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Playing Pepper 2010: Chicago White Sox

Last year before the season began, I posed five questions to a blogger for each team, so as to get to know the rest of baseball.  I focus so heavily on the Cardinals that sometimes the rest of MLB can pass me by.  That went very well, so much so that it spawned not only a postseason edition but was part of the impetus for the formation of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

So this year, I've brought Playing Pepper back, with a little bit of a twist.  Instead of five questions, I posed 10 questions, and this year every team got the same set.  Plus, tapping into those BBA connections, I sent them to every blogger representing that team in the BBA.

We'll try to do two a day in a general alphabetical order, but things may change depending on responses.

Chicago White Sox
2009 Finish: 79-83, third in the AL Central

The White Sox had an up and down year last year, making headlines with the acquisition of Jake Peavy but finishing 7 1/2 games out in a weak division.  Ricky from Tremendous Upside Potential was kind enough to give us a look at the coming season for Chicago.
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Playing Pepper 2009: Chicago White Sox

As the players start getting themselves ready for another season, I thought it'd be a good idea to do the same.  I contacted a blogger for each major league team and posted them five questions.  This is the result.  You can find the tentative schedule of teams here and today's main post is right here.   Continue Reading

Postseason Preview

So the quiet season begins.  Not much is likely to happen between now and the end of the World Series relating to the Cardinals.  I've got a few blogging projects in the works for the rest of the month, but nothing that I can start on right now.  And being that I'll be out of pocket tomorrow, this could be the last post of the week.

Thankfully, we have postseason baseball to discuss.  No Redbirds, but it's still baseball.  Caveat before beginning: I've looked back at some of my preseason predictions and comments in the UCB roundtable.  I'd not suggest paying all that much attention to any picks I might make!

Let's take a look at the American League first.  Last night's exciting playoff game means that Chicago now has to go to Tampa Bay and get started tomorrow.  Tampa Bay has been an amazing story this year and you just keep wondering when it is going to end.  But a team that can play all year in a division with the Red Sox and Yankees isn't going anywhere all that easily.

The consensus pick seems to be the Rays and I personally can't argue with that.  You'd think Chicago would eventually run out of momentum after three elimination games in a row, though it didn't seem to phase the Rockies much last year.  The Rays should have Carl Crawford back in the lineup for the series, which just adds a weapon to their lineup.  The Sox will be tough, but I'm going with the Rays in 4.

The other series is Boston vs. Los Angeles.  I really like the Angels.  They've got a solid rotation and an impressive lineup that can beat you in a number of ways.  Adding Mark Teixeria has really given them the thumper that they needed.  Boston has a lot of weapons as well, though they may miss Manny Ramirez in the series.  Then again, if they get Mike Lowell and JD Drew back, maybe not.  Still, I'm going Angels in 5.

Moving over to the National League we find Milwaukee vs. Philadelphia.  Great to see another NL Central team get in, even if it's one the Cardinals have had issues with the last couple of years.  That said, it's going to be a very tough road for the Brewers.  Getting Yovanni Gallardo back to start Game 1 is a nice boost, but he's been out of action for a while.  Losing Sheets before the series is a really big blow.  Because until Sabathia can go three straight games, they will need other pitchers.

Philadelphia has its weaknesses as well, as their rotation can be gotten to.  But having Brad Lidge out there, at least theoretically past The Homer, could be a great equalizer.  If the Phillies lead after 7 or 8, they've got to feel confident they are going to win.  I'm not sure the Breweres can say the same thing.  I'm going with the experts: Phillies in 4.

Which leaves us with just one series.  A series that none of us really wanted to see.  Anytime historical Chicago things are happening, it scares a lot of Cardinal fans.  The biggest key for the Cubs is Carlos Zambrano.  If he blows up, the Dodgers win this series, I believe.  I think Lowe can win Game 1, Harden will probably win Game 3.  If you get into the last two games up by one, you've got a great chance.

There's, of course, no way I'm picking the Cubs, even if I thought they were a lock.  I do think the Dodgers can hang with the Cubs, though, and if they can stay around until the middle relievers, they can feast there.  I probably won't watch much of this series due to the agonizing stress of the possibility of the Cubs winning, but I'm still going to go: Dodgers in 4.

Games start this afternoon.  We'll see how accurate these are in a week!

Also on the Network: √ Doing It The Hard Way [C70 At The Bat] √ Bobby Jenks Saves Sox's Win Over Seattle [Tremendous Upside Potential] √ Deadline moves [Feeling Dodger Blue] √ Manny's impact [Feeling Dodger Blue] √ Shea Stadium Plays Citi Field [Loge 13] √ Frustration Revisted [C70 At The Bat] √ Not So Fast, T-Mac [Tremendous Upside Potential] √ Payroll breakdown [Feeling Dodger Blue]