Oct
5
2012

Some Things To Watch For This Playoff Season

An article by Mitch Petanick

I am reminded of that Christmas song…”it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” It doesn’t get any better than playoff time. I’m bummed that the Mets aren’t playing significant baseball again this fall, but I guess it does give us an opportunity to sit back and enjoy these games and celebrate this great game of baseball, without the stress of having our team’s fate on the line. Anyway, here are a few things to watch that could make a major impact on this year’s playoff picture:

Wild Card winner getting first two games at home in Divison Series

When the Marlins won the World Series in 1997 they had the same first two games at home, which gave them an added advantage. Going up against the San Francisco Giants in the Divison Series, they won the first two games at home, and then the first game back in San Fran to complete the sweep. They later went on to win the World Series. If that series started in San Fran, who knows how it would have turned out. Expect similar upsets this year.

Not having Mariano Rivera will hurt the Yankees chances

This is a given. Mariano is the greatest closer in the history of the game, and post-season play. Aside from a hiccup in the 2001 World Series, Rivera has been flawless. When the Yankees made it to the 8^th inning with a lead in previous years, it was a lock they would walk away with a win. Don’t expect similar results this year.

The Rangers will go as far as Josh Hamilton takes them

If Josh Hamilton catches fire, the Rangers will be playing in the World Series. If he continues to slump, the Rangers will make an early playoff exit. During a contract year, if Hamilton wants to really cash in, now is the time to really step up. I think he will.

Oakland’s weaknesses will be exposed

Like Billy Beane’s great moneyball teams of the early 2000s, the Athletics will ultimately be exposed in the playoffs against the Tigers, and eliminated in the ALDS. Maybe if they continue to shock everyone, and go on to win the World Series, Brad Pitt will play Beane in the Moneyball sequel. In other news, the comedic spoof of Moneyball, The Moneyball Mets, is slated for release in 2013.

Bryce Harper

Rookie Mike Trout has been all the talk of 2012, but Harper has been lurking in the shadows waiting to get his chance to steal back the rookie spotlight. This is his opportunity to show the world that he is still the best young talent in the game. Bryce Harper doesn’t sink back into the crowd, and is going to lift his play to another level with all the national attention. He will prove why Sports Illustrated dubbed him as “the chosen one.” I wonder if he will give us a few more memorable quotes along the way – That’s a clown question ‘bro.

These were just a few things that will make for a very interesting playoff season. There are a slew of other story lines that will impact this year’s playoff picture, and I’m looking forward to seeing them all unfold.

Everyone has a clean slate starting today. Team records are reset to 0-0. Everything that happened over the course of the season is in the past. Everything is on the line, and the glory is there for the taking. Who wants it more? God I love this game…

About the Author: Mitch Petanick

17 Comments + Add Comment

jessep October 5, 2012 at 3:48 pm

Can I ask a question Mitch?

I don’t wanna give away my (our) playoff predictions for tomorrow but

“Oakland’s weaknesses will be exposed”

What do you think they are?
- Mitch Petanick October 5, 2012 at 5:52 pm
  
  Offensively, they are mediocre…they will get exposed by Detroit’s pitching. Playoff inexperience also will rear its ugly head.
  - jessep October 5, 2012 at 6:31 pm
    
    7th in baseball in HR
    1st in Runs Scored since All Star Break
    1st in HR since all star break
    
    I agree with you they have flaws, but I totally think the word “mediocre” is reserved for other teams’ offense…. not Oakland’s
    - Mitch Petanick October 5, 2012 at 6:45 pm
      
      Obp, avg, hits – all below average in these categories…Pretty bad actually. When combined with the things they do well, they’re still bottom half of the league in hitting which is why I say mediocre. That’s looking at the entire season, I understand the second half has been better.
      - jessep October 5, 2012 at 6:52 pm
        
        I hear ya but the April, May A’s are not the ones playing Texas.
        
        Mitch Petanick October 5, 2012 at 7:00 pm
        
        We shall see
  - jessep October 5, 2012 at 7:22 pm
    
    So far a great job by STL getting out in front, not letting ATL’s strength be a factor in this game thus far. (Costanza just tripled)
Met Maniac October 5, 2012 at 5:02 pm

May the Yankees choke, and the A’s lose in 3.
- Metsie October 5, 2012 at 5:10 pm
  
  LOL I’m actually rooting for the Yankees…They ARE from NY and We will get to stick it in the eye of all the Moneyballers!
  - GameGeezer October 5, 2012 at 7:18 pm
    
    I’m with you Metsie! I will root for the Evil Empire just because the Yankees winning it all will make the Wilpon organization look even more inept and lame if that’s even possible!
    
    I keep hoping for a black hole to appear at CitiField and take the Wilpons and SA away to another galaxy so they can screw up some other planets franchise.
    - jessep October 5, 2012 at 7:20 pm
      
      I’d only root for NYY if they play PHI.
    - Metsie October 6, 2012 at 2:56 am
      
      It’s very much like the Mets have set up shop next to a competing Pizza place that has great tasting real NY pizza and all the mets are serving is Small frozen Stoufers Pizza made in the Microwave.
      
      It’s a damn shame what is going on and I don’t know how they think they can compete with the product they keep trying to sell us and the excuses they make for having it.
Joey D. October 5, 2012 at 7:47 pm

I’m just wondering about one thing we will not see in the playoffs. Steven Strausburg.

Would Washington shutting him down shut down their post-season chances?
- jessep October 5, 2012 at 8:39 pm
  
  they could (COULD) activate him still. Who knows, they still have Gio, Zimmerman, Jackson
trs86 October 5, 2012 at 11:00 pm

Side note, nice job Joe finally using the same mobile theme we do. Much more functional.
- srt October 5, 2012 at 11:05 pm
  
  Funny you should mention that….
  
  I don’t access from a smart phone but do from a tablet.
  I happen to like the full access site on my tablet. I’m used to it on TRDM, but I was sorry to see it change on here in the past week or so.
  
  Ah…but I guess to each his own.
srt October 5, 2012 at 11:06 pm

So, how about that Cards/Braves game?

IF fly rule-gate. I was starting to wonder if the Braves fans were ever gonna stop throwing crap onto the field.

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	43	30	.589	-
Nationals	35	36	.493	7.0
Phillies	35	38	.479	8.0
Mets	27	41	.397	13.5
Marlins	22	49	.310	20.0

Last updated: 06/20/2013

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