October 11, 2022
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This week we posed the following to our writers:
Just for fun... Predict the ALDS vs Cleveland. Who will win, how many games will it take, any amazing players/moments, etc.?
Here are their responses:
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Cary Greene - I predicted on the Bronx Beat podcast the other day that the Yankees would win the series in four games, so I will stick to that prediction even though I do think it could just as easily be a five game series.
I'd love to be wrong about this, and I know plenty of Yankee fans believe it's going to be an easy win for the Yankees, but I haven't seen evidence that the Yankees offense is explosive enough against top shelf pitching and I do think Cleveland has a borderline World Series contender pitching staff if you count their bullpen and their frontline starters..
Fortunately, the Yankees have a legitimate World Series champion pitching staff and the difference should play out in the series. It may not happen until later in the series, perhaps in Game 5, but I think it's pitching that will win this series for the Yankees not necessarily hitting.
I think the star of the series might wind up being either Gerrit Cole or Nestor Cortez. For that matter, Luis Severino could also be very important because he's probably going to be available in relief if the series does go five games.
I'd love to see Giancarlo Stanton and Matt Carpenter and Aaron Judge all connect frequently in this series and if that happens we could be looking at a three or four game series maximum..
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Lincoln Mitchell - My sad prediction-Guardians in five. Cole pitches well in game one and they win. However, in a key game later in the series Cole pitches poorly and loses an important game.
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Mike Whiteman - Which Yankees will rise to the occasion in this year’s playoffs? My gut says Luis Severino, Harrison Bader and Giancarlo Stanton will shine in their series against Cleveland, one in which I think the Yankees will win in four games.
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Paul Semendinger - Every team frightens me in the post season. I think Cleveland will be very tough. We have seen Gerrit Cole pitch poorly in big spots far too often. That doesn't mean he's not a good pitcher, but it does mean that he probably isn't the best guy to go Game 1. If he wins, the Yankees will be in great shape. If he loses...
I still have hope. Nestor Cortes and Luis Severino have the talent to win Games 2 and 3. And then... who knows? (But who ever knows in a short series?)
I do worry that Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge will struggle in the series.
Just for fun (and why not?), the player of the series will be Harrison Bader. He'll hit .375 and smash 3 home runs in the Yankees' four game victory. Just for more fun, he'll also drop an easy fly ball just so John Sterling can see, "Isn't that amazing?"
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E.J. Fagan (From the SSTN Podcast) - The Yankees will win in three.
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Tim Kabel - My prediction is here (or, in short, The Yankees will sweep!)
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Ethan Semendinger - The Yankees will win in four games. Gerrit Cole will be the starting pitcher for two of the wins (Game 1 and Game 4). Based on his season will disappoint, by contributions by Giancarlo Stanton and Kyle Higashioka will carry them into the ALCS.
