Angels! I say that as more than just a lifelong fan.
Here's how I see it:
Division Series
Yankees over Indians in 5 - Indians inexperience in the post-season coupled with the unrelenting lineup that the Yankees bring to the table will prove meaningful. Joe Torre is also in familiar territory and Jeter will find a way to make an impact when it counts. Joba Chamberlain is going to make his presence felt as well.
Angels over Red Sox in 5 - This series will go the full five as well. Matsuzaka will have to avoid having another bad outing or it could get worse for Sox. Lackey is a big game pitcher and this is when he's at his best. Becket will have to win game one because I think Matsuzaka gets rocked in game two before the series shifts to Anaheim, where the Angels don't lose much, regular or post-season.
Cubs over Diamondbacks in 4 - Cubs have better pitching. The D-backs have alllowed more runs this season than they scored. However, the D-backs could surprise because they have a lot of young players that can swing the bat against anyone. If Zambrano loses the opener, D-backs in 5. But that is unlikely.
Rockies over Phillies in 3 - Bold, I know. But heck, in the last 15 games the Rockies played, all of which were crucial must win games, they won 14 of them. Too hot right now...even for the 'Miracle' Phillies.
League Championship Series
Angels over Yankees in 6 - There's a first time for everything but not this time. Yankees just can't beat the Angels. Why? Mystic? Maybe. More likely it's due to the difference in the styles of play. Joe Torre's team depends on a multitude of high priced sluggers for that 'one swing of the bat'. If it doesn't come, the Yankees usually lose. While the Angels didn't score as many as the Yankees in the regular season, they rely on situational hitting coupled with aggressiveness at the plate and on the base paths with a little bit of Scoscia's National League flavor of managing. If the Yankees can figure out Angels pitching, the Yankees could take the series but more likely to have one or two games where they go ballistic and disappear the next day.
Rockies over Cubs in 7 - Hot streak has to end somewhere, right? Cubs pitching will certainly keep things close but I think in the end, we'll all be talking about the great defensive plays made by Rockies that saved this game or that. Regardless of the fact that they play 81 games in a high altitude, they still have Matt Holliday who can hit and Willy Taveras that can run. Cubs will need to get good outings from their middle relievers and avoid beating themselves. If they can do so, they could win this series easily because of their starting pitching. But more likely, Cubs fans will have their hopes dashed, yet again, by something fateful during game 7.
World Series
Angels over Rockies in 6 - Despite the Angels having much more depth than the Rockies, look for this to be an outstanding World Series with sparkling defensive plays by Orlando Cabrera, Gary Matthews Jr and just about anybody in a Colorado uniform. In the end, it will all come down to pitching, which is why I have the Angels winning their 2nd World Series.
Now let's see the games.
