The playoffs are weaponized randomness. The one-and-done Wild Card games are like Russian roulette, only with worse odds. As such, the sorts of caveats we offer with our usual regular season predictions apply even more so now. Picking playoff winners is a fool’s errand. Luckily, we here at HardballTalk are not afraid to look foolish.
As a General Observation, the Astros are Bill’s and my favorites. Indeed, we have the exact same bracket with the exception of the number of games each series will go, which we’re just pulling out of our butts anyway. Ashley picks the Braves to beat the Astros in a big, big upset in the World Series that I would very much like to see happen but which I do not have the courage to predict myself.
But such is life and predictions, the common thread between which being that none of us know what we’re doing, we’re all wrong most of the time and, in the end, it doesn’t really matter.
CRAIG
AL Wild Card: Rays beat Athletics
NL Wild Card: Nationals beat Brewers
ALDS1: Astros beat Rays in 4 games
ALDS2: Yankees beat Twins in 5 games
NLDS1: Dodgers beat Nationals in 4 games
NLDS2: Braves beat Cardinals in 5 games
ALCS: Astros beat Yankees in 6 games
NLCS: Dodgers beat Braves in 5 games
World Series: Astros beat Dodgers in 6 games
BILL
AL Wild Card: Rays beat Athletics
NL Wild Card: Nationals beat Brewers
ALDS1: Astros beat Rays in 3 games
ALDS2: Yankees beat Twins in 4 games
NLDS1: Dodgers beat Nationals in 4 games
NLDS2: Braves beat Cardinals in 5 games
ALCS: Astros beat Yankees in 5 games
NLCS: Dodgers beat Braves in 6 games
World Series: Astros beat Dodgers in 6 games
ASHLEY:
AL Wild Card: Rays beat Athletics
NL Wild Card: Brewers beat the Nationals
ALDS1: Astros beat the Rays in 4 games
ALDS2: Yankees beat the Twins in 5 games
NLDS1: Dodgers beat the Brewers in 4 games
NLDS2: Braves beat the Cardinals in 3 games
ALCS: Astros beat the Yankees in 5 games
NLCS: Braves beat the Dodgers in 6 games
World Series: Braves beat the Astros in 6 games
So it is written, so it shall be done. Right Casey?
New York Yankee manager Casey Stengel (1890 - 1975) gazes into his “crystal” (base) ball to see what’s in store for the team in 1949, New York, New York, February 17, 1949. Stengel says he sees a bright future for the Yanks. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
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