SCOTT JACOBS

The only thing more frustrating then the start of these 2008 MLB playoffs is the bombardment of annoying Frank TV ads that we the sports fan have to suffer through every other commercial. O yeah, there’s also been the stunningly boring play taking place on the field.  This post-season appeared to set up as the most wide open field in some time.  Instead, a few days in, we’re almost already out of the first round and into the league championship series.  Why?  Because every series is 2-0.  Every single one!  Last year we had three sweeps (and one four game series), and that was as anti-climatic as we’d seen in some time.  This year, we could be looking at a foursome of sweeps.  Get out the brooms, no one’s safe.

Not the Brewers, who have proven to be a one man wrecking machine that now just looks broken, after their ace was pummeled in game two.

Not the Cubs, who are once again on the verge of another disheartening playoff exit, just moments into what looked like “the year.”

Not the White Sox, who have given the South Side little to cheer about.  Sure, they’ve taken the lead early, but they couldn’t hold on, and a pair of two run leads in successive games has gone all for not.  After the week they had, having to play two games after the season had ended, it’s excusable for them to be on the verge of being swept, but the Angels?

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, might as well be renamed the “Who cares what they’re named, the Red Sox own them.”  Seriously, the Red Sox have taken the Angels, who won 100 games, and looked like clear cut favorites to win another world championship, and they’ve just knocked them down every time the Angels look like they’re trying to get up. It’s incredible.  Make it eleven consecutive post-season wins for Boston over LA, a new major league record.

The Angels had eleven hits, and one was an extra base hit.  The Halos scratched and clawed back from a 5-2 deficit early on, but once again, like the Spurs owning the Suns, Boston put away what is no longer even the best team in Southern California.  That distinction right now would go to the Dodgers.

That series looked like it would be the best of these four (and it has been, for whatever that’s worth), and at least a pair of these series looked like good bets to go at least four.  But that looks unlikely now.

With the Brewers reeling, and their offense held at bay, Philadelphia looks like they’ll get the knockout blow Saturday.  Milwaukee’s lack of hitting has cost them dearly, and now that C.C. Sabathia is off the list, the Phils can feel it.

The Dodgers will look to finish off the shell-shocked Cubs Saturday when the series shifts to Los Angeles.  If the Cubs have anything going for them, it’s that the Angels couldn’t win in LA, so maybe the same will go for the Dodgers.  But not likely.  In fact, look for the Dodgers to complete the sweep tomorrow, officially putting Cubs fans out of their misery for the umpteenth time.

The Rays will look for the sweep at U.S. Cellular, and boy has that bullpen been impressive.  Those young kids over in Tampa Bay have proven to be real gamers, and you can’t help but think a Red Sox-Rays ALCS would be absolutely riveting theater. Not quite Yanks-Sox, but certainly a compelling matchup nonethless.

So that’s where we stand.  Tonight’s Red Sox-Angels game was a thriller, but Boston just oozes with confidence.  They may no longer have Manny, but the defending champs are still incredibly clutch.  And how about Jason Bay, homering in his first two post-season games.  Not a bad pickup, was Bay, who looks incredibly comfortable in what looked like a tough role to fill.

So that’s the story this post-season.  Both teams in the mega Manny swap look well on their way. All they have to do is win one game at home, and they’re golden.

The Brewers and White Sox get to go home, but neither one of their chances looks all that great.

I’m not sure that this has ever happened, but could we be looking at FOUR sweeps in one round?

It certainly looks like a realistic possibility.

SCOTT JACOBS

Call it what you will, but there’s not a doubt in the world that golden liquids will be spraying all the way into the wee hours of the morning in the land of the cheese.  Whether it’s Brewers fans peeing their pants, or Brewers players spraying champagne and beer everywhere, Milwaukee is into the post-season for the first time since 1982.  Their 3-1 win, coupled with New York’s sad 4-2 loss (officially putting the recking ball on Shea) today sent Wisconsin into a frenzy.  It was the only type of win that could put Aaron Rodgers’ injury on the backburner, along with Brett Favre’s six touchdown day.  Milwaukee watched the only New York team it truly needed to lose, lose.

The Brewers, notorious losers for decades, had made the playoffs twice since 1970.  That’s 38 seasons.  Lucky number 39 was what the Brewers needed to tack  one more to that very un-humbling list.  But, the team that was brought to Milwaukee by primary owner Bud Selig (now MLB commissioner) is back.  Back in the playoffs.

That’s three times in 39 seasons.  That’s once every 13 years. That’s a seven percent success rate.

But hey, how many teams (not players, not coaches) can say that they’ve made the playoffs in both Leagues?  Not many.  Milwaukee can lay claim to that.

Besides, they haven’t had a heck of a lot to celebrate as Brewers fans.  Milwaukee’s first playoff berth (1981) came in a year where a players strike wiped out a portion of the year.  Yes, the Brewers did what they had to do, but that’s historically not all that amazing.  Especially in a season as long as baseball.

And then there was 1982.  The greatest year to date, in the history of the Brewers.  Robin Yount was AL MVP that year, the team belted out 216 dingers, and their pitcher Pete Vulkovich won the CY Young.  The Brewers came back from an 0-2 deficit to win the final three games and secure their place in the World Series, where they would fall in seven games to St. Louis.

So that’s where we stand.  The Brewers are trying to overcome the demons of 1982.  Was it a bad beer keg that cursed the team?  Or was it bad cheese?  No one knows, but this Brewers team will have to overcome the odds without Ben Sheets, who is done for the year.

C.C. Sabathia has been brilliant, but he can’t do it all.  The Brewers will need everyone to advance.

And if they do, could a Brewers-Cubs NLCS possibility loom?  It seems only fitting that the team that can’t win a World Series plays the team that hasn’t won one in  99 years and counting.

But first things first: the Phillies.  Philadelphia was swept out last year by red hot Colorado after winning the NL East.  This year, that probably won’t happen again.

But then again, who thought the Mets would collapse again?

SCOTT JACOBS

It’s the only sport for months, and then football comes along and it gets buried. The excitement wavers. The anticipation dies down. It’s only natural for there to be a drop-off in concentration, when football pile drives into the picture. So the good folks at JSB sort of put baseball on the backburner amidst all the hoopla that football brings each year. But hey, we’re back. We hope you don’t think of us any differently.

Ned Yoast=Toast
When your team is in a pennant race with 12 games left in the season and you’re team is tied for the division lead you would:

A. Fire your manager
B. Shock even your own players
C. Blame Whitey
D. A & B (Not so much on C, although Yost is white. Hmmm…)

Answer: D.

Yup, the Brewers stunned the baseball world by axing their manager out of the complete blue. Sure, the starving for a playoff trip, please let our fans piss their pants Brewers have been free-falling down the stretch. Sure, Milwaukee is now nine games back of the division leading Cubs, and the Brewers are actually now a half game back of the Wild Card leading Mets (more on that in just a sec), but to fire your manager this late in the season, it’s just, it’s… desperate. Okay, so Milwaukee has now lost 5 in a row, and they’ve won a pitiful 2 out of their last 10, but look on the bright side: they could always be the Rays (Announcer whispers in ear: okay, so I guess that one doesn’t apply to this year). Still, did someone confuse baseball for hockey? That’s where coaches get fired out of the blue for no reason. Yes, it’s true: we made a reference to hockey. How you going to act? Yeah, keep reading. That’s what I thought!

The Collapse: Part Two?
Okay, so the Mets didn’t own a 7 1/2 game lead with 17 to play like they did last year, but everything was rolling around smoothly (sans the whole Billy Wagner nightmare) and then this happens. What’s this you ask? This, is the sky falling around the Mets. New York’s other team closing out a stadium this year is still 16 games above .500 but they’ve lost three in a row. Now, they trail the Phillies by a half game in the NL East. With a horrendous bullpen that is a question mark every time they take the mound, the Mets have to be chalk full of nerves with the end of the season in sight. And this wasn’t supposed to happen. Remember all that money they spent on that Johan Santana fella? Wasn’t he supposed to make this all go away? But hey, the Mets finish the season with Florida for a three game set. O wait a minute, wasn’t that the team the swept the Mets the last weekend of the season last year? Yeah, I do believe it was. And, with the Marlins coming on strong, is it possible that the Fish could be vying for a division crown too when the two kick off a crucial three game set at Shea?

Do you believe in the Rays now? If you don’t, well you’re just anti-family
It’s gonna happen. No, not the Cubs winning the World Series, though that could happen. No, the Rays are going to make the playoffs. It’s a done deal. Mathematically there’s that small window of losing every game the rest of the year, but there is no way that happens, so I’m going to proclaim it now: Congratulations Tampa Bay! Your fans can come out of hiding now, it’s okay to root for the Rays now. Amazing, Baseball Prospectus proclaimed the Rays would win almost 90 games and I thought they were crazy. And look at ‘em now, high fiving each other, taking turns buying each other steak dinners. Damn you Baseball Prospectus for being so damn smart. The Rays have 89 wins and a one game cushion on the Red Sox in the AL East, but more importantly, they have an eight game cushion on a playoff spot. Next year, Tampa Bay will probably not be ashamed to put “Tampa Bay” on their uniforms. You hear that Baseball Prospectus? That’s my bold pick for next year, and I’m making it right now!

Other tid bits…

Why Milwaukee for a team playing in Houston? There was nothing closer? Nothing at all? Nothing at least on the West side of the country?

Don’t look now, okay, so you can look, but the Marlins have won six in a row.

The Dodgers are rolling to the NL West crown. I’d say Arizona’s collapse has been stunning, but when you hover around .500 for most of the year, is blowing a recent 4.5 game lead that shocking?

The White Sox and Twins are battling it out for the Central. Meanwhile, Detroit’s season was an epic failure.

But hey, I did predict the Yankees to fail to make the playoffs. 14 years and counting, that steak is over. Now I just have to look up who’s next in line with the longest streak after this year. My guess? The Angels, maybe.

Speaking of the Angels, barring a terrific finish, they won’t win 100 games. When did it become so hard for anyone to do it?

Cause I wasn’t told.

I told you at the beginning of the year: Diamondbacks-Indians World Series! And boy was I not even close.