E.K. NATION

So the Twins haven't beaten the Yankees in what, two years? One thing about the playoffs: Throw out all the regular season stuff, it doesn't mean anything. The Twins will indeed win a game, beating Clemens in the process. But that's it. And the Metrodome sucks. I hope no dome-playing team ever gets to another World Series, ever, ever, ever. I really just want that bubble to deflate. Mike Mussina will flirt with a no-hitter. Yankees in 4 games.

There's a lot of offense in that Sox lineup. And for all the touting the A's rotation has gotten over the last few years, it still hasn't won them a single postseason series. This one is over before it starts. The Sox score 17 runs in one of the games. Jason Varitek hits a walk-off series-clinching home run into the right-field bullpen to end Game 3 and complete the sweep. Citgo sign explodes a la Roy Hobbs, despite being a couple of blocks away. Red Sox in 3 games.

I'm big on the Wood-Prior-Zambrano contingent and it's going to help silence the Brave bats something fierce. One of them might have a weak outing (say, Zambrano in Game 3), but Wrigley will be a madhouse after the fourth game. After 11 straight division titles the Braves have just one World Series title to show for it. They are soft as church music in the postseason. Kerry Wood will hit a home run. Cubs in 4 games.

Praise Jason Schmidt. He will win Game 1 and Game 5, but the Giants will struggle in the middle three games, getting a very close and anxiety-filled Game 2 win before letting the Marlins tie it after four games. Bonds homers once, walks seven times. Giants in 5 games.

N.Y. Yankees vs. Boston: What a weird twist of fate it would be if the Red Sox somehow beat Roger Clemens in the pennant-clinching win in Fenway Park. Although my dream matchup in the Series would be the Giants vs. the Yankees, I have to guess this will be the third straight year without the Yanks in the Fall Classic, because the Sox are going to kick ass. Series MVP: Kevin Millar, assuming you can "cowboy up" in New England. Do they do that kinda thing up there? Red Sox in 5 games.

San Francisco vs. Chi. Cubs: This one won't have a special Will & Grace feel to it (Clark and Mark combined to hit an incredible 24-for-37 in the five-game Giants victory in the 1989 NLCS; that's a .649 average to you and me), but it will be something to watch the Cubs rebound from a 3-1 deficit after four games only to lose an 8-7 squeaker in Game 7 after Worrell gives up three runs in the ninth. Bonds homers once, walks nine times. Series MVP: Sammy Sosa (I see five home runs, people). Giants in 7 games.

Boston vs. San Francisco: So this was my pre-season World Series pick, and I must stay with it. I do feel that the Red Sox are the best pick to come out of the A.L. regardless of what I picked in the spring. The Sox, after bringing out the sacrificial goat and the witch-burnings and all that, really ought to hand a ring to Eric Gagne. Good thing the Cubs won't meet the Sox in the Series; I fear that such an occurrence would cause the universe to collapse on itself. Sox fans celebrate for a week and then go into a winter-long funk, realizing they have nothing to root for anymore. Forget the curse of the Bambino; this one's for Buckner. Bonds goes homerless, walks once, and makes the last out, a grounder to shortstop Nomar garciaparra playing just to the right of second base. Series MVP: Pedro Martinez. Red Sox in 6 games.