ALCS: DETROIT vs. OAKLAND
PATRICK AMBROSIO
Prior to game one, I probably would have picked Oakland to win this series in six or seven. However, the sweep against Minnesota made me forget a couple of things about the A's: they can't hit and Barry Zito isn't what he used to be. In game one against the Tigers, Oakland couldn't score a single run off of Nasty Nate Robertson, and Barry Zito struggled through his start. The A's will win at least one game in Oakland with Danny Haren and Rich Harden pitching, but for Oakland to advance to the World Series, they will need Zito to win his next start, and Esteban Loaiza to win. I don't like those odds, especially with the roll that Detroit is on. Prediction: Tigers in six
BRAYDEN BILLBE
Detroit's starting pitching will be too much for the A's offense to handle, as Frank Thomas and Nick Swisher can't supply enough power to beat the Tigers. Detroit's hitters' improved postseason plate patience will power the Tigers into their first World Series since 1984. Detroit's pitchers will pound the strike zone and force Oakland's hitters into difficult situations. Carlos Guillen will continue to field well and contribute key hits. Prediction: Tigers in six
JUSTIN HALL
After seeing the Tigers celebrate their triumph over the Yankees, how could you possibly root against them? As for Ivan Rodriguez, he always seems to make any team he is on better. Remember the Marlins in 2003, when he led a team that was down and out in mid-July to a world championship over the Yankees? With a carefree attitude and a die-hard leader, it would be hard to not cheer for this year's feel-good story. Prediction: Tigers in five
ERIN KEAVENEY
Detroit holds the advantage in pitching, with young arms Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman and righty reliever Joel Zumaya set to mow down Oakland's offense. The A's have an outside shot to win the series if their starters show up, i.e. recently re-instated staff ace Barry Zito and game three starter Rich Harden, who missed almost half of the regular season due to an elbow injury. At the plate, the Tigers need to be patient and move baserunners instead of constantly relying on power hitting and extra-base hits to put runs on the board. The A's need to focus on getting to the Tiger's starters early, hoping that Frank Thomas continues his hot streak and Eric Chavez can break out of his slump. Prediction: Tigers in six
NLCS: NEW YORK METS vs. ST. LOUIS
PATRICK AMBROSIO
Last week, I wrote that the Mets would not win the World Series this season. Even though they swept the Dodgers, the Mets still showed some of their flaws. In three games, they only got 13.1 innings out of their starting pitchers, and six of those were from Tom Glavine. However, their depleted rotation is still better than the Cardinals, who will need to get wins out of Jeff Weaver and Jeff Suppan to have a chance. Expect a lot of high-scoring games, but remember that the Cardinals have one really good hitter, and the Mets have a lineup full of good hitters. Prediction: Mets in five
BRAYDEN BILLBE
The Mets' starting pitching is atrocious, and their bullpen, while deep, will not be able to handle the extra innings heaped on it by the starters' inability to go deep into games. The Cards offense has some questions, with Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen injured, but watch for the Cards bullpen to play a key role in the series, shutting down the Mets offense late in the game with two good lefties out of the pen, Randy Flores and Tyler Houston. If the Cards starters can't contain the Mets hitters early in games, this series could get ugly. Ronnie Belliard is having a fantastic October, and his impending free agency will keep him playing well. Prediction: Cardinals in seven
JUSTIN HALL
The New York Mets were the best team in the National League during the regular season and will continue their dominance over the St. Louis Cardinals. While the Cards were able to get past the Padres in an easy fashion, their slide at the end of the season to even win the NL central shows that they aren't the team to beat. Plus similar to the Tigers, this is the Mets' year, the one where they ended the Atlanta Braves run of 14 consecutive division titles. With Carlos Delgado taking advantage of his first opportunity of playing in the postseason by hitting a game one homerun and batting .429 against the Dodgers, the Mets will take care of the Cardinals and move to their first World Series since 2000. Prediction: Mets in six
ERIN KEAVENEY
The Mets are the obvious favorite to take the series, boasting the best offense left in the playoffs. Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez being injured leaves New York vulnerable on the mound, meaning the Mets will need early wins out of reliable veteran Tom Glavine and proven rookie John Maine when they start in games one and two. The Cardinals pitching is also shaky, with Jeff Weaver and Chris Carpenter being the only bright spots in a rotation that stands little chance against the mighty Mets bats. Offensively, St. Louis needs to rely on lethal weapon Albert Pujols, who hit .331 with 49 home runs and 137 RBI during the regular season, and is .450 lifetime against Glavine. Prediction: Mets in five
