When the baseball divisional playoffs began, there was much talk about the possibility of the New York Yankees meeting the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.  After all, both teams had won their divisions at a canter and boasted the sport’s most powerful lineups. 

Sure enough, the Yankees pushed the Twins out of the way with ease, with Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira all making key hits.  But the Cardinals disappointed hugely, sputtering at the end of the regular season and barely putting up a fight against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Joe Giradi’s team will face a much stiffer task with the Los Angeles Angels in a Championship Series that pits the inspirational former catcher against the experienced Mike Scioscia.  Each manager seems to have that key ingredient of being able to extract the maximum impact from his players.  If the Angels had been drawn into a long fight against the Red Sox, this one would have looked different but on full rest the advantage lies with the Angels.  Look for them to wear down Sabathia and Burnett and win in six games. 

Could it be beer instead of champagne for the New York Yankees this year?

In the National League, the coaching match up is, if anything, even more intriguing.  Joe Torre, the veteran former Yankee hero, will need to be at his best to overcome Charlie Manuel and the World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies in an identical match up to last year.  But Torre has had months to plan his strategy and, on full rest against a Phillies team that just played one more game and had to overcome a day’s snow delay, the coach will feel he has a great chance to take his team to the World Series.  This one will go to the wire but the Dodgers will overcome the bats of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley and use home field advantage to win in seven.

It is time that Los Angeles enjoyed greater baseball success and a World Series between its two teams provides for a fascinating contest.  Over the last decade it is the American League teams that have had the advantage.  Ironically, in this case it is a former Yankee coach and Red Sox slugger that could make the difference.  Having made it this far, Torre will find a way to win.  Expect the Dodgers to dominate and take baseball’s biggest prize in just five games, with Manny Ramirez becoming the redemptive hero by supplying the key clutch hits.

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