LCS Previews

After all the closer meltdowns and horrific umpiring, we have our verison of baseball's Final Four. We have the defending champ Phillies, the Wall St. Yankees, and both Los Angeles based team in the Angels and Dodgers. Let's take a closer look a the matchups, starting with tonight's NLCS matchup of the Phillies and Dodgers.

NLCS- Philadelphia Philles vs. Los Angeles Dodgers.

Catcher - Carlos Ruiz vs. Russell Martin

Ruiz is a classic defense first, light hitting catcher. Martin became that this season after looking like a budding star in the making. Guess he got off the chemicals...

Advantage: Push

First Base - Ryan Howard vs. James Loney

As good as Loney is, especially on the road, where he tears the cover off the ball, he is no Ryan Howard, who is the biggest game changer in this series. Howard is not even a liability with the glove anymore either.

Advantage: Phillies

Second Base - Chase Utley vs. Ronny Belliard

Belliard is playoff tested, but do I even have to discuss this one any further?

Advantage: Phillies

Third Base: Pedro Feliz vs. Casey Blake

Feliz did not even crack .700 OPS during the regular season, as Blake had a solid season all around, and hit in the Divison Series.

Advantage: Dodgers

Shortstop: Jimmy Rollins vs. Raffy Furcal

Both had subpar offensive seasons, especially Rollins, who could not even crack .300 on base %. Rollins glove is GG caliber every season, but Furcal has gotten hot at the right time, hitting over .500 in the divison series, and hits lefties well.

Advantage: Dodgers

Left Field: Raul Ibanez vs. Manny Ramirez

Let's get one thing out of the way. They are both butchers in the outfield. Ibanez had a career year with the power he displayed, but funny thing is, he had about the same slugging pct. as Manny in an Un-Manny-like season. This is one spot where you go by the reputation.

Advantage: Dodgers

Centerfield: Shane Victorino vs. Matt Kemp

By far, the closest positional matchup there is. Both are All Star caliber, both can do a little of everything. Kemp's bat and power are superior, with Victorino's glove in CF getting the nod. Victorino also hit in the Divison Series with the Rockies and Kemp has started slow.

Advantage: Push

Right Field: Jayson Werth vs. Andre Eithier

Two similar players. Alot of power, do not hit for high average, but hits when it really counts. It is just had to go against Either's four walk off homers here.

Advantage: Dodgers

Starting Pitching:

The Phillies have a very good 1-2 punch of Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee. Phillies after that right now is a grab bag. Ironically, the Dodgers probaly will not even start their best, most talented starter in Chad Billingsley because of his 2nd half meltdown, but they pitched exceptionally well in Round 1. Clayton Kershaw is the wild card here. The 21 year old's potential two starts can be dominant or wild.

Advantage: Phillies

Bullpen:

Not even close. Phillies pen is in absolute disarray, and could easily cost them this series in the longrun. The Dodgers strength is their bullpen. Joe Torre has the luxury of making this a 6-7 inning game with Kuo, Bellisario, Sherrill, and of course, Jonathan Broxton.

Advantage: Dodgers

Bench:

The Phillies bench is not used often, with the exception of Matt Stairs as instant power for late inning heroics like last year's NLCS. The Dodgers bench runs deep, and has multiple uses to them. Jim Thome for power, Juan Pierre for pinch running, hell, they even have All Star Orlando Hudson on the bench now. Talk about depth?

Advantage: Dodgers

Managers: Charlie Manuel vs. Joe Torre

Manuel got a ring last year, but Torre basically sees the postseason annually since 1996. Torre has a deeper bench and pen to play around with as well, and for 13 seasons, has mostly pushed the right buttons.

Advantage: Dodgers

Overall: The Kershaw starts are the key. Tough to predict what a young kid will do in the spotlight. I will safely assume a Kershaw split in Games 1 and 5. Dodgers intangibles are too much after that. Phillies bullpen will be their downfall.

Dodgers in 6 games.

ALCS

Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Yankees

Catcher: Jorge Posada/Jose Molina vs. Jeff Mathis/Mike Napoli

Both teams will possibly use both catchers for certain pitchers. Mathis will most likely catch John Lackey, with Molina catching AJ Burnett. Posada is the real star of this bunch, and is a better hitter than Napoli anyway. Posada also is as clutch as they come.

Advantage: Yankees

First Base: Kendry Morales vs. Mark Teixeira

Pretty even with the bats, as Tex delivered on his big contract, and Morales might have been the key to the Angels season after losing Tex. Tex has the superior glove and just has done this much longer.

Advantage: Yankees

Second Base: Howie Kendrick/Macier Izturis vs. Robinson Cano

Kendrick will get the Lefties and Izturis will prolly start against Burnett. In this section, it does not matter, as Cano is an elite 2B that flat out hits.

Advantage: Yankees

Third Base: Chone Figgins vs. Alex Rodriguez

Closer than most people think because Figgins is the Angels catalyst. ARod though is just in a complete zone right now, and is looking like the best player in baseball.

Advantage: Yankees

Shortstop: Erick Aybar vs. Derek Jeter

Aybar had a career season, hitting over.300 and has a fantastic glove. That being said, he is up against Jeter here. Jeter, is having one of his better seasons ever, and his glove has made a bit of comeback as well. Best clutch player of this generation.

Advantage: Yankees

Left Field: Juan Rivera vs. Johnny Damon

Both evenly matched in the regular season, but Damon has fallen into a funk in the ALDS. Angels finally get one.

Advantage: Angels

Centerfield: Torii Hunter vs. Melky Cabrera

The first real advantage for the Angels. Hunter in 2 seasons has become the heart and soul of this franchise. If not for a stint on the DL, Hunter would of gotten major MVP considerations. Cabrera is solid in what he does, but overmatched against Hunter.

Advantage: Angels

Right Field: Bobby Abreu vs. Nick Swisher

Anyone think Abreu wants some payback here? Abreu left NY and had a typical Abreu season at a bargain salary for the Angels. Swisher has intangibles in this argument. He is the main guy that shifted this corporate clubhouse into a more loose atmosphere this season. The thing that tilts this matchup is Abreu's ALDS series, hitting big in the biggest spots.

Advantage: Angels

Designated Hitter: Vlad Guerrero vs. Hideki Matsui

Most years, this would be a slam dunk in the other direction, but Guerrero has struggled this season, especially with the power. Matsui is just a pro's pro, and hits in the clutch.

Advantage: Yankees

Starting Pitching:

Close. Actually, very close. Game 1 of CC Sabathia and John Lackey is a toss up, because of Lackey's big game pitching. The Yankees might have the better talent in their rotation, but the Angels do have more depth, easily being able to go into Game 4, and feel confident with a rested Joe Saunders.

Advantage: Push

Bullpen:

Angels weak point, against a big strength for the Yankees. The Yanks can shrink a game to 6 innings, with Joba, Hughes, and of course, the best ever, Mariano Rivera...

Advantage: Yankees

Bench:

Big advantage for the Angels, as they as used more in platoons, and Mike Scioscia plays more like a NL team. Yankees will use Brett Gardner in late innings for defense and speed.

Advantage: Angels

Managers: Mike Scioscia vs. Joe Girardi

I personally think this is a major advantage for the Angels. Scioscia has been there before, and he does so much more with less than anyone this side of Ron Gardenhire. Girardi has been already criticized for micro-managing, especially his bullpen. Big thing in this series is, will the Yankee talent outshine the Angels, or will it be close enough that Scioscia will win a chess match with Girardi.

Advantage: Angels

Overall: Tight, close. I think you can flip a coin and you would be as smart as the experts. If the Angels can somehow come away with Game 1 against CC, it could really go far.

Angels in 7.


Let's just hope the umpires do not dictate the outcomes of these series as they have the last round.