QUICKIE PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

Some quick-hit, off-the-cuff predictions on baseball's Division Series, which start today:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Tigers vs. Yankees: Consider this matchup karma for Detroit management's out-and-out ticket gougery. That's just what the inexperienced Tigers will be doing: going out, out and out. Prediction: Yankees in 4.

Athletics vs. Twins: Minnesota lefty Johan Santana's been nearly unbeatable at home, and he'll start there in Game 1 and Game 5, if necessary. Prediction: Twins in 5.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Dodgers vs. Mets: The Mets look like a hurtin' unit, and there's a lot of fatalism seeping through the ranks of their fans. They'll probably make a tough task of getting by the wild-card Dodgers. Prediction: Mets in 5.

Cardinals vs. Padres: San Diego could be the first National League World Series rep with less than 90 wins in the regular-season since the '73 Amazin' Mets, who were just 82-79. Prediction: Padres in 4.

Pete Rose apparently said during an appearance on David Letterman that he would be taking the Twins and Padres... I'm inclined to agree.

Back with more later. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.