CJ's National League Postseason Picks
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by user NCNative704
The National League has to be the hardest league to predict today in sports. All of the divisions are bound of 3 different teams leading their division. All of the teams' records are very close and will be fairly hard to predict for the season's end. Well, here are my predictions.
NL East: Atlanta Braves (47-42, 2nd in NL East, prediction: 92-70) - The New York Mets have been struggling to score runs so far this season, only scoring 394 runs, 4th in the NL East, which will leave some space for the Braves to come from behind and take the lead. Their offense will help them a lot. Chipper Jones has been batting an incredible .329 batting average, one of the best in the Majors. He has also gone yard 15 times, batting in 41 runs. Braves' manager Bobby Cox will also help the Braves to the playoffs as well. He has a managerial record of 2218-1727 in the regular season and 66-66 in the postseason. With those two and the rest of the crew, the Braves will be the team to beat when heading into October.
NL Central: Milwaukee Brewers (49-39, 1st in NL Central, prediction: 90-72) - The Brewers have suprised everybody this year after taking the lead in the NL Central, becoming one the best teams in the MLB this season. One of the main reasons they are leading is Prince Fielder. He has hit an NL leading 29 homers with 70 runs batted in. And he's only 23? He's a star in the making for the Brewers, possibly being a legend in 15-20 years. Another name that should come up for their success is Ben Sheets. He has posted up a record of 10-4 with a respectable 3.41 ERA. Even though they have an average lead over the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, they still better beware. Both the Cubs and Cardinals are known for coming back, mainly the Cards in the 2nd half of the season (hence last season when they won the World Series).
NL West: San Diego Padres (49-38, 1st in NL West, prediction: 87-75) - This division might as well be a toss-up. Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are playing great baseball right now. But to me, it looks like the Padres have more out of their pitching with Chris Young. He is 8-3, posting an MLB best 2.00 ERA. He is just now entering his prime now at the age of 28 years old and should be a great leader in the following years. Jake Peavy is also helping the pitching squad out also, resting with a record of 9-3, an MLB second best 2.19 ERA, with 125 batters struck out. Just the pitching just may get them into the playoffs alone, but their offense will do wonders too with Khalil Greene's 15 HRs. This team will be a frightening sight as October rolls in.
NL Wildcard: New York Mets (48-39, 1st in NL East, prediction: 89-73) - After being beat by the Braves for the NL East division title, the Mets will have to settle in for a Wildcard spot. Even though sitting in then 4th seed, the Mets may be the most dangerous team in the playoffs. Jose Reyes will be a huge key player in the playoffs, since he is now learning to hustle. He is batting with a .307 BA, 35 runs batted in, with an MLB leading 46 bases stolen. David Wright and Carlos Beltran are going to be huge parts of the Mets' playoff run too. Both players have 16 homers and over 50 RBIs. The Mets showed they can be dangerous in the playoffs last year, and will show it again trying to make it to the World Series.
Now for my pick to represent the National League in the World Series. It has to be nobody other than the Atlanta Braves. They have a great manager in Bobby Cox and a great lineup which will not disappoint.
