Line: Mike -2
Season series: Mike 2-0 (Week 4: 13-6; Week 14 10-8)
Career playoff records: Mike 2-1, Chris 4-2
All-time head-to-head: Tied 5-5
Playoffs head-to-head: Never met
Last playoff appearance: Mike 2007, Chris 2010
About the matchup
Yes, believe it or not, this is Mike's first playoff appearance since 2007. Back then, in the league's inaugural year, Mike made it all the way to the finals as a No. 5 seed.
Chris is halfway there as a No. 5 seed after an, in his words, "extremely gut-wrenching" win last week vs. Jack.
Now the two friends - known to some as Hammer and Screw(ball) - meet in the semifinals.
"Chris and I have become tight this year, but once the matchup starts, he is my enemy," Mike said. "As I said earlier in year, Chris is a great manager and we look forward to squaring up with him in these semifinals."
Chris is now 4-0 in quarterfinal or semifinal matchups, but to improve to 5-0, he'll have to beat a team coming off a bye. And Mike's bye week and the chance to set up his lineup for this matchup could play a crucial part.
"Not only do I only have five moves left," Chris said, "but I am stuck with two pitchers this week (Miguel Batista and Jake Westbrook) that I normally would not have on my team and can't just cut right away either."
In their own words
Mike, on facing Chris: "We are excited to face Chris. We have been waiting for this matchup for a week now, and the boys are ready to go. Mental edge, physical edge any edge you can think of, we have it over Chris. We didn't go 2-0 vs the Twins by accident; we are the better team and we will prove it once again.
Chris, on facing Mike: "Very tough matchup. I struggled against Mike this season, as my record indicates, and I anticipate this match being an uphill battle as well. Mike has a very good offense and has the upper hand in pitching as well."
Mike, on why he will win: "We are the better team. Top to bottom, there is no team that has the balance that we have. We don't put up the big power numbers, but our boys know how to hit. Our hitters always come out strong and give our pitchers a nice lead to work with. As long as we can win saves, I don't see losing as a possibility. Madoff 12-7."
Chris, on why he will win: "Again, the Twins will move on by winning the majority of the hitting categories. That has been what carried us during the season, in the first round and what must happen in order to make our third championship game.
The Prediction
Mike, with a week to rest, gets off to a good start and barely holds on come Sunday. He escapes with a 10-9 win and advances to the championship.
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Mike Yiannakou
ReplyDeleteLets do this!!!