MLB Playoff Preview

The MLB Playoffs begin tomorrow. Unlike in 2003, 2004, and 2005, there is no Yankee/Red Sox drama. The Astros and Roger Clemens are out. The White Sox won't repeat. Still, it's October and if your excitement level isn't on full blast then you are certainly not a baseball fan. Start in the National League. The St. Louis Cardinals, the dominant NL team in 2004 and 2005, struggled to win the Central and now face the white hot Padres. In the other series, the Mets -- who have major pitching problems -- go up against the Dodgers. I like both NL West teams. The Padres should be able to out-pitch the Cards and I just can't see the Mets winning with a pitching staff of Orlando Hernandez, Tom Glavine, Steve Trachsel, and John Maine. In October there is one rule and it is that you must have great pitching to win. Then again, if the Mets and Cards can figure out how to score 7 or 8 runs each game then we could have a St. Louis-New York NLCS. But for now I'll stick with pitching. In the NLCS, I'm going with the Dodgers. They have a slightly better offense and the big game history of Greg Maddux and Derek Lowe give the edge to Los Angeles. Over in the American League I'm biased. I want the Yankees to lose. Still, I see the Yanks outlasting the Tigers in the Divisional Series, advancing to their eighth ALCS since 1996. On the other side, I like both Minnesota and Oakland but I will go with the A's, based on pitching. Too bad for the Twins. If Francisco Liriano was healthy I would be handing them the World Series right now. In the ALCS, go with Oakland. Billy Beane will finally be proven right, getting the Moneyball A's into the Series for the first time since 1990. In the All-California World Series, I'll take the Dodgers over the A's in a rematch of the 1988 Fall Classic. Nomar Garciaparra finally gets his ring. ALDS: Yankees over Tigers (3-1) ALDS: A's over Twins (3-1) ALCS: A's over Yankees (4-2) NLDS: Dodgers over Mets (3-2) NLDS: Padres over Cardinals (3-1) NLCS: Dodgers over Padres (4-3) WORLD SERIES: Dodgers over A's (4-2)