[jg2977]

1920 ALCS/NLCS preview

Here we are, folks, the 1920 League Championship Series. And listen, it is a tough, tough time here in New York. The Mets, 119 wins, an all-time season, and they go out in the Division Series. A brutal loss, one of the worst in franchise history. You win that many games, you don’t lose in the first round. Period. End of story.
But, make no mistake, the Yankees are here. Seventh trip to the LCS, their first in seven years. That’s significant. That means something. But here’s the problem—you’ve got Cleveland. They’re the defending champs, they’re the favorite, and they are just the more complete ballclub. Don’t be fooled by the records—Cleveland at 104 wins, the Yanks at 103—it looks close, but it’s not. Cleveland’s lineup, their pitching, their balance, their postseason experience… it’s all there. To me, this is Cleveland in six. Yankees will fight, no question, but Cleveland’s just better.
Now you go over to the National League, and it’s a different story altogether. You’ve got the Reds, the 4-seed, and the Padres, the 6-seed. It’s wild. This is the fifth trip to the NLCS for the Reds. They’ve only gotten through once, way back in 1903, seventeen years ago, and they won in the World Series, beating Houston for their only title to date. So there’s history here. For San Diego, just their second trip ever. They got there in ’06, lost to Detroit in the Fall Classic.
Now, I’ll tell ya—I think Cincinnati’s the stronger team. I like the Reds in six. So when you put it all together, folks, what do you get? You get yourself an all-Ohio World Series. Cleveland and Cincinnati. That’s where this thing is headed.