Who says there isn't parity in baseball? OK, you got me. It's not quite as good as the NFL where a new king is crowned seemingly every season, but more and more once-underachieving MLB teams are showing that you can succeed in this league by building up from the inside. (That's a REAL big hint to Steinbrenner & Co.) How else can you explain the success of the Colorado Rockies and Cleveland Indians? Neither of these teams were built via free agency and a big old bankroll. The same can be said of the Diamondbacks. Maybe, just maybe, general managers are starting to get the whole "Moneyball" thing.

Enough of that, though. Let's go a predictin'!

ALCS: CLELVELAND INDIANS VS. BOSTON RED SOX
Prediction: Cleveland, 4-2
Comment:

In my original predictions back in February, I had the Indians making the ALCS, just not against the Red Sox. Why? Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, a resurgent Jhonny Peralta and really great bench, that's why. They ate up the Yankee pitching staff and spit them out like so much steak grizzle. And lost in the midge invasion of Game 2 of the ALDS and East Coast fascination with Andy Pettitte was Fausto Carmona's quiet gem (9 innings, 3 hits). With Carmona, CC Sabathia and now with Paul Byrd rising to the occasion, plus the Indians pen shutting down opponents and giving up only 3 runs the entire ALDS, they are primed to give the Red Sox everything they can handle. The major concern for the Indians and their fans remains their potentially implosive closer Joe Borowski.

For the Red Sox, lest we not forget them. First, a funny thing happened on the way to the playoffs. Somebody found Manny Ramirez hiding out somewhere. Manny in turn found his bat and carried the Sox in the ALDS. (I'm sure his game-winning homer in Game 2 is still orbiting next to Hubbell.) But some serious question marks arise with the Sox hitting and pitching. How good really was the pitching against the Angels? Or was it that the Angels meager hitters just went into a collective funk? Hard to say, really. As for the hitting, I have the same thought. Did the Sox bats come alive or were Angels pitchers so beat up physically from the regular season that there was nothing left in the tank for the Sox? True, the Sox beat John Lackey, but then again they always do. And they had no problem with a sore-shouldered Kelvim Escobar and a less-than-healthy Jared Weaver. So which is it? I don't know. We know this: Josh Beckett is a stud and the Tribe will see him at least 2, and possibly 3 times in the series. Daiska Matsuzaka was just OK in game 2. Schilling looked great, but he is getting old AND The Tribe are a much better hitting team fastball team than the Angels. Concerns? A hungry Indians club....

NLDS: COLORADO ROCKIES VS. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Prediction: Colorado, 4-3
Comment:

How the hell do I NOT pick the Rockies? They've won 17 of their last 18 to get here. They're getting outstanding pitching, outstanding hitting and making great managerial decisions. Most importantly, they've got that "magic Cinderella thing" going on that's really, really hard to ignore. Matt Holliday, Todd Helton and Brad Hawpe are not household names unless you're baseball dork like me. But on top of the 3H Club (as I call them) they're getting hitting from the unknowns, as always happens in the playoffs. Jeff Francis and Ybalado Jiminez pitched extremely well. So, too, did Josh Fogg. And Fogg with his penchant for given up the long ball, is the real wild card here. A lot will possibly hinge on how well he does or doesn't pitch in Game 3. IF he pitches well, it could really boost the Baby Rocks. Finally, I'm a firm believer in post-season magic. Never, ever discount or underestimate it. Can they continue this winning pace, though? There's one guy who may have an answer....

Brandon Webb. Despite his 1-3 record against the Rockies during the regular season, with two of those losses caming early in the season when he was struggling mightily, Webb is as tough a pitcher as they get. As usually happens with good pitchers like Webb, they get better as the season wears on. Webb shut down the Cubs big hitters and he'll have at least 2 opportunities to do the same to the Rockies. Then there are the D-Back hitters. How does a team give up more runs than it scores in a season and still make the playoffs? On top of that, rank 28th in all of baseball in runs scored. (Only the White Sox and Giants scored fewer runs.) Answer: Clutch hitting. I can't find their Runs In Scoring Percentage for the year, but it has to be other-worldly given the team .250 batting average. And that will be the key for them in the playoffs, too. Get timely hitting. Apart from Webb, Livan Hernandez and Doug Davis could a.) Implode at any moment or b.) pitch gems and keep their team in the game. A lot will hinge on them sending Rocky batters to the bench. If they don't, we could just witness a Mile High Miracle.

FINAL WORLD SERIES PREDICTION: Cleveland vs. Colorado. Not exactly what the networks wanted....