Let's play October...

As I've been ignoring baseball in such high demand football times, I'm going to do a little bit of analyzing on the season as it stands today. This will include a prediction or two about the way playoffs will shape up, and as we all know, I'm NEVER wrong.

We'll begin in the American League, where the lead is shared by Tampa Bay and Anaheim. It's been that way for a while and, despite Tampa's losing some key games, I think this will remain static. The Chicago White Sox lead in the American Central, but I'm thinking they'll be overtaken by the Minnesota Twins. This is irrelevant for the most part, as this is the weakest division in the league and will be taken out in the opening round. I would love to see Ken Griffey Jr. get his title, but it's not happening this year. I think it's safe to say Boston will take the wild-card spot if their play stays even.

This pits Boston against Anaheim in the first series, as Tampa Bay is in the same division as Boston and will not play them even if Tampa has the best record. In turn, Tampa will play Chicago. Although it's a touch call, I'm going to play it safe and call Anaheim in the first series. And as it is not a tough call at all, I'm sticking with Tampa.

Tampa vs. Anaheim. A world-series caliber game in the ALDS. I have to give this one to Anaheim, as Tampa's play has fallen off lately and Anaheim boasts so much more depth than the upstart Rays.

This puts Anaheim in the World Series. Hardly a stretch, right?

Well the National League promises to make it more interesting.

This is also where things get a bit shakier as far as making the call of who even wins the division. Particularly in the NL West, where the standings will likely shift constantly throughout the next month. For the sake of choosing some underdogs, we're going to assume the Dodgers take the NL West. At least we can be sure no one else from the NL West can be a wild card. Well, pretty sure. In the NL Central, the Cubs have a win in their division all but locked up. The NL East is another situation where it's a tough call, and once again I'm going to with the Phillies as an underdog. I just don't think the Mets have the pitching it takes to make it to the postseason. From the start of the season it was clear they had no place in the playoff picture anyways. Miwaukee grabs the wild card spot.

Chicago finishes with the best record but as with the AL, they can't play a division rival in the first round so they will take on Philadelphia. This sucks for them, but I give Chicago the win in 7 games. It will be THE series to watch in the postseason. This leaves LA to take out the Brewers, which I believe they'll fail at. The NLDS will come down to division rivals Chicago and Milwaukee. Who takes it? The fun answer would be Milwaukee, but as long as Zambrano can contribute I think it's the Cubs' turn, at long last.

World Series 2008: Angels vs. Cubs

Winner? Tell me what you think..