Division Series prediction, Part I

Not trying to steal any thunder or anything, but I’ll take the preview one step further. Since Scranton has been eliminated I can be objective (or at least as objective as I can possibly be) and make my own predictions. I’m going to do the matchups one at a time, hopefully I can get through them all before the series all start.

Pawtucket vs. Texas

Projected Pitching Match-ups

Game 1: Christopher Ramirez (19-7 2.52 ERA) vs. Sal Freeman (13-8, 4.37 ERA)
Game 2: Stan Jenner (16-7, 2.72 ERA) vs. Tony Blowers (11-8, 5.02 ERA)
Game 3: Henry Mackowiak (19-5, 1.96 ERA) vs. Albert Burks (14-6, 4.89 ERA)
Game 4: Ramirez vs. Fernando Estrada (11-8, 4.32 ERA)
Game 5: Jenner vs. Freemann

Pawtucket will win if: Ramirez, Jenner and Mackowaik are Ramirez, Jenner and Mackowaik. An interesting move by Pawtucket showing only three starting pitchers before this series. But if there are any three pitchers you want going for you this time of the year it’s them. All three have sub-three ERA’s. Texas can score runs, but these three have proven they can shut down the best of them.

Texas will win if: Pawtucket’s historic woes against lefties continue. If there is on thing working in Texas’ favor this series, it’s the fact that Freeman and Blowers are both lefties, which has been an Achilles heal for the Polythene throughout the history of the world. This year Pawtucket has a batting average eight points lower against LHP than it does against RHP.

Intangibles: Pawtucket called up a AAA pitcher for the playoffs named Jesus Batista. If South Park has taught me anything, it’s that if you bet against Jesus, more likely than not you are going to lose.

Prediction: One of the Texas lefties will be able to shut down the Polythene bats for one game, but it won’t be enough to trump Pawtucket’s big three. Pawtucket in four.

Coming tomorrow (tentatively): Norfolk vs. Rochester and if I’m feeling ambitious, one of the ALDS series.