2018 Postseason Power Rankings/Contest Plug

The 2018 MLB Postseason begins tonight, and 10 teams have made the cut! Last year, I ranked them by who I was going to root for, and offered my predictions. I fell flat on that one, predicting the Indians winning over the Nationals. We'll see if I do any better this year.

Who I'll Be Rooting For

As a Red Sox fan, you can probably guess who is first on the list (and for that matter, you can make an educated guess at who comes in last!) Outside of my team, I usually will root for whichever team has gone the longest without a Championship. There are, of course, exceptions based on current rosters and special circumstances.

1. Boston Red Sox (AL East Champions - 4 year drought)

2004 Topps World Champions Boston Red Sox #NNO Boston Red Sox Jumbo

As long as my team is alive and kicking, I'll be rooting for them to win their 4th Championship since 2004. This team has been amazing to watch this year. A team record for wins, two MVP candidates, comebacks galore - it's been incredible! They haven't had a mediocre month all year. They have to defeat a lot of really good teams to win it all, but this almost feels like one of those storybook years.
Prediction: Defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series!

2. Cleveland Indians (AL Central Champions - 69 year drought)

1967 Laughlin World Series #45 1948 Braves vs Indians

As I've said before, I will put weight based on how long the team has gone without a title. Ever since the Cubs exorcised their demons, the Indians have topped the list. This is a good team with very likable players, including two MVP candidates of their own in Lindor and Ramirez. Terry Francona is also one of my favorite managers. He's already a Hall of Famer in my book, but a 3rd title would seal the deal. Unfortunately, they have a tough opening match-up against the defending World Champs.
Prediction: Lose to the Houston Astros in the ALDS

3. Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central Champions - Never won in 49 year of existence)

2018 Topps #156 Milwaukee Brewers

As far as NL teams are concerned, I'll be rooting for the Cinderella Brewers all the way! After almost 50 years without a title, and no World Series appearances since 1982, their fans are more than overdue. The off-season acquisitions of Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich have turned this team into legitimate contenders!
Prediction: Lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West Champions - 29 year drought)

1989 Fleer - World Series #12 Dodger Blue World Champs

Lately, I've enjoyed the post season theatrics so much that I feel bad for the team that loses in the World Series. I almost want them to follow Kansas City's path where they win the year immediately following the year they lose. It didn't happen for Cleveland last year, but it could very well happen for the Dodgers this year.
Prediction: Lose to the Boston Red Sox in the World Series

5. Atlanta Braves (NL East Champions - 22 year drought)

 

1996 Collector's Choice #395 Tom Glavine (WS)

I usually say that I'm OK with the Champions coming from any team that has gone longer than 20 years without a title. This applies to the Braves, but honestly, it doesn't feel like it, doesn't it? Their decade of dominance was really that long ago? Their run of postseasons was so huge I almost want to say it's not long enough yet. Still, I can't deny I'm excited to see what Ronald Acuna could do in the spotlight this year!
Prediction: Lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS

6. Houston Astros (AL West Champions - won last year)

2018 Topps Heritage #169 Astros Celebrate Their Victory (WS)

If any team is going to beat the Red Sox, it'll be Houston. They can steamroll their way to another title and no one would be surprised. Truth is, I like them. They have a fun team, with guys that are easy to root for. I also have a bit of a soft spot for them because I got a ball signed by a bunch of them years ago before they got good.
Prediction: Lose to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS.

7. Chicago Cubs (NL Wild Card - 2 year drought)

20016 Topps Chicago Cubs World Series Champions Box Set #WS-14 Ben Zobrist

It wouldn't surprise me if they won it all again, but in truth I'd rather any of the other above 6 teams win before them. The main reason they're not lower is because I like Jon Lester. However, if Addison Russell plays in the postseason, not a million former Red Sox players will overcome that.
Prediction: Lose to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.

8. Colorado Rockies (NL Wild Card - never won in 25 years of existence)

2018 Topps #314 Colorado Rockies

I'm sorry, I just can't get excited about this team. Deep down I'd be happy if they won their first World Championship, but as far as rooting for them goes, they fall right in the "meh" category for me. I don't love or hate them, they have no former Red Sox players to root for, they're just a good team. These guys are the baseline - everyone above them I can easily root for, everyone below I have at least some small issue with. Meh.
Prediction: Lose to the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card Game.

9. Oakland Athletics (AL Wild Card - 28 year drought)

 

1990 Score #708 World Series Game 4 (WS)

I was all ready to put the Athletics at #5, right behind the Dodgers in their rightful place of teams based on droughts. Truth is, the late 80's Athletics absolutely owned the Red Sox, always sweeping them in the postseason. That wound still hurts my friends. I'll make you a deal, Oakland: knock out the next team in the Wild Card game, and all is forgiven.
Prediction: Lose to the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card Game

10. New York Yankees (AL Wild Card - not a long enough drought)

2010 Topps - History of the World Series #HWS25 Yankees

I don't care how likeable and exciting this team may be - never the Yankees! Don't "Judge" me...
Prediction: Lose to the Boston Red Sox (hopefully swept) in the ALDS.

So good luck to all the teams out there (except New York of course)! This is going to be a great postseason!

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2017 Topps - Salute #S-78 Aaron Nola

There's a contest going on over at Collecting Cutch in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Go to his post and guess who you think will hit the first double of the World Series! Sorry, I already gave the correct answer (It's Mookie!) but you can still participate for a chance to win a pair of boobs pink paralleled Giancarlo Stanton/Mike Judge card.

There's also a secondary prize being offered for pimping this contest. The prize is a Carl Yastrzemski relic card (The relic being a seat from the old Cleveland Stadium, which statistically has a realistic chance of once being occupied by a breast cancer survivor!)

Part of the rules for this pimping, in addition to the pimp itself, was to show off some of my favorite ladies. If you visit the Collecting Cutch blog throughout the month of October, you'll see some beautiful female celebrities with certain endowments in honor of the month. The more I thought about it, the more I decided to go in another direction. The rules merely said my favorite ladies, and I have no greater favorites than these two:

 

Those are my daughters. Sorry if you were hoping for cleavage, but hear me out....

Fighting breast cancer is important to me. My mom is a breast cancer survivor. Her mom was too. There is a history of it on my wife's side of the family as well. Breast cancer is genetic, and my family carries the gene. That means there's a very good chance that my daughters will get it someday. As a father, that thought terrifies me. I hope and pray that a cure comes through before my girls have to deal with it.

 There a website called the Greater Good Project. If you do nothing else, I'm going to ask that you visit this site. By merely clicking on the button, you can donate a mammogram to someone who may need it. Just think, a couple seconds of your time could save someone's life!