World Series Prediction Time: who ya got?

[lapa]

So far

3
Pozo the Clown

3.5
Ale Xander

4
Buzzkillpauley
brs3
TeddyBallgame9
HankScorpio
lapa
debretto
patoaflac fence sitting

5
Adrians Dome
BornToRun fence sitting
rajendra82
Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat
soxinthemist
RGreeley33
brandonchristensen
patoaflac fence sitting
agibson2000
samraynot
gixer1k
rico gaupo

6
BornToRun fence sitting
bosockboy
Ferm Sheller
Maximus
streeter88
koufax
redsoxcentury
noseminer
wake49
soxin6
AMcGhie
Lose Remerswaal
mountoursvillefan
TheoShmeo
canderson
wiffleballhero
ricopetro6
bankshot1 (includes sex with Machado)
InsidetheParker
gixer1k (slight fence sitting)

7
semperfidelissox
Morgans Magic Snowplow
(canderson fence sitting)
wenzink

8
samraynot (symmetrical daydreaming)


Dodgers in 6
Oppo

 

[Shawn O'Leary]

5. Easiest series of the postseason.

 

[budcrew08]

Sox in six. Split at home, take 2 of 3 in LA, clinch at home.

 

[Hawk68]

Red Sox in five(5). Dodgers have a rich tradition, but best team wins.

 

[donutogre]

Sox in 6.

 

[Bozo Texino]

Sox in six.

Beat LA.

 

[wiffleballhero]

Winning in 8 would have a nice symmetry, but I’ll go with Sox in 5, just like the last time we met up with these fools.

Although prevailing in the 18th inning of game 7 would have some rapturous appeal.

 

[mikeot]

Sox in 5; sorry, Fenway Faithful.

 

[nvalvo]

The Dodgers are pretty clearly the best team in the NL. They were third (+194) in Run Differential behind the Astros (+263) and the Red Sox (+229). The Yankees (+182), Indians (+170) and Athletics (+139) all slot in before the next NL team, the Cubs (+116).

But how good is the NL? You could make a case that the Astros and Red Sox built those huge run differentials and winning percentages by gorging themselves on terrible teams. And you'd be at least partly right: the Sox went 16-3 against the Orioles, accumulating a +61 run differential against just that team — 27% of their RD in 12% of their games.

But you could say basically the same thing about the Dodgers. In their case, it's the Padres: 14-5, with a +62 RD, or 32% of their RD in 12% of their games. And really, their inability to separate themselves in the standings from deeply flawed ball clubs like the Giants and Diamondbacks (until both of those teams imploded in September) doesn't speak well of them. Dodgers winning percentages by month:

March (3 games): .333
April: .440
May: .500
June: .654
July: .615
August: .519
September: .667

Which is to say that the Dodgers had one month as good as (and no better than) the Sox' season winning percentage. Boston swept the Angels in 6 games, outscoring them by 37 runs (that's more than six runs per game!). LAD went 3-3 against their "natural" rival.

Another way to express this question, then, is which AL playoff team are the Dodgers clearly better than. Oakland — sure. Cleveland — okay. New York — maybe; definitely LA's pitching is better, but you'd have to favor NY's lineup and bullpen. Houston? — FOH.

But then, I think we had to get a lot of breaks (ALL of JBJ's hits coming with two outs and men on, LOL) to dispatch Houston in 5; I think those teams were pretty well matched.

So... Sox in 6.

 

[The_Powa_of_Seiji_Ozawa]

I need to see the umpire crew first.

 

[Redkluzu]

Sox in 6, oh wait I hate going with the majority, that might mean Sox in 5.

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Sox in 5, but I don't think it's paricularly close. Sox are a far better team than Dodgers.

Better SP. Better Offense. Better Defense.

Machado is scary, and maybe Puig and/or Bellinger but both (Puig especially) have plenty of holes.

 

[Spelunker]

Sox in 5. LA is the least strong of the teams they've met these playoffs.

 

[ookami7m]

Sox in 5. Fuck Machado. Bogaerts MVP

 

[Wallball Tingle]

Heart: Sox in 5.

Head...Sox in 6.

 

[lapa]

So far

3
Pozo the Clown

3.5
Ale Xander

4
Buzzkillpauley
brs3
TeddyBallgame9
HankScorpio
lapa
debretto
patoaflac fence sitting

5
Adrians Dome
BornToRun fence sitting
rajendra82
Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat
soxinthemist
RGreeley33
brandonchristensen
patoaflac fence sitting
agibson2000
samraynot
gixer1k
rico gaupo
shawn o'leary
hawk68
redkluzu (skilful fence sitting while blaming others)
NJ_sox_fan (is scared of Machado)
spelunker
ookami7m (is also having sex with Machado)
uilnslcoap (cardiothoracic section)

6
BornToRun fence sitting
bosockboy
Ferm Sheller
Maximus
streeter88
koufax
redsoxcentury
noseminer
wake49
soxin6
AMcGhie
Lose Remerswaal
mountoursvillefan
TheoShmeo
canderson
wiffleballhero
ricopetro6
bankshot1 (includes sex with Machado)
InsidetheParker
gixer1k (slight fence sitting)
budcrew08
donutogre
ihatedavekerpen
nvalvo (largest body of supporting work/calculation)
redkluzu (skilful fence sitting while blaming others)
uilnslcoap (cranial region)

7
semperfidelissox
Morgans Magic Snowplow
(canderson fence sitting)
wenzink
wiffleballhero (speculative daydreaming, 18th inning specifically)

8
samraynot (symmetrical daydreaming)


Dodgers in 6
Oppo

 

[staz]

Sox in 6

 

[RoyHobbs]

Sox in 6, as well.

 

[Sandy Leon Trotsky]

I'm picking Sox in 6. But I've found myself somewhat suddenly disinterested. Maybe it's the too long of the downtime since spanking the Astros but I haven't felt terribly excited. Hopefully when the games start up I'll get interested again.

 

[Average Reds]

Sox in 6. Maybe 5 if Joe West is on the crew.

 

[JimD]

Sox in 6. The final postgame celebratory team photo is taken at Fenway Park.

 

[fiskful of dollars]

Sox in 6.

 

[EllisTheRimMan]

Dueling prediction threads... hmmm.

Sweep. Cause DrewDawg.

 

[lapa]

So far

3
Pozo the Clown

3.5
Ale Xander

4
Buzzkillpauley
brs3
TeddyBallgame9
HankScorpio
lapa
debretto
patoaflac fence sitting
ellistherimman (credits drewdawg, recognises superior prediction thread also)

5
Adrians Dome
BornToRun fence sitting
rajendra82
Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat
soxinthemist
RGreeley33
brandonchristensen
patoaflac fence sitting
agibson2000
samraynot
gixer1k
rico gaupo
shawn o'leary
hawk68
redkluzu (skilful fence sitting while blaming others)
NJ_sox_fan (is scared of Machado)
spelunker
ookami7m (is also having sex with Machado)
uilnslcoap (cardiothoracic section)
average Reds (another fence sitter blamed on someone else)

6
BornToRun fence sitting
bosockboy
Ferm Sheller
Maximus
streeter88
koufax
redsoxcentury
noseminer
wake49
soxin6
AMcGhie
Lose Remerswaal
mountoursvillefan
TheoShmeo
canderson
wiffleballhero
ricopetro6
bankshot1 (includes sex with Machado)
InsidetheParker
gixer1k (slight fence sitting)
budcrew08
donutogre
ihatedavekerpen
nvalvo (largest body of supporting work/calculation)
redkluzu (skilful fence sitting while blaming others)
uilnslcoap (cranial region)
staz
royhobbs
trotsky (interest waning)
average reds
jim D (somewhat unnecessary statement of the obvious in conjunction)
fiskful of dollars

7
semperfidelissox
Morgans Magic Snowplow
(canderson fence sitting)
wenzink
wiffleballhero (speculative daydreaming, 18th inning specifically)

8
samraynot (symmetrical daydreaming)


Dodgers in 6
Oppo

 

[waffles.]

Sox in 5

 

[keninten]

Sox in 4

 

[lapa]

5
Adrians Dome
BornToRun fence sitting
rajendra82
Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat
soxinthemist
RGreeley33
brandonchristensen
patoaflac fence sitting
agibson2000
samraynot
gixer1k
rico gaupo
shawn o'leary
hawk68
redkluzu (skilful fence sitting while blaming others)
NJ_sox_fan (is scared of Machado)
spelunker
ookami7m (is also having sex with Machado)
uilnslcoap (cardiothoracic section)
average Reds (another fence sitter blamed on someone else)
Wafflesaregood

6
BornToRun fence sitting
bosockboy
Ferm Sheller
Maximus
streeter88
koufax
redsoxcentury
noseminer
wake49
soxin6
AMcGhie
Lose Remerswaal
mountoursvillefan
TheoShmeo
canderson
wiffleballhero
ricopetro6
bankshot1 (includes sex with Machado)
InsidetheParker
gixer1k (slight fence sitting)
budcrew08
donutogre
ihatedavekerpen
nvalvo (largest body of supporting work/calculation)
redkluzu (skilful fence sitting while blaming others)
uilnslcoap (cranial region)
staz
royhobbs
trotsky (interest waning)
average reds
jim D (somewhat unnecessary statement of the obvious in conjunction)
fiskful of dollars

7
semperfidelissox
Morgans Magic Snowplow
(canderson fence sitting)
wenzink
wiffleballhero (speculative daydreaming, 18th inning specifically)

8
samraynot (symmetrical daydreaming)


Dodgers in 6
Oppo

 

[lapa]

Oppo you are thankfully eliminated

 

[lapa]

5
Adrians Dome
BornToRun fence sitting
rajendra82
Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat
soxinthemist
RGreeley33
brandonchristensen
patoaflac fence sitting
agibson2000
samraynot
gixer1k
rico gaupo
shawn o'leary
hawk68
redkluzu (skilful fence sitting while blaming others)
NJ_sox_fan (is scared of Machado)
spelunker
ookami7m (is also having sex with Machado)
uilnslcoap (cardiothoracic section)
average Reds (another fence sitter blamed on someone else)
Wafflesaregood

Tonight’s all star lineup

 

[SoxInTheMist]

Bragging time: Got both the ALCS (only one) and World Series correct! Best 1-25 Red Sox team ever

 

[DisgruntledSoxFan77]

Jesus, all you guys have me on ignore?

All good, I'm fine with the attention going to the team!

 

[Oppo]

Oppo you are thankfully eliminated

Reverse jinx!

 

[budcrew08]

I said in six, and I’m never happier to be wrong. World champs!

 

[ookami7m]

Sox in 5. Fuck Machado. Bogaerts MVP

Do I get bonus points for Machado being at the plate for the final out?

 

[sheamonu]

Do I get bonus points for Machado being at the plate for the final out?

Yes, I think you do. And a brief medical update. Doctors report that they have successfully untied Mr. Machado after Chris Sale left him in a knot at home plate.