MORE BASEBALL
The ALCS game last night was actually pretty good. The Angels prove themselves to be scrappy again. Maybe that series will go seven.
Danny Sherridan has the Cardinals as 8-5 favorites over the Astros in the NLCS. That's a good price to bet on Houston. Not only has a wild card team won the World Series the last two years, but Tony LaRussa is due his usual fall. Just like Bobby Cox, LaRussa always seems to find a way to lose in the playoffs. Remember the A's in the late 1980s? They lost to the Dodgers in five games in 1988, and were swept by the Reds in 1990. They did win in 1989, but would it have happened without the earthquake that allowed LaRussa to throw Dave Stewart and Bob Welch twice? LaRussa was swept last year by Boston after almost losing to Houston in their seven game series. Houston has three solid pitchers and a lineup that gets the big hit. Houston played like a team of destiny on Sunday while St. Louis was babysitting the Triple A Padres. I would bet the Astros if it were even money. 8-5 is a big gift.
3 comments:
I predicted STL as the team to beat during spring training. They still look that way, though surging wild card teams always pack a punch late in the season.
Both AL teams specialize in winning low scoring close games. They will engage in several pitching duels to decide which will serve up longballs to Edmonds/Pujols/Walker.
There end up being very few "teams of destiny." They get beat in the playoffs and then we play up the next team of destiny next postseason.
I suppose the teams of destiny are more easily to identify after the fact. The Angels of 2002 sure seemed to have that magic. I have a feeling about these Astros.
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