Just because the Reds aren’t participating doesn’t mean that our writers and contributors won’t be watching the 2017 MLB playoffs. Quite the contrary, in fact. So, as things get under way tonight — I know, I know, the Wild Card games already happened, but the Division Series are just now beginning — the staff here at Redleg Nation got together to make some predictions.
Before I get into the prognostication, let me say a quick word about this group of writers here. Sure, I’m biased, but I think we have as good a group of contributors as any similar site out there.* They’re just fantastic, and I love the stuff they write here at RN, even in a difficult season (and we Reds fans know a lot about difficult seasons). Anyway, here’s how we see it playing out:
First, the ALDS and NLDS:
| ALDS | NLDS | |
| Chad Dotson | Cleveland over NYY
Houston over Boston |
LAD over Arizona
Washington over Chicago |
| Clay Marshall | Cleveland over NYY
Houston over Boston |
LAD over Arizona
Chicago over Washington |
| Matt Wilkes | Cleveland over NYY
Houston over Boston |
Arizona over LAD
Chicago over Washington |
| Nick Kirby | Cleveland over NYY
Houston over Boston |
LAD over Arizona
Washington over Chicago |
| Wes Jenkins | Cleveland over NYY
Houston over Boston |
LAD over Arizona
Chicago over Washington |
| Steve Mancuso | Cleveland over NYY
Houston over Boston |
LAD over Arizona
Washington over Chicago |
| Jason Linden | Cleveland over NYY
Houston over Boston |
LAD over Arizona
Chicago over Washington |
| Tom Mitsoff | Cleveland over NYY
Boston over Houston |
LAD over Arizona
Chicago over Washington |
| Nick Carrington | Cleveland over NYY
Houston over Boston |
LAD over Arizona
Washington over Stupid Cubs |
| Jeff Gangloff | Cleveland over NYY
Houston over Boston |
LAD over Arizona
Washington over Chicago |
| Ashley Davis | Cleveland over NYY
Houston over Boston |
LAD over Arizona
Washington over Chicago |
| John Ring | Cleveland over NYY
Houston over Boston |
LAD over Arizona
Washington over Chicago |
| Adam Taylor | Cleveland over NYY
Boston over Houston |
LAD over Arizona
Washington over Chicago |
Now the rest of the playoffs, including the World Series:
| ALCS | NLCS | World Series | WS MVP | |
| Chad Dotson | Cleveland over Houston | Washington over Cleveland | Washington over Cleveland | Bryce Harper |
| Clay Marshall | Cleveland over Houston | LAD over Chicago | Cleveland over LAD | Corey Kluber
(Most Affable Player: Jay Bruce) |
| Matt Wilkes | Cleveland over Houston (4-3)
MVP: Edwin Encarnacion |
Chicago over Arizona (4-1)
MVP: Kris Bryant |
Cleveland over Chicago (4-0) | Corey Kluber |
| Nick Kirby | Cleveland over Houston | LAD over Washington | Cleveland over LAD | |
| Wes Jenkins | Houston over Cleveland | LAD over Chicago | Houston over LAD | George Springer |
| Steve Mancuso | Cleveland over Houston | LAD over Washington | Cleveland over LAD (4-1) | Joey Votto |
| Jason Linden | Cleveland over Houston | LAD over Chicago | Cleveland over LAD | Jay Bruce |
| Tom Mitsoff | Cleveland over Boston | Chicago over LAD | Cleveland over Chicago | |
| Nick Carrington | Cleveland over Houston | LAD over Washington | Dodgers over Cleveland | Clayton Kershaw |
| Jeff Gangloff | Cleveland over Houston | LAD over Washington | Cleveland over LAD | Corey Kluber |
| Ashley Davis | Cleveland over Houston | LAD over Washington | Cleveland over LAD | Jay Bruce |
| John Ring | Cleveland over Houston | LAD over Washington | Cleveland over LAD (4-1) | Jay Bruce |
| Adam Taylor | Boston over Cleveland | LAD over Washington | Boston over LAD (4-2) |
With nine votes, the Redleg Nation staff overwhelmingly thinks Cleveland is going to win the World Series. Boston, Los Angeles, and Houston each received one vote, and some moron even thinks that Dusty Baker’s Nationals have a chance to win the World Series. What a maroon.
Be sure to tell us how wrong we are in the comment section below.
*Also, it must be said…we have a better group of commenters than any site out there. Everywhere you go around the interwebs, you have to avoid the comments because it’s always a bunch of yahoos spouting nonsense. Here at RN, everyone really works hard to be respectful. So yeah…I appreciate you guys too!
I don’t know about that Dotson guy picking the Nationals… but I think Mancuso might be onto something. The Most Interesting Man In Baseball is the MVP even when he’s not playing. And fans throw balls to him. I’ll be rooting for the Indians to break their own curse and for Joey Votto for MVP of everything.
Before the season started I had Cleveland over Washington in the WS so I’m sticking with that.
I really appreciate that while people on this site can strongly disagree, you don’t allow the name calling, political commentary, and vulgarity seen on other (MLB Reds site for example) sites. I can cuss like a sailor but it’s just not appropriate on a baseball blog. Thanks for that!!
We try to be respectful but like in any organization that comes from the top. I think it will finally be Dusty’s year with the Nats taking it all.
I enjoy that Chad has the Nationals beating Cleveland in both the NLCS and the World Series!
Oops. Oh well, I’ll just stick with that prediction.
I am rooting for Cleveland. I would like to see Bruce get a ring and my family is from Canton. Besides they are pretty good.
I’m going with the Nats over Cleveland. This is Dusty’s year! Even a broken clock is right twice a day!
I might have to agree with Carrington’s pick of LA over Cleveland. I am rooting for the Tribe for sure but it is tough to argue against the Dodgers when you look at their roster.
If that’s the WS matchup, I’m probably still rooting for the Tribe based solely on the Jay Bruce factor.
I’m rooting for the Tribe because my brother in law is a long suffering (he’s 75) Indians’ fan and since I picked them to win, I like being right, lol.
Does the Old Cossack think Dusty deserves a ring? If so…root for the Nats. If their pitching holds up, and their offense doesn’t slump (which it hasn’t really done all year), they have a good chance. AND, Dusty can get the monkey off his back. Of course, we could be disappointed yet again.
Deserve’s got nuthin’ to do with it.
I think the Nats will take it all but I’m pulling for Houston, a young team that’s been through a lot of losing seasons similar to the Reds.