Quick hits and wild cards

Anyone not watching the NBA playoff is missing out on some great games. Most recently, the Cleveland/Washington Game 6 in Cleveland, where Lebron and Gilbert Arenas combined for 86 points in a duel that was a ton of fun to watch. Both of them were actually passing, trying to involve their teammates, and then taking the ball to the hoop when that didn't work, throwing themselves around like rag dolls. Lebron made the game winning shot on a baseline drive with .9 seconds left. Fun stuff.

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Papelbon gave up his first run of the year yesterday, and now everyone wants to know how he'll do now. Seriously? I think he's given up runs before. If it was the 7th game of the World Series, that might involve some scarring. He'll be just fine.

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On to the pics:

NL Wild Card

There's a few contenders here, mainly from the Central division: The Astros, Brewers, Phillies and Braves. Note that there's no teams from the west, they're just lucky that they're division winner automatically makes it in. I want to pick the Brewers, but I have a feeling they're last year's Cleveland, and will choke down the stretch. Astros? Not with the team they have right now, but maybe if Clemens comes along. Phillies? Not enough pitching. Braves? Not enough, well, anything. So I guess I will pick the Brewers after all, and then be pissed when they choke.

AL Wild Card

Really this comes down to three teams, one from each division: Red Sox, Indians, and Angels. To be honest, whichever of these teams does end up winning the Wild Card might be the favorite to win the American league as well. This year, I just think that the Angels are a little too injury prone to pull it out. Red Sox? They're going to be good this year, no doubt about it. Indians? Same.

So which of the two is it?

Offensively, the Indians are a much better top to bottom team.
Starting pitching? Red Sox have a better top two, but the Indians have a better 5, so I'd call it a push.
Defense? Both teams are pretty good defensively, but the Sox might be a bit better this year, at least up the middle.
Bullpen? Edge goes to the Red Sox due to depth.

So who wins? It's a tossup, but here's my guess. Towards the end of the season, the Indians call up Andy Marte, and he provides the momentum they need to carry the Wild Card.

Good thing too, because if the Sox won the Wild Card, I might have had to pick them to win the World Series, and that might have killed me.