MLB Playoffs

[BamaLefty]

Of course, all of us educated people will be pulling for the Red Sox, but for the rest of you (and I imagine that there are quite a few)... who ya pulling for to be like Boston and win the World Series? ;)

*San Diego- A sentimental favorite with me. My dad and the Padres GM played college baseball out in CA back in the day. But I'm not really putting much stock in them getting out of the NLDS. I've heard speculation about how they could be dangerous in a 3 game series, but, I'm just not buying it. There is a reason the Pads played .500 ball, they're just not that good.

*Atlanta- Well, its hard to win it all with your hands around your neck. Nah, I'm gonna get off you Braves fans. It took the BoSox a while to get over a case of rotten luck. The Braves just wrapped up their, what, 14th straight NL East title? Yes, that's impressive. But, you have to do more. Atlanta is young, and very talented, but I just don't see them having what it takes to duplicate the '95 season.

*New York- Gag! Oh well, they beat us out for the division crown, but who cares? The Sox had what it took last year to get the job done and reverse the curse. NYY is a good team. Dang good in fact. And if I had to choose, I would pick the Yankmes to win the ALCS and head into the October classic once again. Let's just pray I'm wrong.

*St. Louis- I'm picking the Cards to defeat Houston in the NLCS and go on to face the Yankees for all the marbles. STL is IMO the most complete team in the field and they have plenty of playoff experience to go along with that. This was the only team in the majors to win 100 games, and I expect them to add about 11 more and bring home the hardware.

*Chicago- This playoff season's underdog has to be the Chicago White Sox. They have good players in Jermaine Dye & Dustin Hermanson, but their mostly made up of a bunch of no-names that just go out and play ball everyday. However, the CWS did drop like lead in the latter half of the season and almost blew their previously certain ticket to the postseason. For that very reason, I can't get on the White Sox bandwagon and expect them to make a run.

*Anaheim- Yeah, Anaheim. I ain't about to type the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim." That stupid name alone is enough reason for me to give the Angels much credit. Vlad Guerro is a great player, but you can't expect him and Colon to carry this team past the first round. Unfortunately, the ALWest champs will go out like a flicker in the opening series against NYY.

*Boston- w00t w00t! Sox fans finally got the monkey, or goat, off our backs last year with the miracle comeback in the ALCS and the eventual World Series victory. The BoSox are pretty strong all around, with the OF being the most dominant group in the league. Manny, Trot, Schilling, Wells, Damon, and the should be MVP David Wells are men among children! Well, thats my Beantown bias seeping through. Anyway, the Red Sox have what it takes to repeat. But, will they? I sure do hope so. It'd be nice to stick it to New York two years in a row.

*Houston- The official sleeper team of this year's postseason has to be the Astros. HOU is pretty much deadly in a 3 game series with Pettite, the Rocket, and Oswalt. The 'Stros caught fire after the All-Star break and will scorch the Bravos in the NLDS. I don't think they can handle STL, but we'll just have to wait and see. In fact, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see this team sporting rings next season.

GO SOX!!