Baseball Playoffs - NLCS and ALCS

[Ming]

Down to four teams now.

The National League Championship Series starts tonight at 8 PM EST on FOX.

The Chicago Cubs host the Florida Marlins.

Zambrano (13 - 11) will face Beckett (9 - 8). Both have ERA's just over 3.


The American League Championship Series starts Wednesday night at 8 PM EST on Fox

The New York Yankees host the Boston Red Sox.
Mussina (17 - 8 ) gets the start for the Yankees, and the Sox haven't announced their pitcher yet.

For the first time in a long time... The Cubs are actually favored in a post season series. As usual, the Yankees are favored over Boston.

Both series should be entertaining

[Donegeal]

Go Cubbies!!!!!!!

[Q Classic]

go cubs!

this is your year! your friends in japan have shown you the way!

[H Tower]

How is Clement and his injury? Healing nicely I hope.

[Brundlefly]

My prediction: Florida vs. NYY in World Series. (NYY sweep)

I know Cubs fans have been waiting a long time for their team, but Chicago does not deserve another Championship because they had a basketball dynasty goin on in the 90's courtesy of MJ. Florida is more of an underdog with their young players. The last and only South Florida sports championship in a decade was a few years back by another highly improbable Marlins team. So I want the Marlins for that reason. And they have the skills to do it. Florida in 6.

As far as ALCS is concerned, I'd like to say that Boston will finally slay the dragon and the ghost of Bill Buckner can lay to rest in Fenway this year, but the NYY juggernaut is too strong and will crush all in its path, including NL champ. NYY in 5.

[Ming]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA Florida is the team that doesn't deserve to win. They have a World Series in your life time... and what did they do after that... break the team up... So if you want to talk deserving... Then both the Cubs and Boston deserve to watch their teams in the World Series... both have suffered long enough.

Cubs in 6

As far as the Sox go... they proved they had a lot of gut coming back from down 2 games. But do they have enough to beat the Yankees... probably not.

Yankees in 7

[Az]

I know Cubs fans have been waiting a long time for their team, but Chicago does not deserve another Championship because they had a basketball dynasty goin on in the 90's courtesy of MJ

That sort of logic would surely explain why the knicks such ass so much.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

Cubs in 6

Sox in 6

Clemens pitches his final game ever in Fenway...and loses

[JohnT]

Sox and Cubs in in two game-sevens that resurrect baseball back to the National Pastime.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

But seriously, why the hell not? Go BoSox!!!! Go Cubs!!!!

[JohnT]

Oh, Sava? You remember this gem: Dontrell Willis gone in the 3rd. Ha HA! (MLB jibber jabber thread)?

Btw, SoulSurvivor predicted a Cubs-BoSox series back on September 7th. Good job of keepin' the faith, man.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The funny thing is that Willis was originally in the Cubs system. He was the big prospect going to Florida in the Alfonseca deal .

[Ming]

What's even funnier... most Cub fans welcomed the deal at the time. We had no closer... and Alfonseca was the best out there at the time. (we didn't know that he would suck). Management FINALLY went out and made a move that needed to be done. We applauded it.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well that's what happens . Most fans have no clue who the great prospects are. That's why you have deals like Jeff Bagwell for Larry Anderson and the fans go nuts until 5 years later when Bagwell becomes a HoF type player .

[reismark]

Yanks in five, Cubs in six.

Boston will be down 2-0 to start with since Pedro and Derek won't pitch at the Stadium and no one else on the staff is near their caliber. Unless the Yanks' starting pitching breaks down, Boston has no chance.

As for the Cubs, my guess is they'll lose the opener tonight but ultimately their superior pitching will put them over the top. I-Rod can't do it all, and there's no superstar for the Marlins to intentionally walk every other at-bat.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

Actually, it looks like Lowe is going to pitch Game 2

And FYI, Yankees and Red Sox are almost evenly split during the regular season - 10 to 9. And they've outscored the Yanks 109-94 (or something around that)