MLB Playoffs

Before I go along with my predictions, these are my expert opinions, but not what my heart wants to happen. My ideal World Series would be Mets vs Tigers. Here's how it would happen. First, even though the Mets are down one great playoff pitcher in Pedro Martinez, they have the depth and are a cut above the remaining NL teams. On the other side, here are the keys for the Tigers to pull off two upsets to make it to the World Series and I will get my long awaited case from Chez:

1) Versus the Yanks, the will not be able to overpower them with their bats because overall the Yanks have a better lineup. But the Tigers have the heart. They haven't shown it in the last week, but maybe they were focusing on the playoffs. However if they can do the little things, hit the long ball off the first or second pitch, hit it to Johnny Damon, A Rod, whoever is playing first base or Bobby Abreu, then there is a chance one of them will muff it. Don't listen to the experts. Play how you normally play and swing at the first few pitches. Work on extending your at-bats next spring break.
2) Steal the base whenever it is necessary. Posada is older and is not that good at throwing out runners.
3) If you can't hit the starting pitcher, then take advantage of the middle relief, which is not that good.
4) Show that spunk you had in the beginning of the year
5) Starting pitchers, regain that confidence you had before August.
6) Middle relief, keep on keeping on
7) Other teams just as good as you are this year have beat the Yanks in the post season in previous season. Pudge was on one of those teams
If 5 of the 7 happen completely, then Tigers in 4. I will talk about their next opponent if they pass

Now onto the predictions
American League
Tigers/Yanks
If the above things do not happen, the Tigers will have some troubles. The Yankees have great hitting. Wang and Mussina will be great. Johnson is questionably going to be good. The Tigers pitching will be tested in the first two games, with Nate Robertson and Justin Verlander starting games 1 and 2 respectively. Mariano is unstoppable.
Prediction: Yanks in four
Minnesota/Oakland
The ML's hottest team since May faces off against one of the better pitching squads in the major leagues. Potential MVP candidate Justin Morneau and batting champ Bauer lead Minnesota's hitting squad. With Santana on Minnesota's pitching squad, there's no way they will lose
Prediction: Minnesota in four
ALDS: Minnesota/Yanks
Even without home field advantage, Minnesota will overpower the Yanks to make it to the World Series. Santana, Nathan, Radke, Bonser. Pitching will control the Yankees hitting.
Minnesota in 6

National League
Cardinals/Padres
The Cardinals limped into the playoffs with a loss by Houston yesterday. They are doing even worse than my Tigers over th last few weeks. Jake Peavy has finally started to pitch and David Wells was one of the best pickups because of his playoff experience. Pujols cannot carry the Cards, but he'll make it interesting
Prediction: Padres in five
Mets/Dodgers
A little side note, the team that left New York (Brooklyn specifically) versus the team that helped to heal the wounds of losing the Dodgers/Giants. Even though the Mets have not played to the level that they were at the beginning of the year and will be without Pedro, they still have the hitting that has kept them afloat without a healthly Pedro for the most part of the year. In my opinion, this is the toughest opponent the Mets will have on the NL side, but the Mets will prevail.
Mets in three
Mets/Padres
The Mets will be doing the most travelling because of the two NL west teams. This will be an interesting series, but the Padres will win one or two games because of a game pitched by Peavy or Wells, but they don't have that much hitting, even against a depleted pitching staff.
Prediction: Mets in five

The World Series
Mets/Twins
Besides a Mets/Tigers, Yanks/Mets (for obvious reasons) matchup, this is the most exciting. I think this will be a really great series, and even though there is one midwest team, the majority of this series will involve lots of runs, which will make Fox very happy. There will also be a few good pitching duels if Santana and Glavine pitch against each other. On the surface, the Mets are the better team. However, the Twins would have homefield advantage which could be huge especially with the homer hankies! I think the Twins will have Santana pitching three of the the games, which will be brutal for the Mets. Unfortunately, I would prefer a greater outcome, but the Twins will prevail.
Minnesota in seven