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Playoffs Good
VirtualGammons
[VirtualGammons is a psuedo neural-net program that attempts to write columns by matching current events or story criteria to a huge text database of sports columns written by Peter Gammons and others. It is not meant as a substitute for Peter Gammons, who writes for the Boston Globe and is a baseball analyst for ESPN.]
With one game to go in the season we can look ahead to the playoffs and even the World Series.
National League
That National League produced most of the excitement this year. The race for the wild card brought a nation back to the game, as three teams from different coasts competed hard for the prize. The regular season didn't end it. The Cubs and Giants will face off for a one-game playoff. The last time baseball saw a one-game playoff was 1995 when Seattle played Anaheim. In a stunning defeat of the Yankees, the Mariners showed the world how much fun the new playoff format was.
This one could be even more dramatic, as it gives Sammy Sosa one more game to tie or beat Mark McGwire's 70-home run record. Both teams are good. While the Cubs are the sentimental favorite, their starting pitching is weak. In San Francisco, GM Brian Sabean's late-season moves now seem brilliant as his team has come together just when the games really count. They had won six in a row before their last game. Don't discount momentum as a factor. This game could go either way. I think home field advantage will decide a close game.
San Diego is another team that, like the Mariners, established a winning franchise to support their demands for a new stadium. By acquiring proven veteran players on the free agent market, the Padres are a dangerous team. Especially with the comeback of Greg Vaughn, this is a feared offensive lineup. Trevor Hoffman is nearly unbeatable in the final inning. Look for Kevin Brown to come up big in the playoffs. San Diego could use deeper starting pitching, but their late rotation is okay.
Don't overlook quiet Houston, which has quietly assembled a hundred-win season. They have all the makings of a great team. But they seem to be ignored by national media. Don't underestimate this team just because they're not on the front page, though. They feature a lineup that showcases both talent and power, with great clutch hitting. This is an offense that flat-out wins games. Randy Johnson has been unbeatable in the Astrodome since his trade from Seattle, and he leads a deadly rotation. Two 19-game winners back him up. Look out for Houston, as they are good.
Rounding out the National League are the Braves, who are here every year. Any year they make the playoffs, they're a favorite. Their strong starting pitching means they're in every game. They also feature a deep bullpen and good offensive support. This is a team of veterans who have all been through this before. Look for veteran composure that will put them into the World Series one more time. This is a team without any weak points. When a starter goes down, a role player like Ozzie Guillen steps in to fill the void. That kind of deep bench will be an advantage during the late innings of these playoffs. I see the Braves going all the way to the World Series again.
American League
The dominant force in the American League this year has been the New York Yankees. They are one of the greatest teams ever and deserve to be considered with the Yankee teams of old. Led by Andy Pettite, David Wells, David Cone, and the amazing Orlando Hernandez, this is a team that may have a hard time going to a shortened rotation. Backed up by a terrifying offense that contains few dominant players but at each position a top performer. From Scott Brosius' great season to Bernie Williams' great season, the Yankees are a great team. Concerns about their lackluster finish should be dismissed. This is a veteran team that will refocus for the playoffs and sweep the weaker competition out of their way.
Surprisingly, second-best is the wild card team, Boston. This is the reason the wild card exists: to exclude the Red Sox from the playoffs would be wrong. For all the talk about the chase the Blue Jays gave, the Red Sox had a better record than both the Rangers and the Indians. This is a good team. With a true ace in Pedro Martinez, they are nearly guaranteed two wins in a short series, putting the pressure on their opponents. This psychological advantage can't be overlooked especially in the playoffs when veteran leadership and composure become so important.
I look for the Red Sox to make it out of the first round without much of a contest. And was I the only person who noticed the Orioles' late-season push? Cheers to Baltimore for keeping a contender together and giving the fans their money's worth.
In Cleveland, the fans have to be worried. They have no dominant starter, a bullpen that at times has been shaky, and only Manny Ramirez has over 100 RBIs. Manny Ramirez provides nearly all of this team's power hitting, and only Kenny Lofton provides speed. While having Jim Thome join the lineup is welcome, is this really a playoff team? I have to say no. This is a weaker team than its record would indicate. I see the Indians losing in the first round.
For an example of a good playoff team, see Texas. This is a team of veteran players who hit in the clutch and can manufacture a run. Three players have over 100 RBIs, and one -- Ivan Rodriguez -- has 91. And he's the catcher! From top to bottom, this is a team that flat-out competes. Rick Helling is a proven 20-game winner, and Aaron Sele, written off by many, has come through with 19 wins.
Is there a better closer in the American League than John Wetteland? I doubt it. And with a proven clutch hitter like Juan Gonzalez, this is a team that will take advantage of mistakes and win ballgames. If any team in the American League could upset New York, this is it. I like their chances. But don't bet against the Yankees.
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