Dave M@linsky
10/1/2008
3* PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (**SERIES**)-175 over Milwaukee Brewers (**SERIES**)
The Brewers are a most fragile item heading into playoffs. Instead of being a confident side that has the momentum of achieving a post-season berth, they did not play well at all down the stretch, merely riding the massive shoulders of C. C. Sabathia to get here. Note that they were 6-14 in the last 20 games that were not started by Sabathia, and that with Ben Sheets injured, and without a closer that they can rely on under this pressure, the pitching is a mess. Yovani Gallardo becomes the go-to guy for the opener, despite only having thrown 67 pitches since May 1st, a four-inning stint vs. the weak Pirate offense last week. Then, of course, it becomes C. C. time again, but on Thursday he will be pitching on three days rest for the 4th straight time, including an exhausting 122 pitches vs. the Cubs under that intense Sunday pressure. The Phillies bring a 13-3 run into this series, and can make things happen in so many ways, not just with the lumber on offense, but that terrific 136-161 in stolen base opportunities. We believe that will be the biggest factor in this series, as they run a mediocre (outside of Sabathia) pitching staff ragged, and it would not be a surprise at all if this one ended quickly. They dominated the Brewers by a commanding 26-10 in a four-game home sweep in September, and this picks up right where that left off.
4* LOS ANGELES ANGELS(**SERIES**)-125 over Boston Red Sox (**SERIES**)
If you win 100 games during the regular season, despite playing through a slew of injuries that likely prevented several more W?s from being added, and have the home field advantage, you should be favored by significantly more than the Angels are for this series. But the magic of the Red Sox name rears its head again, even though they bring significant issues to the table this time. Instead of Josh Beckett being the horse that Boston will ride in the post-season, we will not see him until game #3 at the earliest, and his effectiveness is an issue. J. D. Drew and Mike Lowell? Also cloudy pictures. And it absolutely must be factored in just what the home field disadvantage means to a team that was 56-25 in Fenway Park this season, but just 39-42 on the road. But even Fenway is not the usual advantage, with the Angels going 5-1 there this season, part of an 8-1 head-to-head in which seven of those wins came by multiple runs. The better team in this price range is impossible to pass up.