2017-2018 NFL Playoff Predictions

Here are my 2017-18 NFL playoff picks.

AFC WC: KC over Tenn
                 Jax over Buff

-Those are also the teams I'm rooting for, Montana/Allen are two of my guys and played together in KC and I've had a Chiefs soft spot since. I'd root for KC in any playoff matchup.

-I'd rather Buffalo won a Super Bowl than Jacksonville, but the Bills have zero chance in a second round game and while the Jags chance isn't great, it's better than zero and I really don't want to see either the Patriots or Steelers in this Super Bowl.

-NFC WC: Rams over Atl
                  NO over Carol

-I'm actually for the Rams, as a Niner fan, I always missed the LA Rams and have enjoyed them being back and am looking forward to having a real rivalry.  I'd like to see them advance past this round. 

-I'd like to see the Saints lose, the Niners have their pick so the sooner they exit the better, but that's really not likely in round one.

AFC Divisional:  NE over KC
                             Pitt over Jax

-I can't imagine anyone other than the fan bases for these two teams wanting anything to do with them anymore, but they've stretched their advantage over the opposition as the season closed.  A month ago if you squinted you could see a path for the Jags, that seems really unlikely now.  I'm against both and against both hard, but picking both Pats and Steelers.

NFC Divisional: NO over Phil
                            Minn over LA

-Foles has really struggled the past couple of weeks, the Eagles need a blizzard, just deathly cold conditions to throw off the Saints.  I'm for the Eagles in any matchup in this round, but picking the Saints.

-The Vikings look like the best team in the NFC and I'll be rooting for them to win the conference championship game.  I'm fine with the Rams here, but the Vikes are narrowly the better side. 

AFC Title: NE over Pitt
NFC Title: Minn over NO

-I'm heartily for the Vikings here and would root for the Rams in the same spot. 
-These are the two best teams in football; I took the Patriots at the beginning of the season because why bet against Goliath and will stick with them here.  I'd root for the Steelers in this spot and hope for the SB IX rematch

SB LII  NE over Minn
-Go Vikings. 

16 Team MLB Simulation League: Team 9 - The 1970s.

What This Is+The 19th Century Team

1900-1919 Team

1920s

1930s

1940s

Early 20th C Leftovers

1950s

1960s

Starters
1. C Johnny Bench
16. 1B Eddie Murray (Switch)
4. 2B Joe Morgan (LH)
7. SS Robin Yount
4. 3B George Brett (LH)
5. LF Carl Yastrzemski (LH)
11. CF Reggie Smith (Switch)
5. RF Frank Robinson

Reserves
12. C Gene Tenace
32. 1B Tony Perez
14. 2B Willie Randolph
33. SS Davey Concepcion
12. 3B Dick Allen
7. LF Pete Rose (Switch)
13. CF Jimmy Wynn
8. RF Reggie Jackson (DH) (LH)

Starting Pitchers
7. Tom Seaver
14. Bert Blyleven
19. Steve Carlton (LH)
23. Ferguson Jenkins

Bullpen
37. Jim Palmer
39. Rick Reuschel
55. Luis Tiant
61. Frank Tanana (LH)

Closer
Goose Gossage

Mgr. Sparky Anderson
Coaches: Whitey Herzog, Dick Howser

16 Team MLB Simulation League Team 8 - The 1960s

What This Is+The 19th Century Team

1900-1919 Team

1920s

1930s

1940s

Early 20th C Leftovers

1950s

Starters
13. C Joe Torre
13. 1B Willie McCovey (LH)
8.  2B. Rod Carew (LH)
16. SS Ernie Banks
2. 3B Eddie Matthews
10. LF Willie Stargell
1. CF Willie Mays
2. RF Hank Aaron

Reserves
28. C Bill Freehan
29. 1B Orlando Cepeda
36. 2B Red Schoendienst
29. SS Jim Fregosi
11. 3B Ron Santo
14. LF Bernie Williams
15. CF Richie Ashburn (LH)
4. RF Roberto Clemente (DH)

Starting Pitchers
13. Bob Gibson
18. Gaylord Perry
20. Phil Niekro
44. Don Sutton

Relief Pitchers
49. Juan Marichal
65. Tommy John (LH)
83. Wilbur Wood (LH)
137. Mickey Lolich (LH)

Closer
Rollie Fingers

Mgr. Earl Weaver
Coaches: Dick Williams, Gene Mauch

16 Team MLB Simulation League Team 7 - The 1950s

What This Is+The 19th Century Team

1900-1919 Team

1920s

1930s

1940s

Early 20th C Leftovers

Starters
8. C Yogi Berra (LH)
27. 1B Norm Cash
11. 2B Jackie Robinson
15. SS Pee Wee Reese
13. 3B Ken Boyer
26. LF Charlie Keller (LH) (Platoon)
4. CF Mickey Mantle (Switch)
3. RF Stan Musial (LH)

Reserves
25. C Roy Campanella
29. 1B Harmon Killebrew
35. 2B Nellie Fox (LH)
28. SS Vern Stephens
16. 3B Brooks Robinson
28. LF Ralph Kiner (Platoon)
12. CF Duke Snider (LH)
6. RF Al Kaline (DH)

Starting Pitchers
9. Warren Spahn (LH)
36. Don Drysdale
60. Whitey Ford (LH)
70. Sandy Koufax (LH)

Bullpen
82. Jim Bunning
104. Harry Breechen (LH)
114. Bob Lemon
145. Murry Dickson

Closer
Hoyt Wilhelm

Mgr. Walter Alston
Coaches: Al Lopez, Fred Hutchinson

Team 19th Century Intrasquad Game - Results

What's this?

I'm not close to ready to play games yet, but I put together the player cards for Team 1, the 19th Century team, and wanted to see if a simulated game felt like a baseball game or if the score would be 27-9.

So, the 19th Century Team had an intrasquad game, reserves vs. starters.  Here's the result:

19th C Reserves 5
19th C Starters 2

A real success in the opening game - the first 3 batters reached in the top of the first; I held my breath a little bit - but Kid Nichols got out of that jam and went on to pitch 7 scoreless innings to beat Cy Young 5-2.  For the reserves:

Sam Crawford 2-4 HR
Roger Connor 2-4 HR (also reached base 3 times for the starters, he and Cap Anson played for both teams)
Paul Hines HR

And for the starters: Ed Delahanty homered/doubled.  Young went 6 1/3, gave up 3 runs. 

That's enough for me to keep going.  I think I'll have each team play a practice game just like this as I complete their player cards.