John Axford (Wikimedia Commons)
The American League Divisional Series started yesterday afternoon with the Tampa Bay Rays hammering the Texas Rangers 9-0 in Arlington.
It is now time to focus our attention today on the senior circuit.
The most intriguing series for me among the four will take place in Milwaukee. The Brewers host the Arizona Diamondbacks at noon today. The Brewers have Canadian content– closer John Axford is from Simcoe, Ontario, and General Manager Doug Melvin is from Chatham, Ontario. They are joined by backup catcher George Kottaras of Scarborough, Ontario, who hit for the cycle in a game this year, and backup third baseman Taylor Green of Comox, British Columbia. Also, we can’t forget centerfielder Nyjer Morgan who played in the Western Hockey League with the Regina Pats.
As for the Diamondbacks, nobody expected them to win their division and get by the San Francisco Giants. Kirk Gibson should win the National League Manager of the Year, Ian Kennedy (21-4, 2.88 ERA) could win the Cy Young and Justin Upton should be in the conversation for N.L. MVP, however, that nod will probably go to Los Angeles Dodgers’ centerfielder Matt Kemp.
I like the Brewers in five. It will simply take a lot for the Diamondbacks to stop Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun.
In the other series, the Phillies should sweep the Cardinals quite handily. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels all had an earned run average under three and combined for 50 wins. This is where the Cardinals will miss Adam Wainwright, who missed the season after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, the most. The Cardinals have solid pitching– Jaime Garcia, Kyle Lohse, Edwin Jackson and Chris Carpenter, but not the intimidating presence that the Phillies’s starters and Wainwright have.
Tags: adam wainwright, arizona diamondbacks, chris carpenter, cliff lee, cole hamels, doug melvin, edwin jackson, george kottaras, ian kennedy, jaime garcia, john axford, justin upton, kyle lohse, milwaukee brewers, nyjer morgan, philadelphia phillies, prince fielder, roy halladay, ryan braun, saint louis cardinals, taylor green
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