Fernando Gallo:

Boston Red Sox

There’s nothing I want to see less than another championship for the Boston Red Sox, except for maybe a Super Bowl win by the Patriots with Randy Moss as MVP. Unfortunately, I think we’re about to see both in the coming months. The Red Sox will win the World Series because they are easily the most complete team in the majors.

Boston has a three-headed pitching monster with Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Curt Schilling, plus an excellent bullpen. Japanese wonder pitcher Hideki Okajima and dominating closer Jonathan Papelbon will make sure the Sox don’t give up a lead in the late innings. The lineup is also one of the best that money can buy (and it should be since the Red Sox have the second highest payroll in the majors). Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis get on-base, Mr. Clutch David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez drive them in, and Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo provide the running game.

You can credit the Angels for playing well against the Yankees, but the Red Sox own the boys from Orange County. The Red Sox made quick work of the Halos, outscoring them 19-4 in the three-game sweep. Vladimir Guerrero doesn’t get slammed like A-Rod does for playing badly in the postseason, but he can choke with the worst of them. He was 2-10 with no RBI versus Boston.

The Sox now face an ALCS match-up against the young and feisty Cleveland Indians. I would love to see the Indians win a World Series since they haven’t had a championship since 1948, but it’s not happening this year. Their inexperience will finally catch up with them against a veteran Red Sox team that has been through this before. Boston should take the series in six.

Be sure to enjoy the ALCS and NLCS because the World Series is going to be more boring than this year’s NBA Finals. The Red Sox can hit just as well as any of the NLCS teams, and none of their rotations can hold a candle to the Red Sox’s three-man combination. They will beat the Rockies in the World Series in five games, and for the next year, we’ll get to hear about the “reigning world champion Red Sox” everyday on Sports Center. I can’t wait…

Andrew Eggers:

Colorado Rockies

I have to roll with the Colorado Rockies on this one because they can flat-out hit the ball. They are a very young team with little post season experience, but I don’t think it will be their demise.

I think the baseball postseason comes down to which team is hitting on all cylinders at the right time. The Rockies are by far the hottest team in baseball, winning 17 of the last 18 games going back to the regular season.

They were not even expected to make the playoffs, but since they were so hot down the stretch, they won the wild card in a one game playoff against the San Diego Padres. They showed they are for real when they swept the Philadelphia Phillies in three games, winning the first two games in Philadelphia.

The Rockies have guys on their team who some people have never heard of, but don’t be fooled because they are good. Their lineup is stacked with young sluggers who produce when it matters most – when runners are in scoring position. Anchored by Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins, Troy Tulowitzki, and veteran Todd Helton, the Rockies seemed to always have the lead in the three games against the Phillies.

Their pitching is not even close to great, but as long as the starters can go six innings without giving up more than four runs, the offense will do the rest. They do have Jeff Francis who is a good starting pitcher and Brian Fuentes who is one of the nastiest closers in baseball right now.

I would not be shocked to see a team from the National League win the World Series. Both teams left are from the “wild” NL West, the other team being the Arizona Diamondbacks, and both have been under the radar for most of the season.

I think the biggest factor is that the Rockies are extremely hot right now. They could win the whole thing just based on the fact that they are going to be underdogs the rest of the way. Teams have a tendency to respond when they aren’t favored to win.

Don’t be shocked if the young Rockies shock the world and beat a team like the Boston Red Sox to win the franchise’s first World Series title.

Galen Kusic

Cleveland Indians

Rockies and D-backs? I never thought I would see the day. Two teams that were created in the mid-’90s are in the NLCS. Of course, the D-backs won it all in 2001, so it isn’t that much of a surprise for the postseason success.

I’ll jump on the Rockies bandwagon. They have won 17 of their last 18 games and are on fire. Plus, Eric Byrnes disgusts me – he couldn’t do half as well with the A’s as he has done performing with Arizona, and last time I checked he is a hardcore young republican. The D-backs are almost equally as hot as the Rockies and have great pitching. Logically, it would be smart to pick them, but I can’t on principle, so I’ll take the Rockies going to the Fall Classic.

As for the American League, Cleveland and Boston will advance.

Unfortunately, I don’t think the Angels have a shot at coming back against the Red Sox. I hate the Red Sox, but the Angels have dug themselves a hole too deep to climb out of. Curt Schilling vs. Jered Weaver? Come on, you do the math on a series-deciding game.

The Yankees have come back to win every divisional series in which they lost the first game. However, Cleveland looks too strong, especially with pitching. For the Yankees to have a chance to even bring the series to five games, A-Rod will actually have to put up some run production and quit striking out. Having 53 bombs and 150 plus RBI’s in the regular season is great, but A-Rod’s legacy in New York will be that of a choke artist if this continues. No doubt about it.

With that being said, I will take Cleveland over Boston, because once again, I hate the Red Sox. I really don’t care if I get the pick wrong as long as I feel good about the team I went with. Cleveland hasn’t won since 1948, so a win is overdue. I’ll take Cleveland over the Rockies in a stunning World Series victory at the former “mistake by the lake.”

Alicia de la Garza:

Colorado Rockies

It has been seven years since the Colorado Rockies made it to the playoffs and the team has proven it wants to be there.

With dedication like that, this team is going to not only play in the World Series, but it is going to win the World Series. That’s right. I said the Rockies are going to win the World Series.

Now you skeptics out there are probably thinking I am crazy. And maybe this is a little far-fetched to think a team that made the playoffs based on both skill and good luck will win the World Series, but hey, every girl has to have a dream.

Starting Sept. 15, the Rockies have had a string of well-played ballgames to accompany all the good luck.

For one thing, the Mets played horrible at the end of the regular season, which gave the Phillies a ticket into the playoffs.

No one really expected the Phillies to make the playoffs, but that’s just what the Rockies needed in the postseason.

Skill is what really came into play to help Colorado. The Rockies won 14 out of 15 of their last regular season games.

One of those wins came this last Monday night when the Rockies went on to beat the Padres in the 13th inning.

Not to mention, the Rockies have in its possession a leading NL Most Valuable Player candidate with left fielder Matt Holliday.

The guy hit 11 homeruns in 12 games. That Matt Holliday is so hot right now.

Winning 14 out of 15 games isn’t necessarily all because of luck. The Rockies clubhouse has proved it has the skill to dominate other teams as well.

Once the Rockies beat the Phillies in three games, everyone will start to feel that Rockie chill.

FAST FORWARD ONE WEEK

Now I originally wrote this article a week ago, and I don’t have psychic powers, but I did tell you that the Rockies were going to sweep the Phillies, and what do you know, they did.

Not to mention that game three was played in front of a sold-out crowd.

Looks like the Rockies are going on to play the Diamondbacks starting on Thursday. It seems as though the D’ Backs also had a little magic of their own, sweeping the Cubs in three games.

The Rockies shouldn’t have a problem shutting the Diamondbacks out either. I’m going to say, another three-game sweep?

Yeah, I don’t think snakes like the cold very much.

Victor Nieto:

New York Yankees

To determine which MLB team will be holding up the World Series trophy come November, one must first narrow the field. Because the Cubs are the Cubs and everyone outside the north side of Chicago knows they’re destined to bomb, we can scratch out the Cubbies.

And while we’re at it, why not send the Angels packing, because if there is one team that deserves to have its hopes and aspirations ripped apart more than the Dodgers, it’s the Angels. So, adios and I hope ya walk into a tree.

The next to come off the list will be the Phillies for two reasons. First, they probably have the most ridiculously stupid mascot in the world. Second, they just ran into a hotter Colorado Rockies squad.

The Indians have finally displayed that they’re not just a team with the potential to make the playoffs but can actually get there. They are, however, still the Indians — and unless Rick Vaughn is heading out there to close games, say farewell to the tribe.

That leaves the surprising representatives from the NL West and the not-so-surprising teams from the AL East.

The D-backs have the best pitcher left in the playoffs in Brandon Webb but unfortunately, he won’t be available for each game, leaving the young but talented squad beached.

Then comes the much anticipated match-up between Boston and New York, which unfortunately will turn out to be a major dud due to the over usage of Boston’s pitchers as well as a lackluster line-up that has been less than magical this year.

So here they are, the New York Yankees and the Colorado Rockies. Each team is known for its hitting capabilities but only one has a player by the name of A-Rod.

The postseason legacy of Rodriguez will finally commence as he hits homers, slugs and steals his way to a Yankees championship on route to saying hi, hello, goodbye and good riddance to the fickle-minded fans of Yankee Stadium.

The New York Yankees in five.

The State Hornet Staff can be reached at [email protected]