I can't wait for the playoffs. I follow the AL very closely. Don't know much about the NL. The TIGERS were the best team in all of baseball for the first half. In the second half, they were one of the worst. In their final series. they got swept by the Royals, an awful team. Their pitchers have been very inconsistent. And Bonderman who was an all-star in the first half was just the opposite in the second. I don't see them getting past the first round. They face the YANKEES, who boast one of the grestest offenses of all time (Damon, Jeter, Arod, Abreu, Sheffield, Matsui, Giambi, Cano). Even without Unit, I see them beating Detroit and advancing to the next round. Although after that, it would nice to have the big man back and really increase their chances to win the whole thing. The TWINS at one point looked unbeatable when they had both Santana and Liriano. But now the latter is lost and Radke, their other best starter, is questionable. Now, after Santana, the pitching is average at best. The bullpen lead by Nathan is still amazing, and Mauer, Morneau, and Hunter are formidable hitters, but the starters are not good enough in my opinion to take this team very far. The A's are very similar to the Twins. They have a one great starter (Zito) and then some guys who could throw well (Harden, Blanton, Loiza), but who are also questionable. The offense with Thomas, Bradley and others is solid but not spectacular. Like the Twins, they have a great bullpen. I think Min will edge out the A's in this series.
So here are my picks for the AL:
Yankees over Tigers (3-1)
Twins over A's (3-2)
Yankees over Twins (4-2)
Yankees beat NL (4-1)
Also, the Mets are going nowhere without Pedro.
