5 Pitchers who are Best Equipped to Handle the Pressures of October

Pitching is one of the toughest jobs in professional sports, especially in the MLB playoffs of October.  Intense focus is absolutely vital and a single bad fastball left hanging over the plate can easily ruin a team’s entire World Series hopes.  As pitching often decides these playoff encounters, lets take a quick look at who figures to play a prominent role in the proceedings and is most equipped to handle the pressures that will come in these cold, mentally draining late season starts.

1. Clayton Kershaw – There’s no denying that the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kershaw is the ultimate ace pitcher this year and is a sure bet to win the NL Cy Young Award. But having won the award twice in his young career already, I think he wants to add a World Series ring to his resume!  Fortunately, his 1.78 ERA is best in the bigs and his postseason display last year eased the pain from his previous October outings of several years back, when he struggled mightily.  Surrounded by great talent, Kershaw should ride a wave of momentum into a championship.
2. Max Scherzer – Often held back in the shadows of the Detroit Tigers’ ace pitcher Justin Verlander, Scherzer has quietly become the best #2 pitcher in baseball and currently holds a decent 3.13 ERA. In recent playoff years, he has pitched tremendously well, though he certainly will need to step up now following the injury to Verlander.  A lot of the Tigers’ hopes now rest on his arm but he definitely has the capabilities to get them far and finally take over the leadership role of this team!
3. Jon Lester – A hero for the Boston Red Sox championship year in 2013 behind a postseason ERA of 1.56, Lester jumped ship to the Oakland Athletics several weeks ago and will have another great shot at a title once again. A heroic story following his recovery from lymphoma, Lester has battled adversity far beyond the mound, and he has the proof of a successful career that continues to improve with strong strikeouts.  He looks to be at home in Oakland and could lead a stunning playoff run at his new club.
4. Adam Wainwright – With a strong 2.34 ERA with the St. Louis Cardinals, Wainwright is having his best year. Having been with the team for his whole career, the pitcher has found a home and has come into his own in recent years.  Numerous playoff trips have proven largely successful for Wainwright and he figures to have another strong outing in 2014.  The Cardinals have been a great team recently and could certainly claim the World Series should this pitcher dominate.
5. David Price – A player who has certainly struggled in the postseason with the Tampa Bay Rays, Price hopes to benefit from the new surroundings in Detroit with the Tigers. His season has been quite good with a 3.21 ERA but his issue will be mental.  I’m hoping that a change of teams is exactly what his career needed.  The Rays were never going to win, but the Tigers have far more talent and opportunity.  If Price can perform to his potential this October, Detroit just might end up as World Series champions!

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Time is Now for Baseball Teams Looking to Get Hot and Win the World Series

As we enter the late days of summer and the month of August, Major League Baseball is just starting to really heat up.  Most of the divisions throughout the sport have neck and neck races, meaning that each game from here on out will be critically important as to postseason hopes and successes, especially with all the wild card teams staring down the barrel of a 1-game playoff at season’s end.  The teams that are likely to come out on top of their divisions (and who have the most realistic shot at the World Series) will be the ones that get hot from this point onwards.

Despite great seasons so far by teams like the Oakland Athletics, the San Francisco Giants, and the Milwaukee Brewers, if they cannot hit full stride at this juncture, they will likely be headed for early postseason exits, if they can qualify.  Fortunately for the Giants, they have been the hot team several times in recent history, giving the city two championships.  But to me several other talented squads seem the most likely to make the trip through October and into the 2014 World Series…

The first team that intrigues me is the St. Louis Cardinals.  In the National League Central Division, them, the Brewers, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Cincinnati Reds are all within a realistic shot of claiming the division.  But the Cardinals have the most winning experience and were the most active in recent trades, reeling in star pitchers Justin Masterson and John Lackey, while also gambling on the attitude of veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski.  Already a strong contender year in and year out with guys like Matt Carpenter, Matt Holliday, and Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals have put themselves in prime position to not only get hot, but to make a serious World Series push.

Another team in the NL that intrigues me is the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Simply stated, they have more talent than anybody else in the league, including 3 ace pitchers in Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and baseball’s best pitcher, Clayton Kershaw.  Offensively, the power of Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, and Hanley Ramirez will keep the Dodgers in any game or playoff series.  While they haven’t reached a streak like they managed mid-summer last year, they are certainly a team capable of doing just that in the months ahead to claim the World Series.

In the American League, I have my faith in the Detroit Tigers, who just added David Price to an already strong pitching lineup of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.  Another team with solid hitting from Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera, this could finally be the Tigers’ year should they be the lucky team destined to get hot.

But to get everything clicking into place right at the time for the playoffs is no easy feat.  It could be anyone from the Los Angeles Angels to the New York Yankees, or even the Kansas City Royals who could go on a tear and take the title.  However it ends up going, we can be certain that for whatever club (or clubs) that get hot, the next few months will certainly provide some exciting baseball!

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5 Preseason Favorites for the 2014 World Series

Spring training is well under way and baseball diamonds all over the country are getting readied for the beginning of the 2014 Major League Baseball season, which starts in just under 1 month’s time!  While the return of America’s greatest pastime is alluring and should fill fans of all teams with an abundance of hope, the harsh reality is that only several of the big-spending baseball teams will have any chance at claiming the 2014 World Series, or even contending for the October postseason.  Since winning championships is the ultimate goal in professional sports, here are the 5 teams most likely to win it all this year:

1.  Los Angeles Dodgers – The preseason frontrunners have assembled a team that is scary good, and it is probably just a matter of time before they win it all.  They have two aces for starting pitchers in Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw, they have proven and mature batters Matt Kemp, Hanley Ramirez, and Adrian Gonzalez, and they have the hottest prospect in baseball, Yasiel Puig.  Having had a great year last season that fell short in the NLCS, it is simply a matter of time before the Dodgers take home a World Series trophy!

2.  Boston Red Sox – How could anyone doubt the reigning champions?  Ever since they broke the “Curse of the Bambino” in 2004 the Red Sox have been a powerful team, and their work last year was tremendous.  Although Jacoby Ellsbury committed treason by signing for the Yankees, there is really only one player that matters and can lift the team to a championship: David Ortiz!  Big Papi can take over the postseason like no other player, and the Red Sox have proven their strength time and time again during the past decade!

3.  St. Louis Cardinals – While they never make the big buys and come out as obvious contenders for the titles, this team has simply put out strong teams year after year, and won the title as recently as 2011.  Their roster is solid from top to bottom and includes great hitters like Matt Holliday, Allen Craig, and Yadier Molina, while their pitching staff has always been good and is led by Adam Wainwright and Shelby Miller.  The addition of Johnny Peralta should definitely enhance this team and help them reach new heights.

4.  New York Yankees – While everyone outside of New York enjoyed their down year last season, this is a team that will buy its way out of any hole, and they look to have done just that this offseason.  While several key players like Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettite (both retired), Alex Rodriguez (suspended), and Robinson Cano have left, incoming stars like Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Japanese ace Masahiro Tanaka will bring about a new and improved side.  Mainstays like C.C. Sabathia and Derek Jeter will also bring a great presence to this team.  Expect them to rebound and make the postseason.  After that, it’s all possible for the Bronx Bombers!

5.  Texas Rangers – It’s been roughly 5 years of heartache for fans of this team that have twice seen their beloved Rangers fall short in the World Series, and have been eliminated from postseason play in demoralizing 1-game tiebreakers and playoffs the last two seasons!  This offseason, the team brought in two sensational hitters, Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo.  Helping elevate their lineup to elite status with Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios, and factoring the solid pitching department led by Yu Darvish and Martin Perez, this team can certainly contend.  The main challenge will be getting over their painful recent seasons, but I sense this just might be their year!

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2013 World Series Preview: Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals in Classic Matchup

As Halloween draws ever closer, the time has arrived to discuss the annual “Fall Classic”, better known as the World Series of baseball.  This year’s series will bring together two of the most historically prestigious Major League Baseball teams, who have both won multiple championships in the last decade.  Bringing experience and top quality to the big matchup, this could be a World Series for the ages!

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox finished the season tied for the best record with a 97-65 mark.  For the Cardinals, such a result was basically expected.  They have been one of the most exciting teams in baseball over the last few seasons.  In the 2011 World Series, the Cardinals won an incredible Game 6 in which they were facing final pitches on several occasions, but always managed to deliver.  They would win the Series in Game 7.  Last season, in the final NLDS Game 5, the Cardinals were down 6-0 before a stunning rally to win the game in the 9^th inning.  They progressed to the NLCS where they were beaten by the San Francisco Giants, but the Cardinals have proven that they can be toughest team to close out.  Heroes like David Freese, Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday, Allen Craig, and Matt Carpenter repeatedly make the plays to save the day!

But the Boston Red Sox also have a marvelous history of comebacks.  Who could ever forget their 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees when they overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat their heated rivals in 7 games?  They would go on to sweep St. Louis in the World Series, winning their first title since 1918, back when Babe Ruth was still a pitcher.

The Red Sox would then win another championship in 2007.  And although we are several years removed from those heroics, several current players took part in that 2007 season; Clay Buchholz, John Lester, David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury.  The Red Sox may have had their disappointments in the last several years, missing the playoffs, dealing with aging veterans, and even having scandals regarding their pitchers drinking beer in the dugout during days off, but this season has seen a team rekindle the passion and desire so often associated with the Red Sox.  Big Papi is swinging strongly again and the beards are back on full display!

While both teams have had marvelous years, they have both been challenged since day 1 within their divisions.  The Cincinnati Reds and the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates made life challenging for the Cardinals, and the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, and even the lowly Yankees pushed the Red Sox to the brink.  Nevertheless, both these clubs persevered through their challenges and rose to the top, fully earning their success with gritty wins and pulling through in clutch moments.

So how can a humble writer go about predicting the winner of this series?  The only thing I feel I can accurately call is that this could be the most entertaining and evenly matched World Series in years.  These teams are basically carbon copies of one another.  Both teams have great hitters that can put away home runs, and both teams have some excellent arms capable of dominating lineups.  Both teams have ravenous fan bases, fully capable of carrying their teams to unprecedented heights.  Both teams are fully loaded with championship-winning heroes.  This is quite clearly the most fully deserving teams in baseball to find themselves competing for a championship.  The World Series could be won on the rare error or stolen base.  Who will blink first?  I expect this series to go the full 7 games, but that the Boston Red Sox will win it all because they have home-field advantage.  That’s the only difference I can see in these teams!

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The MLB Playoffs Begin: Who Will Win the 2013 World Series

Now that the silliness of all the tiebreaker/1-game playoff nonsense is over, the Divisional Series of the MLB Playoffs are poised to begin.  8 of baseball’s finest clubs will be going head to head throughout the month of October to determine who will be the next World Series champions.  Will it be the upstart Los Angeles Dodgers, who seemingly bought their ticket to the playoffs with big-name acquisitions?  Or could the small-market Pittsburgh Pirates continue on a legendary run that has defied all logic this entire season?  Or perhaps the Detroit Tigers could finally win it all, after looking woeful in last season’s 4-game sweep against the San Francisco Giants in the Series?

Predicting the winner of this tournament is really a tough feat.  All the clubs involved have had sensational years (each with their own heartwarming tale), and each and every one of them could logically take the title.  The games in October are won by heroics; the bottom of the 9^th home run that carries a team from the brink of elimination, the incredible complete-game pitching display by a team’s 3^rd starter, the bit-part player who pinch hits to spark a big inning, or the costly error that befuddles an entire team into disarray.  Anything can happen during October baseball, and that’s why it is so darn fun!  It also makes predicting the champion a challenging endeavor.

But anyways, I’ll give my prediction for this year’s MLB champions based on a hunch alone, and my full confidence lies in the Tampa Bay Rays.  Through their late season heroics, the Rays have now conquered two 1-game series with dominating pitching, brilliant base running, and a hard-hitting lineup full of key players.

Since pitching wins championships, let’s start with the Rays’ pitching staff.  David Price is an ace. Alex Cobb is a rising star.  Matt Moore and Chris Archer are fully capable of starting playoff games.  Therefore, their starters will do fine.  In the bullpen, they are strong as well and capped off with closer Fernando Rodney, whose tilted hat brings an element of style to the end of Rays’ games.

The hitters on the team are excellent as well, and the team gets RBI support all the way down the lineup.  Evan Longoria is the star player and can hit a fair bit of home runs.  American League Rookie of the Year candidate Wil Myers hits near .300 and can help put guys aboard.  Defensively, the team is wonderful.  They made the second fewest errors in the Major Leagues and will certainly support their more-than-capable pitching staff.

Basically stated, this team has all the tools needed to win baseball games. But so do basically all the other teams in the playoffs, so what sets the Rays apart?  I like the fact that they have been here before, and their past failures will have made them extra-hungry.  Also, this is the first season that they really do have a great squad in every position, meaning that they will be able to compete against the best.  Also, the post-season began roughly a month ago for the Rays, as the AL Wildcard race went down to the wire, and the team persevered and is now on a roll.  Heading into October, the hottest team is usually the one that wins it all!

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With MLB Trade Deadline Approaching, Who is Ready to Contend for the 2013 World Series?

The MLB trade deadline is just several days away so contending baseball teams are scrambling in order to get that final piece of the roster puzzle that will help them contend for the 2013 World Series.  However, even with all the trades, there is still a realization that this is pretty much the team you’ve got, and how the season will pan out depends largely on the players already on the roster.  Several teams have come together in the last few weeks and should figure to contend this year.  Here are my 5 World Series favorites:

1.  Boston Red Sox – The team is currently ahead of the jam-packed AL East, and will be in a dogfight for their post-season lives, but the Red Sox are starting to play with passion.  As anyone who witnessed David Ortiz attack a dugout telephone can attest to, the madness sprung a surge, and Ortiz went 4-4 the next day.  Additionally, the Red Sox have solid hitters in Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, and decent pitching.  Jon Lester and John Lackey are formidable while if the injured Clay Buchholz can return and build off of his 1.71 ERA before his injury, the Red Sox may just have all the ingredients for a World Series run.

2.  Los AngelesDodgers – This team has all the talent and is getting really hot.  Since early June they are 26-6, while bats have come alive and pitching has been incredible.  Yasiel Puig injected a bit of passion into this team, while other hitters like Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez have also worked magic.  With a starting pitching tandem of Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers are the best team in the league.  Will they keep up the heat through October and win the World Series?  Perhaps, but there will certainly be more tests along the way!

3.  Detroit Tigers – Although the Cleveland Indians are breathing down their necks in the AL Central, the Tigers are the premier team in this division as usual.  Miguel Cabrera is one of the league’s best hitters and is already approaching 100 RBI on the season.  Other hitters like Prince Fielder, Torii Hunter, and Johnny Peralta add both power and consistency to the lineup.  Pitcher Max Scherzer is having an incredible year while Justin Verlander has also been dominant.  The Tigers are built to win now, and will be quite hungry come the MLB Playoffs.

4.  Tampa Bay Rays – Not supposed to be anything special, the Rays are on the move.  With players emerging from all over the place to produce, the team is hot on the Red Sox’s AL East heels and could nab the division or a wildcard spot.  Their team doesn’t look special, but players like Matt Moore, David Price, James Loney, and Kelly Johnson are producing and giving the team wins.  Youngster Wil Myers has been superb, and suddenly the Rays are back in contention.  They could claim this division and do more if Evan Longoria can re-discover his bat!

5.  St. LouisCardinals – One of the most successful teams in recent years, the Cardinals are facing a tough race against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds in the competitive NL Central.  I presume that the Cardinals will edge out through their recent experience and October heroics.  The team is loaded with unspectacular and unflashy, yet very talented players.  Their hitting power from Yadier Molina, Carlos Beltran, and Allen Craig is formidable while their stable of pitchers is great top to bottom and features Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, and newcomer Shelby Miller.  The Cardinals have been regulars in recent MLB Postseasons, and I expect them to be another team fully capable of lifting the 2013 World Series.

 

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