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Some friends and I were brainstorming yesterday, thinking about possible NLDS matchups for our Cardinals this year. Obviously, the Cards have the best team in the NL and *SHOULD* make it to the World Series for the second straight year. But anything can happen in the playoffs, and an easier route through October would certainly be preferable.
Currently-- the division winners project to be:
NL Central - St. Louis (with home field advantage throughout)
NL East - Atlanta
NL West - San Diego
The wildcard will go to either Houston, who is in the NL Central with the Cards, or one of the NL East contenders-- Washington, Florida, Philadelphia.
I think that everyone will agree that the easiest first round matchup for our Cardinals would be the NL West winner. San Diego will almost certainly end up taking that division, altho they may do it with an overall losing record. But in reality-- the only way the Cardinals could draw San Diego in the NLDS, would be if Houston won the wild card.
MLB has that rule where two teams in the same division cannot face each other in the NLDS. That means that Atlanta would not be able to play either Washington, Florida, or Philadelphia if they won the wild card. Meaning that Atlanta would *GET* to play San Diego, while the Cardinals-- even though they were the higher seed-- would have to play the tougher opponent. If Houston wins the wild card, then that same rule would take effect, and just like last year-- Houston and Atlanta would match up, while the Cardinals got the NL West winner.
The three NL East contenders all have bigger weaknesses than our Redbirds, but all are considerably more dangerous than San Diego. Philadelphia always plays the Cardinals tough, Florida has scary pitching (especially in a short series), and Washingon has been riding a momentum wave all year. I think that the Phillies will end up winning the wild card, and they scare me more than the other two.
But from here on out-- I am routing for the Astros to win as many games as possible and to take the Wild Card. Altho, I will make an exception and route for Clemens to get lit up every time he pitches.
Any thoughts?
Currently-- the division winners project to be:
NL Central - St. Louis (with home field advantage throughout)
NL East - Atlanta
NL West - San Diego
The wildcard will go to either Houston, who is in the NL Central with the Cards, or one of the NL East contenders-- Washington, Florida, Philadelphia.
I think that everyone will agree that the easiest first round matchup for our Cardinals would be the NL West winner. San Diego will almost certainly end up taking that division, altho they may do it with an overall losing record. But in reality-- the only way the Cardinals could draw San Diego in the NLDS, would be if Houston won the wild card.
MLB has that rule where two teams in the same division cannot face each other in the NLDS. That means that Atlanta would not be able to play either Washington, Florida, or Philadelphia if they won the wild card. Meaning that Atlanta would *GET* to play San Diego, while the Cardinals-- even though they were the higher seed-- would have to play the tougher opponent. If Houston wins the wild card, then that same rule would take effect, and just like last year-- Houston and Atlanta would match up, while the Cardinals got the NL West winner.
The three NL East contenders all have bigger weaknesses than our Redbirds, but all are considerably more dangerous than San Diego. Philadelphia always plays the Cardinals tough, Florida has scary pitching (especially in a short series), and Washingon has been riding a momentum wave all year. I think that the Phillies will end up winning the wild card, and they scare me more than the other two.
But from here on out-- I am routing for the Astros to win as many games as possible and to take the Wild Card. Altho, I will make an exception and route for Clemens to get lit up every time he pitches.
Any thoughts?
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