(I posted this in response to some Cleveland fool, but perhaps we can widen this up as the season winds down - any damnYankees fans out there? Red Sox? A's or Angels? St. Louis, Atlanta - ATLANTA - and/or pathetic NL westers? And of course you got the Marlins...I highly doubt anyone from Houston's going to the Fest, except Tom Delay!)

Since the Milwaukee Brewers moved to the National League, changed their uniform from coolest in MLB to boring, and built a mausoleum of a retractable-roof stadium, I have been unable to root for them properly. I therefore picked the nearest AL team as surrogate fave: the White Sox. The White Sox are awesome for any number of reasons, such as Podsednik stealing bases all over the place (before the injury, anyway), excellent pitching, cool scandals, Death to Disco Day (look it up, it's probably the single greatest event in the history of baseball - I'm a little surprised it DIDN'T happen in Cleveland, all things considered), and most of all, because they are the Anti-Cubs. Being from WI, the Oakland Athletics also hold a place in my heart, due to their green/gold color scheme.

Earlier this season, my friend Marco from Detroit predicted a late-season collapse of mammoth proportions for the White Sox. Granted, you can probably guess what team he roots for, but I'm going to be goddamn surprised if the Indians overtake the Sox. It's going to be an interesting next few days.

You didn't have to deal with Garland and Buehrle yet. I predict two no-hitters in a row, after which the Indians will be 4.5 games back and discount wildcard meat. Go White Sox!

Predictions for the MLB post-season (absolutely 100% subjectivity-free! And if you believe that, I've got some land in Gainesville for sale you might be interested in...):

AL East: Boston Red Sox
AL Central: Chicago White Sox
AL West: Oakland Athletics
Wildcard: Cleveland Indians
AL champion: Chicago White Sox

I refuse to believe that the White Sox are going under! I refuse...refuse...in any event, if not the White Sox, I predict the Indians rocket on through to the World Series. If the Indians make it to the World Series, they will lose it in four games to the NL champs. I pick the A's over the Angels because of the four-game series in which the Green and Gold of baseball host Mickey's finest; it should put the A's over the top in the AL West.

NL East: Atlanta Braves
NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals
NL West: San Diego Padres
Wildcard: Houston Astros
NL champion: St. Louis Cardinals

In my opinion, the weak National League has only one championship-caliber team, and it's not the Marlins. The Fest hometown team will not make the playoffs, but does make a delicious taco meat. Between the Astros and the Phillies, the Astros have a marginally easier schedule. However, no teams from Philadelphia ever win in the clutch, so I'd bet on the Astros retaining their wildcard lead into the postseason. It's close, but not close enough.

World Series: Chicago White Sox in seven games. The White Sox will not have home field advantage, which actually works in their favor. Pitching will see them through, and the National League is statistically and consistently inferior, anyway.

die hard Cardinals fan here....

i'll be there.
probably wearing my Scott Rolen t-shirt.

me and Tranny x2 have a little beef considering they are Red Sox fans..
hopefully this year i can show up and have a ring to talk about!

i always worry about us in the playoffs.
ugh!

go cards!

I don't think the Red Sox are going past the first round in the playoffs this year. They haven't shown a consistent ability to beat the A's, or any of the other division leaders for that matter.

Since the LA Angels have wrapped up the AL West, much to my surprise, I am reassessing their abilities. Especially 'cause the White Sox seem to lose to the AL West - the Angels. The Angels are damn good, period, and they're hot right now. If the White Sox win 2 of 3 against the Indians, I still predict a White Sox vs. Cards world series. If, however, the White Sox drop 2 of the 3, and the Angels win at least half of their last few games, I predict an Angels vs. Cards world series. Ok!

Recently, I had a bout of pleurisy, and the orderly who wheeled me to x-rays was dressed in LA Dodgers scrubs - this is in St. Paul, Minnesota. I asked the guy if he'd ever lived in LA - he said, and I quote: "nope."

Nate, so what you're saying is that this all started with you turning your back on your home team??!?!!!!! ANd now you are excited about the exceptional(?) job of your new team who just happens to be (coincidence?)
up on everyone liike 15 games all season? (except for when they recently started to suck)

I don't think we need THOSE kind of baseball fans around here.

GO TRIBE BABY!!!!!
rub rub for lifetime fanzzz

Hey, now - I'm a Brewers fan in exile. My logic is sound, I'm comfortable with who I am. If there was a closer open-air AL team than the White Sox, I'd be pulling for that team. Maybe. But hey, the White Sox have history, class, and that one other thing: a postseason appearance.

Go Tribe? Yeah, they're GONE. From the postseason.