Minutes to Memories

(In the picture, the much-maligned Cardinal pitching staff began its limp into the post-season at Minute Maid Park in late September. However, baseball expert, Al Sturgeon, believes their coming-out party will be the biggest surprise of the postseason. Photograph by baseball expert, Al Sturgeon. Did we mention Al Sturgeon is a baseball expert?)

After weeks of Spring Training, then six long months of regular season games, the MLB playoffs are set to begin tomorrow with eight teams vying to be World Series champions. And all (both) of my loyal blog readers are of the privileged few to hear it here first (and I really suspect this may be the only place you’ll hear this): the Cardinals will defeat the Twins in a thrilling seven-game rematch of the 1987 World Series, though the champions this time around will come from Missouri.

Sure, I know: the Cardinals have played like four-year-olds for the past two weeks (and that’s being kind to the pitching staff). But that’s just it – the Redbirds are going to sneak in while everyone’s attention is pointed elsewhere (read: New York).

THE DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS:

TWINS/ATHLETICS: The Twins pitching staff is simply amazing. Twinkies in a 3-0 sweep.

YANKEES/TIGERS: American League fans will focus on this one, and it should prove to be an interesting series. But I’ll give this one to Steinbrenner’s wallet, even without the Big Unit on the mound. Yankees win 3-2.

METS/DODGERS: The Mets have the dubious honor of clinching their division too early and losing that competitive edge. Plus they lost Pedro (no, Mr. Dobbs, I’m not referring to Napoleon Dynamite). The Dodgers have played well recently, plus they have some veterans whom I believe will carry them through this series. Dodgers win 3-1.

PADRES/CARDINALS: In the past two weeks, the only flashes of Cardinal baseball came against the Padres. And seriously, after feeling the tremendous weight on their shoulders of potentially staging the greatest collapse in baseball history, I think the relief might allow the pitching staff to relax enough to throw a decent series - and gain some much-needed confidence. Cards win 3-1.

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

TWINS/YANKEES: Steinbrenner bought a great lineup, but he didn’t buy the best pitching staff in baseball. And the Twins have the best pitching staff in baseball. The Yanks won’t be a complete pushover by any means, but I still give it to the Twinkies in six.

DODGERS/CARDINALS: Cardinals win 4-2, just because. These are the best two franchises in National League history, but for a couple of decades now, the memories of 1985 have not been erased. The Niedenfuer curse continues.

WORLD SERIES:

TWINS/CARDINALS: In 1987, the speed of the Cardinals came face-to-face with the fly-ball-hitting Twins. Since four of the games were in the Metrodome (with its short wall), the Twins won 4-3. But this time around, the Cardinals can hit fly balls, too! This is understandably an upset, simply based on pitching staffs. But I believe that All-World MVP, Albert Pujols, will rally the troops with a couple of first-innings jacks off of Santana and his ilk, and singlehandedly set the tone for the series. And that crazy pitching staff will just keep getting better with each passing game!

Go Cardinals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!