Who wins the ALCS?

[packerzrule]

Vote and discuss

 

[navamind]

Orioles

 

[packerzrule]

I said vote and discuss cot damn it

 

[Chewbaccer]

I like the Astros, especially a healthy Astros.

They have Verlander. The Red Sox have a guy that needs phantom DL stints just to stay relevant in September and imploded in the playoffs last season.

Oakland beats Boston.

Houston beats Oakland.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

How thorough do I need to be when discussing following my vote?

 

[navamind]

Still think the Astros are the team to beat with a very good lineup and the best rotation in baseball, though the Indians aren't far off in that regard IMO. Astros have a pretty well rounded bullpen as well especially now that they have Osuna. The +252 run differential speaks for itself, this is a great team.

Red Sox rotation is a bit iffy with Eovaldi and Porcello (I'd much rather have Rodriguez in the rotation than the former, but whatever) and this team needs the starters to go deep given the bullpen's shaky performance the last couple of months, but Sale's one of the best pitchers in the league and Price has quietly been very good this year. The offense is probably the best in baseball with two of the best hitters in the league, a great hitting shortstop and another All-Star outfielder. They've also gotten solid production from Holt (.359 OBP, 105 OPS+ while playing a bunch of positions), Jackie's been hitting well since June 24 (.279/.345/.498 with a 121 wRC+) and even Devers has looked much better as of late though it's a small sample size. The catchers are still awful hitters, Moreland's been useless for months now and Kinsler's been pretty blah.

 

[navamind]

A's have one of the best offenses in the league and a good pitching staff, though they seem to lack a guy that can reliably go 6+ innings especially now that Manaea's season is over. The A's have 9 hitters (minimum 150 PA) with an OPS+ over 100, and even Semien's 95 OPS+ is still respectable at shortstop. Matt Chapman might be one of the best players in baseball and Davis is one of the best power hitters in the league, plus they have several other solid everyday players (Lowrie, Olson, Piscotty, Pinder) and another fun young player to watch in Ramon Laureano. This team also has the best run differential since the ASB.

And let's not write off the Yanks either, this team still has a +171 run differential and a very well balanced lineup. The back of the rotation is iffy, but Sevy/Tanaka/Sabathia have still been very solid and they have a great bullpen.

AL playoffs are gonna be a fun one.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Seeing Sale throwing 90 and getting hit by a AAA team last night has me concerned but not as concerned as the year long bullpen issues. They have nobody I trust to come in with 2 on, none out with Altuve coming up in the 7th. I picked Houston but was surprise it's been the pick of all 5 voters so far.

 

[packerzrule]

I think Houston is the best team overall and are my fav to win it all


Dem sunzabitches

 

[Voltaire26]

I'm going with the Indians ... Tigers are in the same division and Cleveland is 3 hours away, kinda a almost hometown pick.

 

[redseat]

Astros since they have the pitching and offense... I would have picked Oakland since they have been on fire but they have no starting pitching and their luck is bound to run out no?

Not going with the Sawx because of all the reasons people already have mentioned. I know Price has been "good" but he awful in the post season and chokes horribly, Sale is scary the piss out of me right now and he was the only pitcher I trusted... Don't get me started on the shitty bullpen they have