LCS Preview and a History Lesson Too

Before we take a look at the respective league championship series, Professor KJ will offer a history lesson.
Major League Baseball was undergoing its second case of expansion, from ten to twelve teams in each league. Adding Kansas City (recently abandoned by the A’s), Seattle (now the Milwaukee Brewers) in the American League. The National league adding San Diego, and going into Canada for the first time in Montreal (now the Washington Nationals) The American League floated the idea of splitting their league into two six team divisions. And surprisingly the National League flat out rejected the idea. Then NL president Warren Giles stated “The public will not stand to see a team with the third or fourth best record in its league in the World Series.”
American League President Joe Cronin was a little more direct in his argument. “You can’t sell a 12th place team.” The NL finally came around and after going through fits aligning its teams (The Mets wanted to be in the same division as the Giants and Dodgers!) split its league into two six team divisions as well. MLB made sure that the press and the public knew that this was NOT a playoff...it was the League Championship Series...dont you forget it either. The initial fears of a “qualified team” making the World Series never came to pass. When the 82-79 Mets beat the 99-63 Reds in 1973, the LCS concept had been firmly entrenched so no one said boo.
Other than expanding the format to a best of seven affair in 1985 and establishing a home field advantage to the team with the best record, little has changed and the LCS has had its share of exciting moments that serve to whet the appetite for the fall classic. That’s the end of the lesson, no pop quizzes and your only homework is to study the following matchups and read the blog postings of my fellow writers to the right.

National League Championship Series

Rockies (90-73 NL Wild Card Winner) vs. Diamondbacks (90-72 NL West Champs)
Series Schedule All Games Shown on TBS and times EDT

Game 1 @ Arizona Thursday 8:30p
Game 2 @ Arizona Friday 10p
Game 3 @ Colorado Sunday 8:30p
Game 4 @ Colorado Monday 10p
If Needed
Game 5 @ Colorado 10/17 8:30p
Game 6 @ Arizona 10/ 19 8:30p
Game 7 @Arizona 10/ 20 TBD

2007 Season Series
Colorado won season series 10-8

1st Postseason Series Meeting
How They Got Here: Diamondbacks Swept Cubs in 3 games; Rockies swept Phillies in 3 games.

Key Players
Rockies: Matt Holliday hit two homers and had five RBI’s in the LDS, Kaz Matsui had a grand slam in game 1.
Diamondbacks: Stephen Drew was 3-5 in the series clincher at Chicago

Fast Facts: The Diamondbacks won 90 games despite being outscored by 20 runs in the regular seasons
The Rockies outscored their opponents by an NL best 102 runs.
This is the first LCS since 2003 to not feature the Cardinals and the first since 2001 not to have any NL Central team

Breakdown You’re a stone cold lie if you said that you picked these two teams to be here back in April, Both teams come in a serious roll and both are diametric opposites of one another. The scrappy D-backs will find a different guy to beat you every night. The Rockies at least have name stars in Troy Tulowitzki, Todd Helton, and Matt Holiday. The D-Backs have the clear pitching edge, Brandon Webb is the staff ace and better than what the Rockies have to offer. Don’t get it twisted by the big media calling it the “second series” or the JV playoffs, this is an interesting matchup. For the sheer feel good nature. The Rockies are a sentimental edge. But good pitching will more often than not beat good hitting which should give the Diamondbacks the edge. But this time I’m going against the grain and back the Rockies who I think will steal at least one game in Phoenix and get off the short list of teams that have never made the fall classic.
Pick-Rockies in 6

American League Championship Series

Indians (96-66 AL Central Champions) vs. Red Sox (96-66 AL East Champs)

Series Schedule ALL Times EDT and shown on Fox
Gm 1 @ Boston Fri 7p
Gm 2 @ Boston Sat 8p
Gm 3 @ Cleveland Mon 7p
Gm 4 @ Cleveland Tue 8p
If Needed
Gm 5 @ Cleveland 10/18 8p
Gm 6 @ Boston 10/20 TBD
Gm 7 @ Boston 10/ 21 TBD

Season Series
Red Sox Won Season Series 5-2, this head to head advantage earns them the home field advantage for the ALCS

Playoff History
Red Sox Beat Indians 3 games to 2 in the 1999 ALDS
Indians Beat Red Sox 3 games to 1 in the1998 ALDS
Indians Swept Red Sox in 3 games in the 1995 ALDS
Indians beat Red Sox 8-3 in a one game 1948 AL Playoff

How They Got Here
Red Sox swept the Angels in 3 games, and Indians beat the Yankees in 4 games

Key Players
Red Sox: Manny Ramirez hit two home runs in the ALDS, including a walk-off to win game 2. David Oritz hit 2 homers himself and batted .714 (That’s not a misprint) with 6 walks.
Indians: Jhonny Peralta hit .579 in the ALDS while Kenny Lofton knocked in 4 runs and Travis Hafner scored 4 runs in the series

Breakdown-The Indians youth and exuberance versus the Red Sox cool and veteran experience. Sabathia and Carmona are the Indians 1-2 punch, but they are parried by the Sox ability to throw playoff tested Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling. You add Tim Wakefield who has historically pitched well against the Tribe and the wild card that is Dice-K Matsusaka. The edge would seemingly go heavy to the Sox. But hold on there Mr. Sulu. The Indians come into this series with a serious fearless streak they believe that they can beat anyone and after slapping the Yankees around in the LDS, don’t seem to be intimidated by anyone. The Tribe have to hope that Paul Byrd or Jake Westbrook can throw a solid game to keep the series balanced. I’m seeing a do or die Game 7 in the Fens with each team emptying out their bullpen to gain an edge. The Sox experience will make the difference here.
Pick- Sox in 7