12eight

So, my original picks were 50% correct.  As long as you don't count # of games.  Which I won't, because then I would have been 0% right, and you'd all lose total faith in my credibility, which does no one any good.  So 50% it is.

My original World Series pick was St. Louis over LA in 6, but that may now change given how weak the Angels will be going into Chicago, and how rested the White Sox are.  The White Sox, after disposing of us like yesterday's papers, have had 3 restful days to sit back and await the winner of the Angels/Yankees series; what's more, they didn't even need to worry about travel, having secured home field advantage throughout.  They've had time to set their rotation (Contreras, Buehrle, Garland, presumably), while the Angels have massive question marks behind Game 1 starter Paul Byrd; John Lackey is their only other healthy playoff starter, as Jarrod Washburn has been sidelined with strep throat for days, and Bartolo Colon left yesterday's game early with shoulder issues.  Rookie Ervin Santana is presumably unavailable to start, having thrown 5 or 6 innings of solid relief work last night.  Lackey would be going on short rest for the second straight start, and though he handled it quite well the first time, it's hard to believe he could do so a second, or that the Angels would ask him to.  My personal bet is that either Washburn starts the game, or Scoscia does something out there, like give Shields and Escobar three innings apiece to start it off and then turn to the rest of the pen.  Both Shields and Escobar have had starting experience.  This series could get very ugly by Game 2, and there's a legitimate possibility that the White Sox will host an NL team before experiencing their first loss this postseason.  I'd be willing to bet they lose 1 game, and that it will be game 3.
Prediction: White Sox in 5

Over in the NL, a similar situation, but with different results.  The Astros had to stretch themselves to the limit to win their LDS with Atlanta, resulting in a truly epic game that's now being talked about as one of the all-time great games ever played.  Brandon Backe and Roger Clemens both pitched multiple innings, Clemens on two days of rest with absolutely no room for error.  St. Louis, meanwhile, has been able to sit back for two days at home, awaiting the winner.  Nevertheless, there are significant questions about their health; Chris Carpenter was forced to leave Game 1 to nurse a cramped pitching hand, while in Game 2 Mark Mulder was struck by a line drive above his pitching elbow.  Carpenter is scheduled to pitch Game 1 of the NLCS, which suggests that the Cardinals' staff feels he's healthy; Mulder had significant soreness in his arm postgame, but has also had some time to rest it.  The Astros, meanwhile, managed to avoid gutting their rotation despite the eighteen inning marathon; Andy Pettitte will start Game 1 of the series on Wednesday, while presumably Game 2 will see Roy Oswalt on normal rest.  Clemens should be penciled in for Game 3.  The more I look at this series, the more it's a toss-up for me; I suppose I'm rooting for the Stros as much as I'll root for anyone in this final four, but it's tough to put anything down against the Cards, who remain the most balanced and dangerous club left in either league.
Prediction: Cardinals win Games 1, 4, 5, and 7; Astros win 2, 3, and 6.  Cardinals in 7.

That would give us a World Series of Cardinals vs. White Sox; the most interesting question there becomes whether the Cubs-Cards rivalry extends to the Cubs' spurned little brother on the South Side.  The Cards and White Sox are the two most balanced teams left; both have excellent pitching, though the White Sox hold an advantage in that category.  The Cardinals have the edge in hitting, though I learned not to underestimate a White Sox team that is at its best when it's focusing on it's real strength: power.  However, they never really seem to do that, and matching 'wits' with Tony LaRussa could drive anyone to double steal.
World Series Prediction: Cardinals in 6.

Lest you think, by the way, that I've forgotten to laugh at the Yanks, I haven't.  I just choose to dismiss them.  They were as flawed as we were in the end, and they got exactly what they deserved.  Here's hoping there's carnage in the Bronx this offseason.

Also, a touch of news to report: the Herald (via Rotoworld) today suggested that talks with Mike Timlin over a contract extension are already underway, and that a deal could be finalized quite soon.  Though I do think that Timlin's surface numbers were misleading given his peripherals, and that he'll see some decline next year, I'd be more than happy to see him come back as both a pitcher and as a mentor to what will likely be a fairly young pen for the Red Sox in '06.

Also, this is funny as hell, from a blog that's funny as hell (Yard-Work.org).