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

Talk about double your pleasure, double your fun. This year’s playoff field is just oozing with twins. No, not those Twins, they got kicked out in a phenomenal one game playoff for the AL Central. But as far as pairs go, well, we got you covered. We’ve got Los Angeles, and Los Angeles (Angels of Anaheim). We’ve got Chicago and we’ve got Chicago. We’ve got teams that have never won anything (Rays, Brewers). We’ve got teams that don’t win/haven’t won in a really long time (Phillies, Cubs). We’ve got the 2002 champion, the 2004 champion, the 2005 champion, and the 2007 champion (Angels, Red Sox, White Sox). We’ve got TBS and we’ve got FOX. Are you ready for the playoffs? Are you ready for our picks? Cause here they come!

NLDS

Phillies over Brewers in four
C.C. Sabathia will win a game for the Brew Crew, but it won’t be good enough to get the long suffering franchise to the second round. The Phils gained valuable (albeir brief) post-season experience last year when they got swept by Colorado, but the key here is pitching. The Phillies have it. The Brewers… had it before Ben Sheets was lost for the year. And when you get down to the bullpen is their anyone more efficient than Astros castoff Brad Lidge? He didn’t blow a save in 41 chances this year! With no championships in 25 years Phillies fans will be thinking big as the fighting Liberty Bells advance.

Cubs over Dodgers in five
Here’s the thing: everything is set up for the Cubs to fail. They had such a dominant season, this is the 100th year since they won it all, and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon saying this is the year. The pressure is unbelievable for this year’s Cubs, who were swept right out of October by those pesky Arizona Dimaondbacks last year. Last year the Snakes won with very good pitching, scrappy hitting, and a dominant closer. This year the Cubs get LA, a team with good pitching, scrappy hitting, and Manny Ramirez. It’ll be different in 2008 as the Cubs expose the weak Dodgers lineup in a big way. LA will steal a couple games to make it interesting, but Chicago prevails.

ALDS

Angels over Red Sox in four
You know how they say you have to beat your rival to get over the hump? Well, the Red Sox are Los Angeles’ hump. Get over the Red Sox and the Halos have as good a shot as anyone to win it all. But can they do it? The Angels brought in soon to be very rich Mark Texieria to seal the deal. K-Rod broke the saves record by a land slide so they got the closer thing covered. Top to bottom the Angels are solid at every position. And the Red Sox are dealing with some tough injuries. Namely Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett. Jason Bay, welcome to the show. Now be Manny! No? We’ll take the Angels to get over the hump.

Rays over White Sox in three
Welcome to October Tampa Bay! Hopefully you canceled those European travel plans made back in Spring Training, because this time you’re in the show. You did it. Now, ten years behind you, and the “Devil” moniker gone, its onto Fall baseball. First up, the Pale Hose, who haven’t stopped playing even though the season ended Sunday. After beating the Royals the Chi Sox got a grand slam to overcome Detroit, and a Jim Thome home run to eclipse the Twins. The thinking here: they have to be worn out. They’ve been on such a high/low rollercoaster over the last week that it’s only logical to assume they’re going to run out of gas. And who better to pick to sweep then the Rays, who are young, hungry, never been here before, and ready to roll. The White Sox are a good team, but the Rays are better. And they’re well rested. That’s the difference. That and their awesome pitching.

NLCS

Cubs over Phillies in seven
No eighth inning meltdown, no three games to one breakdown. None of that for this year’s Cubs, who will overpower the Phillies in an exciting game seven to advance to their first World Series since 1945. I repeat, 1945! As for the Phillies? Well, strikeouts and a blown save by Brad Lidge will be their undoing, and the Curse of William Penn will live on for another year.

ALCS

Rays over Angels in six
This is strictly a gut pick. Why the Rays? Well, no one’s picking them. No one thinks the small market, small name Rays can compete with the Bostons’ and Los Angeles’ of the world. Well, this just in: they can- and they will. Tampa Bay will beat the big money, superstar loaded Angels with timely hits and a dominant display from Scott Kazmir and James Shields, who will surprise a lot of people as the most dominant starting tandem in this year’s post-season.

World Series

Cubs over Rays in four
Hell freezes over. Cubs win, Cubs win. In 2004 Red Sox-esque form, the Cubs overcome their toughest obstacle in the NLCS, before breezing to a long anticipated championship.

Non-Disney-eque prediction:

Angels over Phillies in five
(But what fun is that?)