Alright, I know I said I wouldn't, but I must...

WARNING: The following is a sports rant. If you're not a big sports fan, I suggest you skip this post and come back at a later date when I return to my normal ranting about life and the people that give me grief. Thank you.

Well, the baseball playoffs are here. Yes, it's hard to see the Giants not in them, but that doesn't mean it was a lost season. It definately had some good moments. But anyway, I always like to make predictions on who's going to win it all. I told my brother last year that the Marlins were a scary team, and I was right. I know I'm a day late and some teams are already off to a winning start, but here are the picks I chose last night while lying in bed:

Astros vs. Braves: The Braves are too banged up now, and the Astros are riding on a hot streak (yea, I know, beating the Rockies apparently isn't a big deal anymore because everyone can do it, probably even the AP Giannini baseball team). Astros will take the series.

Dodgers vs. Cardinals: Of course I hate the Dodgers. Add to the fact they have no starting pitching and a rightfielder with tatrums of a 3 year old boy. Cardinals.

Yankees vs. Twins: When you have to face Yohan Santana possibly twice in a 5 game series, it's over. Twins.

Red Sox vs. Angels: Cal's gonna hate me for this, but I have to pick the Angels. Pedro is beatable, and Manny isn't exactly gold glove material (but I will give him that homerun-grab he had a few weeks ago). Plus I can't root for the Sox, Cubs, or Brewers because once they all win the World Series, the Giants will be the ones with the longest period without winning the big one. Angels.


Cardinals vs. Astros: This is a tough one, but I have to choose the Cardinals. They're too fundamental. I think beyond Clemens and Oswalt, there's nobody that will come up big. Backe is just a rookie, and you can't start MVP Brad Lidge. Cardinals.

Angels vs. Twins: Once again, the power of Johan and Radke will help them win. Twins win again. Sorry Pat, but Vlad can only do so much.

Cardinals vs. Twins: I said it to my brother all season; the Twins will win the World Series. You heard it here folks.

On another note, I'm with Pat when he says every year that the Warriors will make the playoffs. But I STRONGLY agree this year. Not only will the Warriors make the playoffs, but they will get by the first round. I can't say that they'll win the NBA Championships, but I think this is the year they finally make it to the playoffs.

I've been reading a lot about what the Giants should do for next season. They have a lot of options, but here's what I think they should do: Trade Alfonzo or Durham, thus freeing up a spot for Pedro Feliz and a whole bunch of money because he's going to sign a multiyear contract. Bring back Snow, Tomko, Mohr, Torrealba, Nen (to a minor league deal), and Grissom. Stick Foppert in the bullpen. Sign a whole bunch of relievers with a proven track record (meaning not re-signing Wayne Franklin). Trade DP Pierzinski for anything, and I really mean anything. I think Pierzinski for a box of David Sunflower Seeds and three jugs of Gatorade is fair. Use all that money they've saved up by not signing Vlad and Maddux (plus the $9 Nen made and $7 Felix Rodriguez was going to receive) to get Jermaine Dye, Urbina, and Orlando Cabrera. DO NOT, and I repeat, DO NOT, re-sign anybody named Ricky or Cody. Geez, it's that easy. Somebody needs to make me a GM.

And the Niners. Well, there's not much I can say about them.