It feels like March 20 was just yesterday when the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres played out the first MLB games in Seoul, South Korea. However, after a long 162 game grind, October is here. For some fanbases, this marks the perfect time to cheer on their favorite football teams or watch something new on Netflix. However, for some teams, this is where the postseason grind begins. The New York Yankees look to finally get over their ALCS hump this year, as both Aaron Judge and Juan Soto put up ridiculous offensive production. Of course, who could forget Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ successful 98-win campaign, although don’t count out teams like the Phillies or the Orioles from making a little bit of October magic. In this week’s roundtable, our group of writers will give their take on who they see putting all of the pieces together and winning this year’s fall classic.
Jake Loomis
Campus Correspondent
Detroit Tigers
This year’s World Series will be won by the Detroit Tigers, mark my word. The Tigers have been the real shocker of the MLB season so far going on a hot streak in the second half of the year. This team is gritty, determined and wants it all. They also have a top-tier manager in A.J. Hinch with a lot of postseason experience that should help aid the team down the stretch. The road will be tricky, though, as the Tigers will be a wild card team. However, if they can continue to stay hot and prove themselves, they should have no problem upsetting powerhouse teams like the Yankees. The road will start with Hinch’s former team, the Astros, where he was involved in the pitch tipping scandal that ultimately led to his firing. The Tigers have arms and good bats that should be able to provide them enough to sneakily win it all this October.
Ryan Lombardi
Campus Correspondent
San Diego Padres
This Padres team is starting to feel more like the early 2010’s Giants, as it seems like they are competitive every other year. After mediocre results last season, the Padres made significant moves by trading Juan Soto in order to shed payroll and bolster their pitching staff. While the pitching hasn’t exactly been lights out, they’ve somehow improved offensively, leading the league in batting average and top ten in OPS, home runs and RBIs. A three-man rotation of Michael King, Dylan Cease and Joe Musgrove should put them in situations to let their bats do the talking. Not to mention a sneaky good bullpen that consists of Tanner Scott, Jason Adam and closer Robert Suarez. And of course, we finally get to see Fernando Tatis make his return to the postseason. In 2020, he carried San Diego to a series win over the Cardinals. Simply making it to the playoffs seems to be the difficult part for San Diego, but they’re here and it feels like this is their best chance to make some noise.
Connor Sargeant
Associate Sports Editor
New York Yankees
While it wasn’t always pretty, the New York Yankees punched their ticket to the playoffs after a solid 94-win season. All year long, the former American League MVP Aaron Judge has been mashing baseballs at a high level for New York. The 32-year-old hit .322 from the dish with 58 home runs and 144 RBI’s. Judge also was the first player since Barry Bonds in 2004 to finish with a slugging percentage over .700. Fans also cannot sleep on Juan Soto and the season he is having. The right fielder batted an excellent .288 for the regular season, not to mention launching 41 home runs and 109 RBI’s. The Yankees also boast one of the most solid pitching staffs, which includes Gerrit Cole. Additionally, New York has a deep bullpen, which typically is the deciding factor in these games. With the high level of talent and this being Judge’s seventh try at the postseason, look for him to make some noise and take this team all the way to the promised land.
Patrick Minnerly
Campus Correspondent
New York Mets
The Mets just punched their ticket to the playoffs on Sunday with a thrilling victory over the Braves. It took so much for them to get here, from starting 0-5, to being eleven games under .500 by May 29, to breaking out in June to become one of the hottest teams in baseball. And yet, it almost wasn’t enough. In the end, it was the heroics of Francisco Lindor, who has put the team on his back this season, that secured the win over a team that has historically beaten the aspirations of Mets fans into the dirt. But this season was different. The Mets fought through every challenge thrown at them. They embraced the fun of Grimace and infielder Jose Iglesias’ song OMG. They showed the heart and grit necessary to make it far in the playoffs. The superteams like the Yankees and Dodgers may have their flashy records and eye-popping stats, but what really matters for the postseason is how much you want it. And the Mets really want it. Ya Gotta Believe!