Thankfully, I have already bested last year’s dismal record at picking playoff games. Whereas my only correct selection came in the first round last year, this year I chose two teams correctly!
That said, to the picks for round two:
Red Sox-Indians: The Tribe’s fans think their time has finally come. They defeated the mighty Yankees in four games, and did so in convincing fashion. They’re a young, have solid starting pitching and apparently have a great middle relief core. But the thought that C.C. Sabathia is going to best Josh Beckett on this sort of stage is, well, overly optimistic. Beckett has emerged as one of the dominant playoff pitchers of our time. As has Curt Schilling, who the Tribe will see in Game three. What’s more, the BoSox offense has started to wake up, especially Manny Ramirez.
Prediction: Red Sox in 5.
Diamondbacks-Rockies: These were, needless to say, not the two teams I expected to see fighting for the NL crown a few weeks ago. I was hoping the Cubs or the Cardinals or even the Mets would be here to make things interesting. That said, like the rest of the country, I know next to nothing about the Diamondbacks–I don’t think I could name three players beyond Brandon Webb on their roster if I had to. But I do know that the Rockies have won a whole lot recently, and showed no signs of slowing down in the playoffs. Webb probably won’t be enough to stop the Rockie juggernaut (did I ever think I would put those two words together? No.).
Prediction: Rockies in 6.
Check in again when this round is over for World Series picks.
Matthew Lee Anderson
Matthew Lee Anderson is an Associate Professor of Ethics and Theology in Baylor University's Honors College. He has a D.Phil. in Christian Ethics from Oxford University, and is a Perpetual Member of Biola University's Torrey Honors College. In 2005, he founded Mere Orthodoxy.
