Yanks drop finale, take Wild Card

The 2010 season ended just like it started — with a loss at Fenway Park.

However, Sunday’s season finale was a little easier to swallow as the Yanks had a postseason spot locked up. It turns out they will play in Minnesota for the ALDS, with Game 1 coming on Wednesday night at 8:37 EST. The Yanks’ rotation has not been announced besides CC taking the ball in the opener. The playoff rotation and roster will be announced on Tuesday. The Justin Morneau-less Twinkies will go with a four-man rotation of LHP Francisco Liriano, our old friend RHP Carl Pavano, LHP Brian Duensing and RHP Nick Blackburn.

I’m not happy the Yanks got the Wild Card, but, at the same time, I’m not pissed. I think they match up much better with Minnesota, plus they don’t have to face Cliff Lee twice in a short series. I’ll take it.

LET’S GO YANKS!!!!

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Now that the regular season is complete, let’s take a look at my preseason picks and how wrong I was:

Here are my predictions for the AL East:

1. Yankees 96-66
2. Red Sox 93-69
3. Rays 88-74
4. Orioles 72-90
5. Blue Jays 69-93

Here is how the division actually went:

1. Tampa Bay 96-66
2. Yankees 95-67
3. Red Sox 89-73
4. Blue Jays 85-77
5. Orioles 66-96

Not too shabby. Now for the AL Central:

Picks:

1. Twins 90-72
2. Tigers 87-75
3. White Sox 80-82
4. Royals 71-91
5. Indians 63-99

Actuality:

1. Twins 94-68
2. White Sox 88-74
3. Tigers 81-81
4. Indians 69-93
5. Royals 67-95

At least I got the division winner right. On to the West

Picks:

1. Mariners 88-74
2. Angels 87-75
3. Rangers 80-82
4. A’s 77-85

Reality:

1. Texas 90-72
2. A’s 81-81
3. Angels 80-82
4. M’s 61-101

That one stung a lot as my sleeper pick was the only AL team to lose 100 games. Ouch. As usual, I suck at life.

Let’s move to the National League. First off, the East:

Picks:

1. Phillies 94-68
2. Braves 89-73
3. Marlins 75-87
4. Nats 71-91
5. Mets 68-94

Reality:

1. Phils 97-65
2. Bravos 91-71
3. Fish 80-82
4. Mets 79-83
5. Nats 69-93

I’m most proud of this one because I got the Wild Card right and damn near got the standings on point.

NL Central picks:

1. Cardinals 92-70
2. Cubs 87-75
3. Reds 80-82
4. Brewers 77-85
5. Pirates 72-90
6. Astros 66-96

Actual Central:

1. Reds 91-71
2. Cards 86-76
3. Brew Crew 77-85
4. ‘Stros 76-86
5. Cubs 75-87
6. Bucs 57-105

This went almost as bad as the AL West.

NL West picks:

1. Dodgers 90-72
2. Rockies 88-74
3. Fake G-Men 84-78
4. D’Bags 77-85
5. Padres 69-93

Actual NL West:

1. Fake G-Men 92-70
2. Padres 90-72
3. Rox 83-79
4. Dodgers 80-82
5. D’Bags 65-97

Again, ouch.

Here are my postseason picks from April:

ALDS:

Yanks over Mariners (3-0), Twins over Sox (3-2)

NLDS:

Phils over Dodgers (3-1), Cards over Bravos (3-0)

ALCS:

Yanks over Twins (4-2)

NLCS:

Cards over Phils (4-3)

World Series:

Yanks over Cards (4-3)

So I got half the teams in the playoffs correct and could have three of four in the LCS. It could have been a lot worse, I’ll take that.