Chicago Fire (85-77) @ New York Jets (87-75)
Chicago brings the best bullpen in the AL to the table against New York’s #1 rated offense. Led by Rich Hamilton (2B - .326/21/85) and Hayden Kimmet (.287/27/83), the Jets have some pop, get on base, and score in bunches – in short, they are a hard team to contain. Their problem is pitching – where they are firmly middle of the road and defense where they are terrible. New York is a team that has, at times, made a habit of beating themselves. Chicago, conversely, is all about balance. They are good everywhere, but great nowhere.
Predicted Pitching Matchups (CHI @ NYJ)
GM1: RHP Jeffrey Egan (9-9, 5.12) @ RHP Bentley Hawkins (15-6, 4.26)
GM2: LHP Roydrick Luedtke (9-3, 3.25) @ LHP Kevin Hothan (3-6, 5.32)
GM3: RHP Trev Anderson (9-10, 3.92) @ RHP Cliff Slavinski (16-12, 4.31)
Game 1 (10/1): Chicago Fire win, 13-9. Rich Hamilton (NYJ) – 3 for 4, HR, RBI, 3 runs. Joshua Norman (CHI) – 3 for 5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 runs. 7 home runs in this one – new record? Should be.
Game 2 (10/3): Chicago dominates, win 7-1, sweep series. C Laz Braun (CHI) – 1 for 3, HR, 3 RBI. Surprising result – Chicago will have their hands full with Seattle in the 2nd Round.
Game 3 (10/5): Nah.
Los Angeles Galaxy (81-81) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (92-70)
Jacksonville, an easy favorite here, finished one game off of Green Bay’s pace – they are built on pitching, have the #1 rated staff in the AL, and defense where they are on the precipice of greatness – offensively, they are ho-hum, capable but not the sort of lineup that stirs the imagination. Los Angeles can pitch too – 5th in the AL, but they don’t have an offense worth talking about – there are a lot of holes in their lineup.
Predicted Pitching Matchups (LAG @ JAC)
RHP Lee Myers (9-7, 3.16) @ Nat Millard (12-6, 3.10)
RHP Larry Ramirez (14-11, 3.70) @ LHP Liam Anderson (11-17, 4.33)
RHP Medardo Garcia (12-14, 3.47) @ RHP Luc Felix (19-9, 3.44)
Game 1 (10/1): Jacksonville Jaguars win, 2-1. Nat Millard (JAC) – 7.1, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. SS Craig Ramis (JAC) hits a run-scoring double that seals it – he finished 5th in the AL for doubles in 2072 with 33, so going old school here.
Game 2 (10/3): Los Angeles wins, 5-4 in extras. LF Wayne Roby (LAG) gets the walk-off double in the bottom of the 12th. C Nicky McCreary (LAG) drives in 4 on a 2 for 4 day – Grand Slam for him in bottom of the 8th.
Game 3 (10/5): 20 innings of absolute madness… Jacksonville wins, 5-2. Mercury Aghajar (JAC)i ties the AL playoff extra-inning game record for strikeouts with 5. Mercury Aghajari sets the AL playoff extra-inning game record for strikeouts with 6. Mercury Aghajari sets the AL playoff extra-inning game record for strikeouts with 7. Curt Berryman sets the LAG playoff extra-inning game record for at bats with 9. Aaron Johnson ties the LAG playoff extra-inning game record for strikeouts with 5. Mercury Aghajari sets the AL playoff extra-inning game record for strikeouts with 8. Mercury Aghajari sets the JAC playoff extra-inning game record for at bats with 9. Mercury, then, is legend - how do you fan that many times and still win? Voodoo? Nah, he's from Austin. Good luck against the Packers, tho.
Pittsburgh Steelers (81-81) @ Brooklyn Citizens (82-80)
This is a nice illustration of the problem with my current set-up. A lot of so-so teams tend to make the playoffs. Parity, I guess. Both clubs are pretty balanced, but Pittsburgh has a guy named Tony Voorhis, and as a horror fan – that’s awesome, so I’ll be cheering them on in this one.
Predicted Pitching Matchups (PIT @ BRK)
RHP Robby Garrett (17-9, 3.76) @ LHP Sarkis Canby (13-6, 3.94)
RHP Cole Guzman (15-5, 2.58) @ LHP Isaiah Zuno (15-14, 3.33 – he really fell apart at the end of the season)
LHP Gregory Morgan (16-9, 2.86) @ RHP Josh Allen (7-18, 4.13)
Game 1 (10/2): Brooklyn wins, 4-3 in extras. Sarkis Canby (BRK) – 9IP, 6H, 3ER, 2BB, 3K. Simon LaPlante (BRK) ties it in the bottom of the 9th, and Leandro Mercedes (BRK) hits the walk-off single.
Game 2 (10/4): Zuno is lights out, Brooklyn wins, 5-2. Zuno (BRK) – 7IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 5K. 1B Archie Imanov (BRK) - .429 for the series, with a HR and 2 RBI. Brooklyn gets the Impact next – they’ll probably get worked.
Game 3 (10/6): Nah.
St. Louis Rams (81-81) @ San Diego Chargers (81-81)
So, um, yeah – the NL was a bit top heavy this year – but, even still, this should be a fun series… Burt McElheny (SDC), Ben Compton (SDC), Jonah Dove (STL), and Max Harrington (STL) – so, some good star power if nothing else.
Predicted Pitching Matchups (STL @ SDC):
RHP Max Harrington (19-8, 3.54) @ LHP Burt McElheny (15-9, 2.90)
LHP Dimitri Pimentel (13-17, 4.08) @ RHP Reed Pinelli (9-9, 3.82)
LHP Drake Grosskopf (5-7, 3.71) @ RHP Artyom Fadeyev (8-10, 4.80)
Game 1 (10/2): San Diego wins, 5-4 in extras. Burt McElheny (SDC) – 7IP, 2H, 1ER, 4BB, 6K. Ben Compton gets the walk-off single, with two outs on the board. Clutch hitting from BC.
Game 2 (10/4): St. Louis wins, 5-3… in regulation. Dimitri Pimentel (STL) – 7IP, 7H, 2ER, 3BB, 6K. LF Lynden Urmanski (STL) – 2 for 4, HR, 3 RBI, 1 R… Rams get even… we await the winner of the rubber match.
Game 3 (10/6): Wasp Hauck (STL) ends San Diego’s run in the top of the 9th with a 2-run ding dong, Rams win, 4-3. And… with that bomb, we’ll be spending some time in the Gateway City. Fun times. We finished the regular season with a 6-1 record head-to-head.
