An Analysis of the 2015 Major League Baseball Postseason

[EnglishArtsteacher]

The last day of the 2015 regular season of baseball was Sunday, October 4th. Some teams just made the postseason(Such as the Astros and Yankees), while some teams just missed the postseason(Such as the Twins and Angels.)

The Blue Jays had the current longest postseason drought prior to this season, with 21 consecutive seasons without making the playoffs(The Mariners now have the longest drought: With 14 consecutive seasons without a postseason appearance.). They broke this streak by winning the AL East division crown(their first since 1993 obviously.) The Royals took the division crown in the AL Central crown; proving their 2014 postseason run was no fluke. The Rangers took the AL West division crown, as few were suprised but also few predicted. For the American League Wild Cards, the Yankees won the first Wild Card, which surprised many, since the Yankees are a beat up, and old team(On the other hand, the Yankees win divisions with ease, so that in itself is a surprise on the contrast.) The Astors snuck in on the 162nd game to snag the second Wild Card, with a postseason appearance which shocked the whole world(and surprising season in general at that.)

For the National League, the Mets surprised many people(although some experts saw it coming) by taking the AL East crown; stunning the Washington Nationals. The Cardinals won the NL Central with he best record in baseball, as expected. The Dodgers, as expected, took the NL West title due to their stellar pitching. The Pirates won the second Wild Card(despite the fact they had the second best record in baseball) and the Cubs surprised a lot of people with a second WIld Card spot(even though they had the third best record in baseball.) For the first time since 1969, the top three records in baseball came from the same division(The National League Central.) With this being said, below I'm going to rank who I want to win the World Series(from the one I want to the least I want), and I'm also going to give my postseason predictions.

I'm a Cincinnati Reds fan, so unfortunately, my home team did not make the postseason this year.

My Ranking: Who I want to win: From my favorite to least favorite

1. Houston Astros: There is no team I want to see win more than the Astros. Who would have thought a team which loses 100 games(or close to) for six straight seasons would take off like they did? Let's not forget their team is full of several "Unknowns" and they have a tight chemistry. This is a team I pity, since ESPN likes to ignore the fact they had a good year. While they did trail-off at the end of the season, they still stunned everyone with a postseason appearance. On top of this, they've never won a World Series and are in their 54th season, which means their fans are thirsty for a ring.

I remember watching them in the World Series as a 15 year old, a full ten years ago. I was a Freshman in high school and I remember being happy for the White Sox but I wanted to see the underdog Astros pull it off. If they want to pull this off, they will have to pull off some upsets and stun the public again(Similar to what the Royals did last year.)

Last World Series Win: Never(Have been in existance for 54 seasons)

Last World Series Appearance: 2005(Lost to the White Sox in five games)

2. Texas Rangers: Just like the other Texas team, this is a team which I pity, because they can't seem to tie the knot. However, they pulled it off this year, despite the fact the Angels were heavily predicted to win the AL West. The only reason I put them a step below the Astros is due to the fact I dislike more of their team members and game six of the World Series should have been their first World Series title. They still share a lot of similarities with the Astros.

I'm not going to justify game six of the 2011 World Series, as this was a nightmare for Rangers fans and for Cardinals-haters(such as myself.) I watched this as an angry, 21 year old, third year college student. When you're on strike away from winning a world series two different times in the same game; to only lose that game on a walk-off Home Run and then follow up with losing game seven, it's hard to not pity this team. I could have smashed my TV watching that(and I'm not even a Rangers fan.) If they want to pull this off, they will have to take out the roaring Blue Jays in the Division Series(and needless to say, that will be a difficult battle.)

Last World Series Win: Never(Have been in existance for 55 seasons.)

Last World Series Appearance: 2011(Lost to the Cardinals in Seven Games.)

3. Chicago Cubs: This may seem odd for a Reds fan to rank them so high but I actually don't hate this team, surprisingly enough. Not only have they gone longer than any other team in professional sports history without winning a title(107 years this year), they've also gone longer than any other team in MLB(which has been to a World Series) without going to the World Series. Let's not get into their 2003 postseason appearance which went downhill to arguably the most controversial postseason game in history.

They haven't been to the World Series in my lifetime, so I can't reflect on them. All I can say is the 2003 incident was not Steve Bartman's fault(If you don't know who he is, look up his name and the story behind it.) When your "ace" pitcher allows eight runs; partially due to poor defense and bad umping calls, it's a little hard to solely blame a fan interferance.....not to mention they still had game seven to rebound. If they want to pull off a World Series victory for the first time in nearly everyone living's lifetime, they will have to start at the bottom in the Wild Card game against the Pirates, who haven't been able to beat the Cubs(hardly) all year.

Last World Series Win: 1908(107 seasons ago.)

Last World Series Appearance: 1945(Lost to the Tigers in seven games.)

4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Another odd ranking placement for a Reds fan, I know. But our feelings in the Cincinnati Metro area are nowhere near the calibar of what we have against the Steeelers. However, this is another team they struggles and it doesn't look like the road will be any easier. How many times can a team have the second best record in baseball and still miss winning the division crown? How pitiful. It's also a shame they will go against the Cubs(and possibly the Cardinals), two teams they have struggled against the entire season.

Since 1979 happened before I was born, I'll reflect on their recent postseason appearances. They may have taken out my Reds in 2013, and shocked everyone in 2012, but let's face it: They're choke-artists in the postseason. They'll have to change their ways if they want to make any progress.

Last World Series Win: 1979(36 seasons ago)

Last World Series Appearance: 1979(Beat the Orioles in seven games.)

5. Kansas City Royals: How can anyone hate the Royals? They are the innocent underdogs of the midwest. After that "near" win last year, I'll have to rank them in the middle(I still love them) this time around. This time around, they can relax and take out the winner of the Division Round. I know they're praying the Astros win that game.

Last year, they blew my mind away by soaring in the postseason, despite the fact they made it on a borderine Wild Card birth. I was at the age of 24 and in my final year of college, I love seeing underdog teams, with several "unknowns" take off such as they did! The fact they enterered the World Series undefeated in the postseason baffled me. This time, they won't have the flukey Giants to stir them up.

Last World Series Win: 1985(30 seasons ago)

Last World Series Appearance: 2014(Lost to the Giants in seven games.)

6. Toronto Blue Jays: The only team outside of the United States may go against the tide and pull it off this year. After all, their division title stunned most people. After snapping the longest postseason drought(Which the Royals had done last year), it's now time for them to smash the Rangers. Their offense is potent and I always considered them underdogs. I can't help but hope they do well.

Since I was only three years old when the Blue Jays last won, I'm not sure if I even watched the series, let alone remember them. This was also their last postseason appearance, so I can't even reflect there. All I can say is it's going to be hard to match Joe Turner's walk-off Home Run, regardless of how they do.

Last World Series Win: 1993(22 seasons ago)

Last World Series Appearance: 1993(Beat the Phillies in six games.)

7. New York Mets: Even though it's been a long time since they won, I have mixed feelings for this team. Their fans are rude and unfriendly, while their team is arrogant as well. However, they made it and many people didn't expect it. However, can they thwart the Dodger's pitching in the Division series? I won't be too upset if they did win but I don't see it happening either.

I remember as a ten year old fourth grader watching the 2000 World Series, AKA, the "Subway Series." The Mike Piazza and Roger Clemens fued was epic and the whole series was tense. It was an exciting series(even though they lost.)

Last World Series Win: 1986(29 seasons ago)

Last World Series Appearance: 2000(Lost to the Yankees in five games)

8. Los Angeles Dodgers: This is an "old school" Reds rival. Not to mention ESPN worships them, and I feel like their team is a huge corporation, so I never did like them. I don't have a true loathe for them but they're towards the bottom of my list. I do think they will take the Mets though, but can they handle the NL Central?

1989 was the year before I was born, as I've never seen this team in the World Series. I can tell you watching them year after year in the postseason, it's no surprise they may choke again. It's usually against the Cardinals or Giants too.

Last World Series Win: 1989(26 seasons ago)

Last World Series Appearance: 1989(Beat the Athletics in seven games.)

9. New York Yankees: This is my second worst team in all of baseball and always has been. All they do is "buy" their World Series titles and their a dirty, greedy, egotistical mess. I'm surprised their ancient team was able to pull it off this year. I don't think the Astros in their own stadium in a Wild Card game will be too much of a threat but they might have to do something they couldn't do before: Beat the Blue Jays!

I remember the 2009 World Series like it was yesterday. I was a 19 year old first year college student and I remember it being such a dull World Series. I could either see one of my worst teams win or a repeat winner. Talk about a lose-lose situation.

Last World Series Win: 2009(Six seasons ago)

Last World Series Appearance: 2009(Beat the Phillies in six games.)

10. St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals have always been my worst team in all of sports. Period. They are a clear division rival to my team. The good news is, they're limping into the postseason, plagued by injuries. The bad news is, they're always a good postseason team. The only National League team which has stopped them since 2011 has been the Giants!

The 2013 World Series as a great World Series for me! I was a bitter 23 year old fifth year college student who was nearly fed up with life, working at Kroger grocery store. However, watching my second-favorite team stomp my worst team.....again(Does anyone remember 2004?) was incredible! I absolutely loved it. Let's hope this reflects 2015.

Last World Series Win: 2011(Four seasons ago)

Last World Series Appearance: 2013(Lost to the Red Sox in five games.)

Postseason Predictions

National League Wild Card Game: Cubs @ Pirates

Prediction: The Cubs should take the Pirates. Jake Arietta has been nearly unhittable(especially against the Pirates) and as I already stated before, the Pirates struggle against the National League Central. Plus, the Pirates lack offense and the Cubs had an amazing August/September, while the Pirates remained steady.

National League Division Series 1: Cubs @ Cardinals

Prediction: The Cubs will upset the media and defeat the Cardinals. The Cubs are virtually 100 percent healthy, where as the Cardinals are anything but healthy. The Cardinals won't have All-Stars, such as Adam Wainwright(who is borderline useless at this point), Yadier Molina, Carlos Martinez, and Matt Holliday. Sure, they may have won 100 games but a bulk of those wins came when their team was healthi-ER(They've been beat up the entire season.) It may go the full five games but I think the Cubs have enough talent to thwart the injured Cardinals, as they truly proved in September.

National League Division Series 2: Mets @ Dodgers

Prediction: This is a difficult series to predict. In one way, the Dodgers having two of the best pitchers in baseball(Clayton Kershaw and Zach Greinke), who could potentially pitch in three games of this series, should be no problem against a Mets team with a struggling offense. However, as I mentioned, the Dodgers are big choke artists and Kershaw is terrible in the postseason. So, it's hard to say. However, I think the tides will turn and the Dodgers will take the Mets in five games. This should be a good match though.

National League Championship Series: Cubs @ Dodgers

Prediction: This might be the most difficult prediction yet. However, call me crazy, but I think the Cubs will take the Dodgers in seven games and advance to their first World Series 70 years. It will be a battle of the pitching, but the Cubs could upset this by potent offense. Sure, people will mention the Cubs being the ultimate choke artists but the Dodgers have looked no better in the past 20 years. I'm still a little skeptical about how Kershaw will perform in the postseason. So therefore, as crazy as this sounds, I think the Cubs will make the World Series. It's a shame they won't get home field advantage in the entire postseason, while they have the third best record in baseball.

American League Wild Card Game: Astros @ Yankees

Prediction: Sure, it's just one game, and it's hard to predict but it's also a little hard for me to say the Astros will take the Yankees here. Not only are they playing in New York, but they will have to go against a potent lineup which seemingly hasn't stopped the entire year. Dallas Keuchel may be a surprise All-Star but can he take their lineup? Let's not forget the Astros struggled in the final month of the season. I think this could be a blow-out victory for the Yankees.

American League Division Series 1: Yankees @ Royals

Prediction: This is another tough one to predict and I think it will go the full five games. I think the Yankees will take the Royals but it may come down to a nail-biting fifth game. The Yankees have a more potent offense but the Royals have a better pitching staff. This could be another coin toss.

American League Division Series 2: Rangers @ Blue Jays

Prediction: This will probably be ugly. The Blue Jays should sweep them in three games. The Rangers may have had a "hot" second half but the Blue Jays have one of the best lineups I've seen since the "Steroid Era." Their team scores so many runs, it's almost like someone is cheating for them. The Rangers don't have ay solid pitchers who could handle them.

American League Championship Series: Blue Jays @ Royals

Prediction: I'm still going with the Blue Jays and I think it will be an affair which lasts four or five games(at most.) The Royals may slow their offense down a bit but it won't help too much. In the regular season, the Royals were no match for this team.

2015 World Series: Cubs @ Blue Jays

Prediction: I really hope this is the case, because we might see a crazy seven game bash in the postseason(similar to last year.) The Cubs play with an aggressive, offense splash, while the Dodgers are conservative and stick with pitching/defense. If this series happens, we'll see the best pitchers go against potent rookie hitters. Both have been very "hot" in the latter months. That could be epic. I'll say the Blue Jays take the Cubs in seven games. Don't worry Cub fans, you always got next year ;)