2014 Post-Season Baseball

Now that the 2014 regular season is complete, it's time to make some predictions.  I promise not to spend too much time talking about a certain retiring player.  (After all, no one really wants to hear my thoughts on Paul Konerko.)

We will start with listing the ten teams in order of how much I would want them to win the World Series:
1. Pirates: broke their long postseason drought last year, but haven't been to the Series since 1979
2. Royals: this year's version of the Pirates; broke a long streak - they haven't been to the postseason since they won it all in 1985
3. Nationals: one of only two franchises (along with the Mariners) that has never reached the World Series.  I generally prefer strong pitching over offensive slugfests, and the Nats have some great arms
4. Orioles:  even though they are divisional rivals of the Yankees, they haven't had much success recently, and they play in a great ballpark
5. Tigers: they have come close a couple of times in the past decade, but haven't won it all since 1984
6. Dodgers: would be great to see Clayton Kershaw work on the biggest stage
7. Athletics: their last championship was in 1989
8. Angels: some great players, especially Mike Trout
9. Giants: Have won two of the last four World Series.
10. Cardinals: have won a couple of titles in recent years.  I admit to not liking this team, ever since Tony LaRussa was their manager.

Now, for my actual predictions:

Wild Card Games:
Royals over Athletics
Pirates over Giants

Division Series:
Orioles over Tigers, 3-1
Angels over Royals, 3-2
Dodgers over Cardinals, 3-1
Nationals over Pirates, 3-1

League Championship Series:
Angels over Orioles, 4-3
Nationals over Dodgers, 4-2

World Series:
Nationals over Angels, 4-2

Play ball!