![Cubs and Yankees spotlight <span class=]()
MLB second season" src="http://www.sbrforum.com/forum/Pictures/trophy-mlb.jpg"/>
We finally know the eight teams in the
MLB postseason after Colorado's win Monday night. Can the Rockies keep it going or will the Cubs and Yankees come out on top?
Why not just declare Major League Baseball's 2007 Playoffs and World Series null and void, hand championship rings over to the Chicago Cubs and make bookmakers everywhere finally pay off futures on the erstwhile Windy City losers?
Heck, even the crosstown neighbor sad-sack White Sox claimed a World Championship in 2005, proving miracles happen on 35th Street as well as 34th. And it only took the Southsiders 88 years between (legitimate) tiaras; Northsiders have been dry for 99.
Of course the Colorado Rockies might have something to say about any such cancellation, following what they've been through the last few weeks just to qualify for the post-season, their first trip since 1995. The Mile High City citizens, winners of 13 of their last 14 games, capped a stunning three-run rally in the bottom of the 13th inning Monday to beat San Diego 9-8 and claim the National League's Wild Card berth.
The Rockies open against National League East Division winner Philadelphia in Game 1 of the divisional plaoffs on Thursday.
The Cubs first travel West to face the Diamondbacks in a match between winners of the loop's Central and West Division champions. The Wednesday night game will feature righthanders Carlos Zambrano of Chicago and Brandon Webb of Arizona.
Bodog.com didn't have numbers posted early Tuesday morning, but Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which makes lines for Nevada books, released the D-Backs as a minus $1.25 favorite and the total at 7½.
Professional Handicappers League member Bill Fishman rates the American League as far superior and gives it the overall edge.
"Pitching in the National League is weak and it doesn't have an offense," Fishman said.
"Cleveland will give the Yankees all they can handle and Boston wins in four. The NL it is up for grabs and I feel the Cubs have a real shot. If they get pitching out of Zambrano, (Ted Lily) Lilly and Co., they could really compete with offense and defense."
That's the series everyone has an opinion on that and sentiment swings toward the long-barren Cubs and their loyal fans.
The last time the Wrigleyites advanced, a controversial incident cost them a flag, almost as if there really is a Billy Goat Sianis jinx cast many moons ago.
While Colorado's comeback against the Padres still was being dissected Monday night, folks had had a couple days to digest the prospect of a Cubs pennant and world title. PHL member Jimmy Boyd gives Arizona a Round 1 edge over Chicago because there's a good chance Webb will get two starts if it goes the distance.
"The Cubs are the more talented team all in all," Boyd said. "Not too many teams have an Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. (Manager) Lou Piniella gives Chicago the experience of having won the big one before; the Cubs barely got into the postseason, though."
Seasoned sports gamblers would insist Piniella's ascension to top step in the Cubs dugout had a lot to do with the whole scheme of things.
LVSC oddsmaker Ken White notes that he sent out early Cubs futures, dating back a year ago, at 75/1, but numbers dropped drastically when Piniella took over.
"They went down to like 30 or 35/1, overnight and they've been dropping since," White said.
Sin City bet shops had the Cubs in a 3/1 range through much of the late season.
"I don't think you'll find a lot of books getting hurt at the really long futures," White continued.
The oddsmaker dubbed Chicago and Boston as the two favorites to win the World Series, saying he'd peg the Cubs at 6/1 and Red Sox at 5/1.
Boyd gives Boston a slight edge in its series against the Los Angeles Angels, which also begins Wednesday. Josh Beckett will be on the mound for the Red Sox and John Lackey for the Angels.
"If the Angels are going to win this series, they are going to have to do it on the mound which has been their bread and butter all season long." Boyd said. "The Sox did pitch better, defend better, and score more than LA this season, but the Angels' aggressiveness on the bases makes them a tough out in any series, especially a short five-gamer.
"The Red Sox went from one of the best starting rotations in the league to one of the worst in just one season and a turnaround came with it. If Manny can be effective despite his strained oblique, the Red Sox should have the advantage at home."