2009 MLB Playoffs

As the playoffs are almost upon us everyone has predictions and hopes for their favorite teams. With the spots set for who's in and who's out will we have another wild card win the World Series? Will the Yankees return to dominance? These are the questions we'll get to see unfold as one of the most exciting months of the year gets under way. Before the playoff predictions can be made, the Twins and the Tigers still have to decide the AL Central crown. With an easy series against the Royals, the Twins are running on all cylinders. The Tigers have to face the White Sox but hold on to a one game lead.

AL Central Champs
Minnesota Twins. The Tigers have a tough series with the White Sox and even though their pitching is top notch, the easy series the Twins have against the Royals will put them over the top. Don't be surprised if this comes down to a one game playoff, in which the Twins and their MVP candidate Joe Mauer would rule the day.

American League Divisional Series
New York Yankees v. Minnesota Twins. The Yankees have dominated the Twins this year going undefeated and demoralizing their spirits a bit with three straight walk off wins. It's been the theme for this team all year to fall behind at home and have a knack for the theatrics. Look for C.C., A.J., and Andy to complete a three game sweep and 2009 MVP frontrunner's Derek Jeter and Mark Teixera to have monstrous games.
Yankees in 3.

Boston Red Sox v. Anaheim Angels. This is a series that seems like it happens every other year. These two teams with great managers and veterans up and down their lineups will create more October magic. The Red Sox have came out on top in years past, but this Angels team is on a mission this year after the death of Nick Adenhart. One through nine are .300 hitters and their pitching staff is one of the best in the majors. Beckett just hasn't been himself and who knows how well Lester will perform after getting plunked by Melky's liner. Just too much offense and good pitching for the Red Sox to handle.
Angels in 4.

National League Divisional Series
Los Angeles Dodgers v. Saint Louis Cardinals. With the Dodgers clinging to a one game lead out west and the Rockies on a hot streak, they will find a way to win one of three and claim the title of NL West champs. With a loss to the Brewers the Cardinals will hit the road and play Joe Torre's Dodgers in L.A. However, the Cardinals are just too good upfront this year with Wainwright and Carpenter and the Dodgers number one going into the playoffs is...Randy Wolf. L.A. might steal a game, but look for the Cardinals to advance.
Cardinals in 4.

Philadelphia Phillies v. Colorado Rockies. The past two NL champs face off in a battle of big hitting titans. Ryan Howard has worked his name back into the MVP race and Joe Blaton has been one of the best pitchers in the league all season. Colorado just doesn't have the depth to keep up with the defending champs and their stacked lineup but they are strong enough to make this a watchable series. Look for it to go all 5 games.
Phillies in 5.

American League Championship Series
New York Yankees v. Anaheim Angels. If one team can derail the magic and the ghosts of the new Yankee Stadium that really have seemed to cross the street with the team its the Angels. They've been the Yankees Achilles heel for over ten years now and they just always seem to have their number. After a relatively easy series against the Tigers the Yankees will be reloaded to play the stacked Angels. If A-Rod comes back to his form before Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS the Yankees will probably take this series in six or seven games. If he doesn't listen for the boo birds and look for the Angels in the World Series. That being said I'm going with pitching here.
Yankees in 6.

National League Championship Series
Philadelphia Phillies v. St. Louis Cardinals. Albert Pujols had his team on his back for the majority of the season and Wainwright and Carpenter have been nothing short of phenomenal. Raul Ibanez needs to keep his power surge going and the middle of the Phillies lineup has to stay hot in order to pull this series out. Philadelphia does have home field advantage which in Philadelphia is always scary. With two NL Cy Young candidates on the Cardinals you can't go against them. The defending champs will put up a strong fight though, going out with a bang.
Cardinals in 7.

World Series
New York Yankees v. St. Louis Cardinals. Games 1 and 2 will be a pitchers paradise/nightmare. All four of the starters have been magnificent this year and are work horses who can carry a team. The new Yankee Stadium is home to the first two games though and balls fly out of there at an alarming rate. Damon will be the x-factor here as he was in 2004. If he can get the Yankees going after Jeter, the series will shift in their favor. Games 3 through 5 are going to decide who wins this series and the managerial decisions will play a large role here. La Russa has been there before and Girardi has not, even though he pulled all the right strings this year, the World Championship is going back to St. Louis and Girardi of course will be under fire to win in 2010 or someone else will be coming in. Possibly the man that just beat them.
Cardinals in 6.