2028 Playoff Talk

[Pat]

Predictions? Favorites? Sleepers? Players to watch?

[Z]

New Orleans has a genuine Big Three in their rotation. Combined with one of the league's highest scoring offenses, the Dukes could be a force to be reckoned with in the postseason. To me they look like the clear favorite to win the pennant.

[liquidcrash]

I think the IL is a two-horse race between Death Valley and Seattle. They just are the two most complete teams in the league, the most talented rosters top to bottom. I expect them to both make it to the ILCS, and that series should be really good. I'd give Seattle the edge because they're at home and not cursed in the playoffs.

Beyond them, I think there's a sizable gap until we get to the next teams. Washington has the pitching to potentially make a run if the young lineup can provide some support. They'll lose game 5 of the ILDS on their home field in a late inning collapse. Philly has been hot for months it feels like and has a good lineup but the pitching might not quite be good enough. I know little about Windy City, but they're a surprise team led by two good pitchers at the top of the rotation. They finished last in runs scored, so that's a concern. Baltimore hasn't been good this year, but they got hot in the last week and the last time I thought they stunk they won the IL.

I haven't paid a ton of attention to the DL. I'll go with Los Angeles.

[Pat]

I think the IL is a two-horse race on paper but upsets always seem to happen. Prior to last week I was ready to pick Windy City as a dark horse to make the ILCS and compete. However, they lost SS Ethan Huston for two weeks and 2B James Hutter is day-to-day (moderate, throwing) for 1-2 weeks as well. The backup options of Bobby Sandoval and Ian Jones aren't terrible, but losing your both your middle infielders and #1/#2 hitters before a three game series is tough. Because of that, I think Philadelphia takes care of business. Death Valley is a bad matchup for Baltimore and a sweep seems likely but the Bulldogs could honestly win their next seven games and I wouldn't be surprised. They were the most streaky team this year.

New Orleans losing OF JD Carr for the playoffs really levels out the playing field. They still have a great lineup, a trio of good SPs and an elite closer. Likely still the odds on favorite, but I think you could make the case for any of the DL teams going on a run. Maine won the Ale. Wilmington is coming in red-hot with one of the leagues best hitters. Pawtucket has an elite bullpen and some Funclown magic. Los Angeles, even without Ron Giamalva, has arguably the best lineup in baseball. And Montreal is still the defending champs.

Predictions:
Montreal over Wilmington (3)
Los Angeles over Pawtucket (3)
Philadelphia over Windy City (3)
Death Valley over Baltimore (3)

Players to watch:
RF Zachary Landen (PHI)
DH Dave Miller (MAI)
C Micah Gordon (WIL)
SP Dave Koehler (DVS)
SP Ron Bynum (NO)
SP Dusty Orbon (WC)

[Ryan]

Gotta call it like I see it, we're probably gonna mess around and win it all.

[Nemesis]

How's my old crew doing? Did I leave the Dinos too early? ;)

[Z]

How's my old crew doing? Did I leave the Dinos too early? ;)

Hi!!

[Pat]

How's my old crew doing? Did I leave the Dinos too early? ;)

We might have openings....

[Matt]

Take them back!

[Matt]

Live SIM going down.

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...sim/index.html

[Ryan]

Gotta call it like I see it, we're probably gonna mess around and win it all.

Man, I was just off on this.

[Pat]

Man, I was just off on this.

Dice rolls.

[Matt]

Live SIM going down.

http://www.simgamingnetwork.com/blb/...sim/index.html

LCS going on now.