Cale:

The 2014 MLB playoffs are well underway, and already the competition has been intense. The American League qualifiers have seen varying success. The 89-73 Royals took down the Athletics to reach the ALDS and then swept the red-hot 98-64 Angles, while the 90-72 Tigers went three-and-out to the 96-66 Orioles.

In the National League, San Fransisco took down the 88-74 Pirates in the wild-card matchup, and currently lead their series versus the number 1 seed Washington (96-66) 2-0. The Dodgers and Cardinals are deadlocked at 1-1 with both of the games decided by one point.

With the Giants poised to sweep Washington, and the successful division series victories by Baltimore and Kansas City, your editors will take a stab at predicting the unpredictable in this week’s Bleacher Talk segment. Who will take the championship series in the American League clash of postseason undefeated’s to face off against the competitive National league champions in the 2014 World Series?

Dave:

Right off the bat I like the Orioles as the American League champions. I watched them play all season in an extremely competitive AL Eastern division. They played hard, hit home-runs in droves and blew the competition out of the water. As much as I hate to admit it as a fan of the Bronx Bombers, The Orioles are the best team in the American League, and although Kansas City made it look easy so far against the A’s and Angels, I think their lack of post-season experience will catch up with them deeper in the playoffs. I will say that the Royals really impressed me against Mike Trout, Pujols and the number 1 seed Halos. I still don’t think they are the best team in the league, but I am fully prepared for an extremely close and unpredictable ALCS.

The National League had been more competitive this post-season. The Giants, who have been so successful in the World Series in the past few years, won on Saturday in 18 innings in the longest playoff game in MLB history, at six hours and 23 minutes. They are on the verge of sweeping the Nationals, but I think it will take an extra game for them to get the division win.

If my prediction is correct they will square off against the Dodgers. Los Angeles, a 94-win team, had success in the playoffs last year, and their speedy, athletic outfield and clutch pitching staff I think will take down the Cards. Although St. Louis posts an impressive post-season record in the last few years, I think LA will triumph in the end.

That brings me to the World Series matchup, which should be a classic. O’s manager Buck Showalter is an experienced postseason visitor, and home-run hitting Baltimore has looked goon on both sides of the ball all season. Look for Tillman and Nelson Cruz to make a big impact in the big series.

Cale:

The MLB playoffs are already deep in the Division Series stage, and will begin the Championship Series later this week. October baseball has the tendency to provide some unforgettable moments, and this year’s playoffs have already been entertaining.

This year’s playoffs have a few teams that don’t see postseason play that often, like the Royals and Orioles, and some recent champions, such as the Giants and Cardinals. These playoff series really test a team’s composure, as the pressure of the stage can sometimes be too much for some players to perform well.

So far, the Orioles and Giants have shown me that they are the front runners for the World Series title, and I believe they will play for the title. Baltimore steamrolled Detroit and swept their three game series. They have been hot, even after clinching the AL East crown in mid-September. Manager Buck Showalter is an experienced veteran, and has put the players in the best positions to perform well all season.

Showalter performs defensive switches to protect leads late in games, and has a bullpen that is set up to dominate the opposing hitters from the 7th inning on. The most important factor to the Oriole’s success will be their starting pitching, led by Chris Tillman. Most of their pitchers are experiencing their first postseason, or are relatively new to postseason play, so it will be interesting to see if they can continue to perform under pressure.

On the other hand, the San Francisco Giants are veterans of the postseason, having won the World Series twice in the past four seasons. Manager Bruce Bochy is also very experienced, but the Giants are built differently than the Orioles. Timely hitting, and strong starting pitching are the Giants’ strengths. They are extremely solid in the fundamentals, and also boast a strong bullpen. The most important factor to the Giants’ success will be whether their offense can remain consistent and provide run support for their pitching staff. Former MVP and catcher, Buster Posey, is in the middle of the Giants’ order, and is vital to their success.

All in all, I think the Giants will capture their third World Series crown in 5 seasons, and take the series from the Orioles. The Giants pitching staff is extremely solid, and is led by pitcher Madison Bumgarner, who has been the staff ace all season. Veteran pitchers Jake Peavy and Tim Hudson are both enjoying renaissance seasons with the Giants, and are looking to cap it off with a World Series title.

Enjoy watching the MLB playoffs, and watch to see if our predictions are right!

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