Tentative pitching probables:

New York vs. Minnesota

Game 1 (Yankee Stadium): Santana vs Mussina
Game 2 (Yankee Stadium): Radke vs Lieber
Game 3 (HHH Metrodome): Silva vs Hernandez
Game 4 (HHH Metrodome, if nec.): Santana vs Vazquez
Game 5 (Yankee Stadium, if nec.): Radke vs Mussina

Anaheim vs. Boston

Game 1 (Angels Stadium): Schilling vs Washburn
Game 2 (Angels Stadium): Martinez vs Lackey
Game 3 (Fenway Park): Arroyo vs Colon
Game 4 (Fenway Park, if nec.): Wakefield vs Escobar
Game 5 (Angels Stadium, if nec.): Schilling vs Washburn

I don't see how the Yankees can beat Santana.

This should be over in 4.

Twinkies over Yanks in 5, BoSox over Halos in 4.

I already posted my analysis on BJW and am too lazy to post it again.

I don't know why I am bothering because my previous predictions were just totally blown out of the water. I will have to go Yankees in five. I agree that I don't think they will beat Santana, but that Yankee team can mash. This prediction totally goes against my previous one, but oh well. I will have to go with the Red Sox in four in the other ALDS. Check back with me the day after the World Series ends, for my prediction on who the World Series Champion will be. haha.

Ok, if you want to know what's REALLY going to happen, just go the opposite of my predictions... I finally looked at my final-standing predictions from back in March... and I was so wrong.

I'm rooting for Anaheim vs. Minny in ALCS, but I predict Yankees pulling out some October magic in 5, and Boston choking in 4. Ana vs. Yankees.

I don't think the Yanks can beat Santana either but if they can work him on the pitch count and drive him out after 6-7 innings I think they can still win one of his starts.

Anyway, I picked Yanks/Angels. I'm so impressed with the Angels' bullpen and the Sox starting pitching has been iffy lately, other than Schilling.

I really can't see the Sox eliminated in the first round.

The Yankees, though? Yeah. Twins and BoSox.

5-0, 0.45 in last 40IP

Is this even fair?? I can't beleive Santana has been so good.

I am voting accoding to my sympathies (which never works): so it's Twins-Angels for me.

I am voting accoding to my sympathies (which never works): so it's Twins-Angels for me.

I said the same thing as well. My picks are 100% wishcasting, 0% forecasting.

Looking at those pitching matchups, it's conceivable that nobody wins a home game in the Boston-Anaheim series. Sox in five. Can anybody other than Santana beat the Yankees? I hope so, but I doubt it. NY in five. I'm one of the surprisingly low 17.9% predicting an ALCS rematch between the Beasts of the East.

Radke should win one of his 2 games, he has been very good for the twins this season.

Can anybody other than Santana beat the Yankees?

You can make a case for Radke being the second best pitcher in the AL (behind Santana).

I never pick anything right, so I picked NY and the Sox in the hope that my streak continues.

I'd like Minn vs Boston. Always boo the Yankees no matter the situation (although last WS was hard). I'd rather not see Escobar get a WS ring before the Jays get back to the playoffs plus I've had a soft spot for the Red Sox ever since '86.

It'll be the Angels vs. the Twinkies, cause they know how to play the game the right way.

It'll be the Angels vs. the Twinkies, cause they know how to play the game the right way.

With a ball and a bat? On a field and not underwater? While wearing pants?

I'm curious to hear what the wrong way of playing baseball is.

Maybe I'm nuts, but I really want a rematch of last year's ALCS. It was some goooooood baseball. Yanks in 4 (Santana MELTDOWN!!!!) and Bosox in 4 (Escobar MELTDOWN!!!!).

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp
I got my predictions down on mlb.com If you predict everything right you get $10,000 (and tie-breaker) if needed.

I got the Yanks over the Twins in 5.
Bo Sox over the Angels in 4.

Bo Sox over Yanks in 7 to advance to the WS.

I got the Red Sox over Cards in 6 to win the WS.

I'm curious to hear what the wrong way of playing baseball is.

It's because they do "little things" that "don't show up in the boxscore," and other vague baseball clichés that people like to spout to sound intelligent.

It could mean many things. Like not playing in the AL East, or having a payroll in the Top 2. It shall forever remain a mystery.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2004/news/story?page=expertpostseasonpicks
COMN for EPSN"s predictions.

I'll take the Twins over NYY in 3.
Red Sox over Ana in 4.

Twins over Sox in 6.

In the Boston series... could Schilling pitch game 4 and Pedro game 5? I know he's not the Pedro of old... but I'd think that you'd want him and Schilling to get 4 of the games.

Twins in 4
Red Sox in 4

and then Red Sox in 6

Braves in 4
Cardinals in 5

and then Braves in 7

And finally, Braves in 6

I never get these right...

It's because they do "little things" that "don't show up in the boxscore,"

Oh. I thought it was because one team has the best starting pitcher (and team ERA) in the league.

And the other team has the second best bullpen (fourth best ERA) in the league.

A's over Sox in three.

(Work with me, people.)

Twins in 5
Sox in 4
Cards in 4
Astros in 4

Twins in 7
Astros in 6

Astros in 7

I don't even know if I believe in those picks. Go Twins.

I'm about to close this poll, but for posterity...

With 157 votes in the bank, here's what our pena has to say.

43.3% Minnesota + Boston
28.0% New York + Boston
15.9% Anaheim + Minnesota
12.7% New York + Anaheim

Regrettably, I'm with Coach and see the Beasts of the East clearly emerging.

93 out of 157 picked Minnesota over New York???

Maybe the poll should have been who "would you LIKE to see win"

Maybe the poll should have been who "would you LIKE to see win"

With Radke and Santana possibly pitching 4 of the 5 games, it's not unreasonable to have Minny as the favourites.

Here's how the Tradesports betters see the series:

Cardinals: 68% chance of beating Dodgers.
Astros: 57% chance of beating Braves.
Yankees: 61% chance of beating Twins.
Red Sox: 62% chance of beating Angels.

Daryn, Minnesota over NY is a perfectly sensible prediction. Just for example, the line this morning on most of the Vegas books has Minnesota -110 favorites for Game 1. How can they be favourites in Games 1 and 4 and still be huge dogs? Makes no sense.

A lot of money is coming down on the Yankees now, I know (watch for the line to flip to a Yankees line by late afternoon), but I still see Minnesota as an INCREDIBLE deal at +155 for the series. An incredible bargain.

The Dodgers are also a great bargain for their series at +200. All the favourites are bad deals... Astros -145, Yankees and Sox -170, Cards an incredible -240.

World Series odds (sportsbook.com)

Yankees 17-5
Cards 7-2
Red Sox 4-1
Astros 8-1
Angels 9-1
Twins 11-1
Braves 12-1
Dodgers 14-1

At a 12-1 shot, Atlanta have just a terrific price.

Despite my picks... "I think this might be the year" for you know who.