TheBigOz Division Series Predictions --

by Orod412

originally seen on thebigoz.com === Division Series Preview -- ===

I've decided to tackle my predictions round by round this year. Most analysts go ahead and predict the entire playoffs from Division Series to World Series, but what inevitably ends up happening is at least two of the teams they picked to win early are blown away in the first round and therefore we're stuck reading a pile worthless predictions. Actually, the whole thing is pretty worthless no matter which way you slice it, but who's counting.

[1] [2] [3] Red Sox - Angels The Red Sox are throwing out a starting rotation of Beckett, Dice-K, and Schilling for the first round, and while Beckett has really been the only consistent pitcher night in and night out, that's a tough rotation for any offense to get by in a short series. It's also important to remember that as great as John Lackey has pitched this year (a definite Cy Young candidate) he can't pitch in Fenway to save his life. [4] Red Sox in 4

[5] [6] [7] Yankees - Indians This series is as much of a tossup as any in the first round. As with any series, pitching here is key. Indians ace C.C. Sabathia has poor career numbers against the Yankees, but the last time they faced each other was in 2004. Interesting to note however is that aside from Jeter and A-Rod, whose lifetime numbers against Sabathia are .545 and .412 respectively, the rest of the Yankees are hitting a combined .175 against him. However, the Yanks need Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens, the latter of which has barely pitched in the last month of the year, to bang out 6 or 7 innings during their starts or this series will be over rather quickly. [8] Indians in 4 [9] [10] [11]

Cubs - Diamondbacks The Cubs have hit a ton of homers late in the season, belting 45 dingers in September. However, they can't rely on the longball against Arizona, at least early on, as ace Brandon Webb doesn't play that. In fact, he hasn't allowed a home run to the last 108 batters he's faced. Luckily for Chicago, the other starters in the D'Backs rotation are a little more likely to break their neck, with Livan Hernandez the main culprit allowing 34 souvenirs to leave the park this year. [12] Cubs in 5. [13] [14] [15]

Rockies - Phillies Odds are that this will be the highest scoring series of the first round. Both teams are on a tear, winning a combined 30-7 during the last three weeks of the year to vault them both into the playoffs. The Phills and Rockies each went right to the wire to clinch their playoff spot, and this series will prove to be more of the same. I wouldn't be surprised to see this series go into extra innings in a game 5. [16] Phillies in 5.