Crystal Ball - The 2006 National League Playoffs
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by user The shark
Well, here we are. It's July 27, the MLB trade deadline is four days away and there is a bigger piece of the MLB season behind us than there is before us. This is the time of year where I begin to crave the onset of the playoffs like a kid, nervously anticipating Christmas morning. Like that kid, however, I am a little lacking in the area of patience. So while he looks under mom and dad's bed for hidden presents, I consult my crystal ball to see how this year's playoffs might look. Here's what I found:
National League Edition
How the Season Ends
Based on being in what is arguably the weakest division in baseball, the New York Mets welcomed Pedro Martinez back in late July and cruised through August and September to finish the season with a 95-67 record, which was good for the best record in the NL. The Braves July surge ended when the month did and their record streak of 14 straight division titles died a quiet death as the Braves missed the playoffs all together. The St. Louis Cardinals played strong ball through the final two months (mainly on the offense of Albert Pujols and the pitching of Cris Carpenter) to wrap up the Central with two weeks to play. Their 94-68 record was the NL's second best. The Cincinnati Reds sputtered offensively down the stretch, causing fans and media to question Wayne Krivski's trade of Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez to the Nats. The Houston Astros failed to produce the hot second half they have become accustomed to and missed the playoffs, causing Roger Clemens to question his decision to return. In the West, Jake Peavy won his final eight decisions and the San Diego Padres clinched the AL West on the season's final weekend (with an 88-74 record) over the late-surging San Francisco Giants, who finished with a record of 87-75.
NLDS
NEW YORK vs. SAN FRANCISCO
GAME ONE Jason Schmidt vs. Tom Glavine Despite a 4-4 day from Jose Reyes and homeruns from David Wright and Carlos Delgado, the Metropolitans lose on a 3-run shot in the top of the 9th by Pedro Feliz. Armando Benitez nails down the save for a 6-5 Giants victory. SF 1-0
GAME TWO Pedro Martinez vs. Matt Morris Pedro dominates in front of the hometown fans, throwing a 4-hitter (one of which is a solo shot to Barry Bonds). Wright goes deep again, as does Cliff Floyd as the Mets cruise to a 6-1 win. Tied 1-1
GAME THREE El Duque vs. Matt Cain El Duque is shaky at first, giving up 3 first-inning runs to the Giants at AT&T. The Mets chip away at Matt Cain, scoring 1 in the third, one in the fourth, and two in the fifth to take the lead. Bonds answers with a 3-run shot in the bottom of the fifth to run El Duque from the game. The game remains 6-4 Giants until the top of the 9th when Carlos Beltran hits a 2-run shot off of Benitez to tie the game. It would remain tied until the top of the 12th inning when Jose Reyes singles to left, steals second and third, and scores on an opposite field single by Paul Lo Duca. Wagner pitches a perfect bottom of the inning for the Mets victory. NYM 2-1
GAME FOUR Steve Trachsel vs. Noah Lowry LoDuca and Wright both go deep in the top of the 1st and chase Lowry before the inning ends. The first frame ends with the Mets leading 5-0. Trachsel needs the run support, however, as he gives up 3 runs in the third. Beltran goes deep in the fifth, driving in two more insurance runs, and that would prove to be enough. The Mets win 7-3 and clinch the series 3-1.
SERIES MVP - David Wright
ST. LOUIS vs. SAN DIEGO
GAME ONE Cris Carpenter vs. Jake Peavy In a pitching duel for the ages, both pitchers fire complete games. Carpenter surrenders two hits and two walks. Peavy surrenders two hits and one walk. Unfortunatley for San Diego, one of Peavy's hits was a homerun to Pujols and followed (by two batters) his only walk, to David Eckstein who also scored on Phat Albert's smash. Cards win 2-0. STL 1-0
GAME TWO Jason Marquis vs. Woody Williams Marquis "Jeckyll and Hyde" performance continued today, as Dr. Jeckyll showed up and threw seven scoreless innings against the Padres' hapless offense. The Cards got homers from Pujols, Edmonds, and Rolen as they flat-out rolled the Pads, 7-0. STL 2-0
GAME THREE Mark Mulder vs. Chris Young Both pitchers looked good, but Mulder looked better as the Cards used "small ball" to beat the Padres in front of their home crowd. Eck goes 3-4, Juan Encarnacion goes 3-4, and Pujols goes 2-4 with 3 RBI (on no homers). The game's only homer came off the bat of Padres catcher Mike Piazza, as the Cards win 5-3 and sweep the series 3-0.
SERIES MVP - Albert Pujols
NLCS
NEW YORK vs. ST. LOUIS
GAME ONE Brian Bannister vs. Jeff Suppan In a debated move in the papers, Mets manager Willie Randolph decides on rookie Bannister, who looked good in his last four starts, to face off against Suppan. The move would prove to pay off. The Mets offense jumped on Suppan early, as Reyes went deep in the bottom of the first. David Wright continued his torrid post-season hitting, going deep twice in this game. And Xavier Nady pitched in with one of his own in the sixth, which sent Suppan to the showers on the wrong side of an 8-2 score. Rolen would go deep in the eighth, but it would prove too little, too late. Mets cruise 8-4. NYM 1-0
GAME TWO Tom Glavine vs. Cris Carpenter Thanks to an extra day of rest provided by the sweep of San Diego, Tony LaRussa skips Jeff Weaver's spot in the rotation. And Carpenter responds. Carpenter goes seven and strikes out ten and Jason Isringhausen nails down the save. Glavine surrendered seven hits and three runs on six-and-a-third innings, the back-breaker of which was a two-run shot to Yadier Molina in the seventh. Cards win 4-2. Tied 1-1.
GAME THREE Pedro Martinez vs. Jason Marquis In a pitching rematch of Game Three of the 2004 World Series, Pedro toes the rubber in the new Busch Stadium. And, unfortunately for the Cards, Mr. Hyde shows up this time out. Homers by Wright, Beltran, and Jose Valentin in the first three innings force Marquis' early exit on the wrong side of a 7-1 game. Anthony Reyes takes over for Marquis and pitches brilliantly, but the damage is already done. Pedro goes seven, Aaron Heilman pitches the eighth and ninth, and the Mets come away with an 8-2 victory. NYM 2-1
GAME FOUR El Duque vs. Mark Mulder A low-scoring affair. Both pitchers bend but don't break. El Duque gives up eleven hits through five, but only one run. Mulder gives up six hits and walks four through six, but also only allows one run. The bullpens square off late in the game: Duaner Sanchez and Pedro Feliciano for the Mets, and Anthony Reyes and Adam Wainwright for the Cards. All four men do their job and the game goes into the tenth tied at one. LaRussa calls on Isringhausen who strikes out Reyes and gets LoDuca to fly out to right. No such luck with Carlos Beltran, however, who hits a 3-2 fastball over the right-center field wall for a 2-1 Mets lead. Wagner is called on by Randolph and strikes out Pujols, Rolen, and Edmonds in succession to nail down the win. NYM 3-1
GAME FIVE Brian Bannister vs. Jeff Suppan In another move that will be widely discussed in New York papers, Randolph opts for Bannister on four days rest, rather than throw Steve Trachsel at all. Suppan looks good in the early innings, no-hitting the Mets through four. Bannister, however, struggles, giving up three runs in the first four. The Mets finally get to Suppan in the fifth and put up two to pull within one at 3-2. Randolph decides to stay with Bannister one inning too long, and the youngster loads the bases with no outs in the fifth and Pujols on deck. Randolph calls on Darren Oliver but it turns out to be an obvious mismatch. Pujols hits a bases-clearing double to give the Cards a 6-2 lead. And that would prove to be enough. NYM 3-2.
GAME SIX Tom Glavine vs. Cris Carpenter Back in New York. Glavine, who has been beat up in his two post-season starts so far, is masterful. And the Mets offense proves to be relentless, indeed far more than Carpenter is able to handle. Homeruns by Wright, Delgado, and Glavine seal Carpenter's fate, as well as the Cardinals' as the Mets go on to win this one 11-2.
NLCS MVP - David Wright
METS WIN THE NL PENNANT!
So there you have it, the Mets will be the National League's representative in the 2006 World Series. But who will they play? Find out tomorrow when I do my Crystal Ball, American League edition.
Date
Thu 07/27/06, 8:20 am EST
