usually moving around from game to game during each time zone. So, I see a lot of teams each year.

The half way point is a legitimate point to begin talking about who looks good and who doesnt.

Who makes it to the Championship Series, in your opinion, based on what you have seen? Of course, injuries and the trading deadline can change the mix, somewhat.

Here's my picks:

AL CS-Cleveland vs Houston

NL-Dodgers vs Washington

World Series-Cleveland vs Dodgers

I really like the Indians lineup. Very solid. They get on base, dont strike out, work counts. And a few of their hitters, Lindor, Kipnis, Santana and Encarnacion havent really begun hitting yet. Neither has their young catcher Perez, who had such a good playoff last year. But they have gotten major contributions from Austin Jackson, Brantley and Zimmer. Very deep bench, including Guyer.

Then, there is that lights-out bullpen. Kluber is back and looking REALLY good. Tough to beat a team that has him for 2-3 starts in a five or seven game series. Solid defensive club, too.

I still like the Indians to win it all. They didnt get off to a good start, but they are playing well now.

 

If the Yankees are still hovering around 1st place near the deadline look for them to move some farm pieces for a starter and another bat. They could be in the championship chatter. 

[Stradling]

5 hours ago, CALZONE said:

If the Yankees are still hovering around 1st place near the deadline look for them to move some farm pieces for a starter and another bat. They could be in the championship chatter. 

No, they need a great starter and none will be traded at the deadline.  When every team is within striking distance you don't see top level talent moved. 

[Waybackman]

P

9 minutes ago, Stradling said:

No, they need a great starter and none will be traded at the deadline.  When every team is within striking distance you don't see top level talent moved. 

With a pitcher like Kershaw, the Dodgers can do what the Giants did with Bumgartner. If you get to the playoffs, a sure-thing starter like Kershaw can carry a team to the promised land. 

[Homebrewer]

Padres will go on a terror after the ASB and shock the world. Get your bets down and remember who told you when you cash in..

[Stradling]

18 minutes ago, Waybackman said:

P

With a pitcher like Kershaw, the Dodgers can do what the Giants did with Bumgartner. If you get to the playoffs, a sure-thing starter like Kershaw can carry a team to the promised land. 

For some reason he's had little success in the post season. 

[JAHV76]

At this pace the Astros and Dodgers would be playing in the World Series 

[Docwaukee]

9 hours ago, WeatherWonk said:

I watch a LOT of baseball. Maybe 4-6 hours per day;  usually moving around from game to game during each time zone. So, I see a lot of teams each year.

The half way point is a legitimate point to begin talking about who looks good and who doesnt.

Who makes it to the Championship Series, in your opinion, based on what you have seen? Of course, injuries and the trading deadline can change the mix, somewhat.

Here's my picks:

AL CS-Cleveland vs Houston

NL-Dodgers vs Washington

World Series-Cleveland vs Dodgers

I really like the Indians lineup. Very solid. They get on base, dont strike out, work counts. And a few of their hitters, Lindor, Kipnis, Santana and Encarnacion havent really begun hitting yet. Neither has their young catcher Perez, who had such a good playoff last year. But they have gotten major contributions from Austin Jackson, Brantley and Zimmer. Very deep bench, including Guyer.

Then, there is that lights-out bullpen. Kluber is back and looking REALLY good. Tough to beat a team that has him for 2-3 starts in a five or seven game series. Solid defensive club, too.

I still like the Indians to win it all. They didnt get off to a good start, but they are playing well now.

 

I really want to write something insensitive about you watching 4-6hrs of baseball per day but there are a lot of people with different situations on this board.  I hope it's cuz your're a billionaire pimp with lots of free time.  

My other guess is that you're a school teacher. 

HA!  Suck it Tank!

[Ohtaniland]

27 minutes ago, Stradling said:

For some reason he's had little success in the post season. 

Kershaw has more playoff experience than our entire staff combined. 

[Stradling]

Just now, CALZONE said:

Kershaw has more playoff experience than our entire staff combined. 

Clod go be a Dodger fan or a Yankee fan, because you certainly aren't a fan of this team.  

[Ohtaniland]

11 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Clod go be a Dodger fan or a Yankee fan, because you certainly aren't a fan of this team.  

I'm a big in-n-out fan too.

[ten ocho recon scout]

31 minutes ago, CALZONE said:

Kershaw has more playoff experience than our entire staff combined. 

And the same amount of rings.

"If youre not first, youre last". I remember someone writing that on here recently.

[Docwaukee]

2 hours ago, CALZONE said:

Kershaw has more playoff experience than our entire staff combined. 

he's the Ricky Nolasco of the playoffs.  

[TooCool]

AL: Astros vs Red Sux/Skanks

NL: Nationals vs DBacks/Dodgers

Those are my guesses.

[HALOS23]

9 hours ago, Waybackman said:

P

With a pitcher like Kershaw, the Dodgers can do what the Giants did with Bumgartner. If you get to the playoffs, a sure-thing starter like Kershaw can carry a team to the promised land. 

If the Dodgers used Kershaw liked Mad bum, they'd get swept... 

He's terrible in playoffs. 

[arch stanton]

He's had some bad moments but he hasn't been automatically bad and he's still Clayton Kershaw and still as likely as any pitcher alive to shut a team down on that given day

[m0nkey]

It's overblown.  There's no other pitcher you'd rather have in a playoff game

[Inside Pitch]

10 hours ago, Waybackman said:

P

With a pitcher like Kershaw, the Dodgers can do what the Giants did with Bumgartner. If you get to the playoffs, a sure-thing starter like Kershaw can carry a team to the promised land. 

They have had him every year they have been in the playoffs -- Kershaw has not had the best of luck in the postseason...   4.55 ERA overall in the postseason (89 IP), and an awful 5.58 in the NLCS

[halomatt]

I'd take the Dodgers against any other team.  Brilliant, innovative front office, a managerial staff unafraid of advanced metrics, a team with young, very impressive players, effective veterans, the best pitcher in baseball, a ridiculously deep farm system and a shit-ton of money to get whatever they need to get over the hump. 

(As I type this, I flash back to Poo-holes swinging at a pitch that almost hits him in the neck. Sigh.)

[Angel Oracle]

ALCS - Cleveland vs Houston, everyone else has too many holes.

NLCS - Dodgers vs Washington, everyone else has too many holes.

World Series - Cleveland vs Dodgers, as the Nats and Astros bullpens implode in their LCS'.

Cleveland, with the deeper bullpen, finally wins a WS title to break a 68 year drought, leaving the Rangers as the team with the longest WS title drought (NEVER to this point). 

[arch stanton]

I'm not as impressed with the Dodgers. They seem awfully one-dimensional on offense with 9 guys trying to hit every pitch out of the stadium. Defense was iffy. Everybody is sleeping on the Cubs but they'll win their division by default and Theo will do a better job of filling in the holes than the other NL GMs. The Rockies are my sleeper pick

I see the WS rematch with the Cubs and Indians with the finally getting it done.

[nando714]

Yankees SP won't hold 

Red Sox are getting no production from 3B and I think C but their SP is great on paper.

Astros lost SP to injury and who knows if they'll hold up

AL is Wide Open

[zenmaster]

Rays beat the D-Backs in The World Series after Kershaw gets injured mid season and the Dodgers tank. Rays come on strong as the Red Sox and Yankees fall back. Astros regain their 2011-2014 form. 

[Angel Oracle]

1 hour ago, arch stanton said:

I'm not as impressed with the Dodgers. They seem awfully one-dimensional on offense with 9 guys trying to hit every pitch out of the stadium. Defense was iffy. Everybody is sleeping on the Cubs but they'll win their division by default and Theo will do a better job of filling in the holes than the other NL GMs. The Rockies are my sleeper pick

I see the WS rematch with the Cubs and Indians with the finally getting it done.

Arrieta's Steve Blass impersonation is scary though.   Lackey is getting up there in years.   Hendricks has missed a month.   Granted, they still have Lester, but even he has a 3.67 ERA.   The Cubs hitting has depth in the lineup, but they haven't scored a lot of runs.   Like the Dogs, it seems to be the HR providing a lot of their offense, only 24 SBs.