2008 Division Series: Who's going to sweep?

[hudsonharden]

At least one of these 4 teams is bound to sweep their series. Who do you think will do it?

Note: please get all votes in before the start of tomorrow's Phillies/Brewers game

[STLCards2]

I feel the most confident in the Philies and Rays sweeping, but any could or could not.

[Imgran]

They're all up 2-0. We're going to have a unique postseason because All of them are going to sweep.

[efin98]

They're all up 2-0. We're going to have a unique postseason because All of them are going to sweep.

I wouldn't say all of them, Boston is facing a guy who did good on the road and against Boston vs. a guy who is coming off of an injury who pitches worse at home than on the road...this could be the one series that goes to four games.

[Evangelion]

Looking at all the pitching match-ups and how the series has gone, I see a sweep in all four series.

If I had to pick, it be the Phillies.

1. Phillies
2. Red Sox
3. Rays
4. Dodgers

[Uncle Charlie]

Last year all four division series would've been sweeps if the Yankees hadn't beat the Indians in Game 3(and two of the three best-of-seven series were sweeps). The year before, the division series had two sweeps and two three-games-to-one victories. We haven't had a division series go the full five games since the Angels beat the Yankees three years ago.

[brewcrew82]

I went with both of the AL series' ending in sweeps.

[Imgran]

I wouldn't say all of them, Boston is facing a guy who did good on the road and against Boston vs. a guy who is coming off of an injury who pitches worse at home than on the road...this could be the one series that goes to four games.

But that guy is named Josh Beckett, and this is the playoffs, so it doesn't matter.

The team I pick to have the best chance for a bounceback is actually the White Sox. A large number of veterans there who've been around the block a few times and are less likely to be rattled as a result. I'm betting that once they get out of the Trop Ozzie will manage to get them to make a statement. The Brewers are a good candidate too, mostly because Philly really doesn't have a deep rotation and they can possibly hit their #3 at home.

I'd rate the teams in order of likelihood to avoid the sweep roughly as follows:

White Sox
Brewers
Angels
Cubbies

[MVP31]

With Danks going in game 3, I think the White Sox are the leading candidate to avoid a sweep.

[NYMets523]

But that guy is named Josh Beckett, and this is the playoffs, so it doesn't matter.

Beckett has had lousy year. I don't care what his postseason stats are, you can't act like that game is in the bank for the Red Sox because of the year he had.

[Imgran]

Beckett has had lousy year. I don't care what his postseason stats are, you can't act like that game is in the bank for the Red Sox because of the year he had.

In Beckett's 4 September starts he averaged 6+ innings a start and put up a 2.16 ERA. He struggled this year, partly because of back problems, but he's hot at the right time.

[NYMets523]

How is he hot? He hasn't pitched in 12 days.

[spark240]

Last year all four division series would've been sweeps if the Yankees hadn't beat the Indians in Game 3(and two of the three best-of-seven series were sweeps). The year before, the division series had two sweeps and two three-games-to-one victories. We haven't had a division series go the full five games since the Angels beat the Yankees three years ago.

They're all sweeps unless they're not.

[philkid3]

I picked the Rays to win in 4, and thought it would likely come from a split in Chicago. So far so good, and AccuScore even gives the White Sox a 57% chance to win tonight.

I still have so much trouble believing the Dodgers will sweep the Cubs. They've been pounded so thoroughly -- at home -- that I'm tempted to pick them, but I'll give Harden a chance to win.

I thought anything could easily happen in the Brewers-Phillies series, but picked five games. I haven't seen anything to make me feel like changing that yet, and the games are going to Milwaukee. AccuScore even gives them a 56% edge. I'll still give them an edge.

I thought the Red Sox would win in 4, but I'm going to vote for them to sweep partly because I feel like the odds are someone is going to sweep, and I'll pick the Red Sox. I had the series going to 4 games, but taking both games in LA might have taken away one of the Angels' wins. I'll pick the first game in Boston to be the last of the series.

[philkid3]

Beckett has had lousy year. I don't care what his postseason stats are, you can't act like that game is in the bank for the Red Sox because of the year he had.

How is a 114 ERA+ over 175 innings "lousy?" It wasn't good enough to be in the Cy Young argument like last year, sure, but if that's lousy, most pitchers in baseball are lousy or worse.

[philkid3]

Looking at all the pitching match-ups and how the series has gone, I see a sweep in all four series.

If I had to pick, it be the Phillies.

1. Phillies
2. Red Sox
3. Rays
4. Dodgers

I like this. In order of my thoughts on their chances of sweeping. . .

1. Red Sox
2. Dodgers
3. Phillies
4. Rays

[NYMets523]

How is a 114 ERA+ over 175 innings "lousy?" It wasn't good enough to be in the Cy Young argument like last year, sure, but if that's lousy, most pitchers in baseball are lousy or worse.

I wouldn't call a 4.03 ERA good. Especially for a pitcher like Beckett.

[babaganoosh]

I put the Rays and the Phillies. Chicago barely got in the playoffs and they relied very heavily on their pitchers pitching on short rest heading into the playoffs, not good when you then have to play the AL East champ. And the Brew Crew just aren't playing like they showed during the regular season right now.

[philkid3]

I wouldn't call a 4.03 ERA good. Especially for a pitcher like Beckett.

But that's still significantly better than average, and was put up in an extreme hitters park. It was definitely, inarguably above average, and arguably good, depending on your definition of good. It was certainly not bad, and while it may have been a let down from his last season, that doesn't make it lousy. It makes his last season awesome.

He had 3.32 FIP this year. You know how many AL pitchers were better than that? Two: Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.

He missed a lot of time, but he was still good in the time he pitched.

[Imgran]

Right, and if there's one thing we should have learned about Josh Beckett by now, it's not to underestimate him in the playoffs.

[NYMets523]

Right, and if there's one thing we should have learned about Josh Beckett by now, it's not to underestimate him in the playoffs.

5 IP, 9H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K.

Looks like you overestimated him.

[efin98]

5 IP, 9H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 6 K.

Looks like you overestimated him.

You forgot that he is coming off of an injury that prevented him from pitching beyond a bullpen session for two weeks

Overestimation was justified :rolleyes:

[NYMets523]

You forgot that he is coming off of an injury that prevented him from pitching beyond a bullpen session for two weeks

Overestimation was justified :rolleyes:

Imgran proclaimed that Beckett would pitch like Sandy Koufax yesterday and there was no way the Angels could win.

[Imgran]

Imgran proclaimed that Beckett would pitch like Sandy Koufax yesterday and there was no way the Angels could win.

Nice use if hyperbole there. Beckett didn't pitch well, but there was no reason to doubt him before the game started, was there?

I'm a fan. You seem to have a problem with that but that problem is yours, not mine, so I suggest you deal with it.

[NYMets523]

Nice use if hyperbole there. Beckett didn't pitch well, but there was no reason to doubt him before the game started, was there?

I'm a fan. You seem to have a problem with that but that problem is yours, not mine, so I suggest you deal with it.

You're one to talk about hyperbole. Was there a reason to think he'd dominate? Not really since he did not have a great year and hadn't pitched in so many days. Andy Pettitte has had good post-season numbers but even he has gotten pounded in his starts.

I don't have a problem with you being a fan. I have a problem with you being ignorant and giving a 100-win team no chance at winning because of an injured starter who happens to have good post-season numbers.

[Whitesoxnut]

This Dodger/Phillies series is shaping up to be a memorable one. Both are playing good ball and throwing the ball well. I think this one is going to go 6 games and very possibly 7.

[STLCards2]

Nice use if hyperbole there. Beckett didn't pitch well, but there was no reason to doubt him before the game started, was there?

.

But there was a reason to doubt him before the game started. In fact your fellow Sox fan stated, "You forgot that he was coming off of an injury that prevented him from pitching beyond a bullpen session for two weeks..."

...and as your archnemesis NYMETS253 wisely pointed out, "he hasn't pitched for 12 days."

Based on his health and inconsistant pitching this year throughout, I don't see how anybody would feel like a great pitching performance was a certaintly - even with his postseaon past. Could he have pitched a great game? Sure. Would I have bet money on it? No way.

[hudsonharden]

I just want to pat myself on the back for picking the Phillies and only the Phillies... ok I'm done gloating.