It’s time for the World Series. Starting much later every year because Darth Selig had to mess with the Divisions, Interleague Play, the Ozone Layer, and heaven knows what else. My horse Randy could run MLB better than Selig. (1)

Anyway, back to the Series. Cards and Sox. Who would have guessed? Nobody! Although many sports “experts” got the Red Sox right, only one sports writer in America predicted the Cardinals were going to the World Series. Here are the preseason predictions by the major publications and sports experts:

National League Champion:

Sports Illustrated: Cubs vs. Yankees, Cubs win series
Sporting News: Cubs vs. Red Sox, Cubs win series
ESPN: Cubs vs. Red Sox, Cubs win series

The Twelve Experts at
Baseball Prospectus: Cubs vs. Red Sox, Red Sox win series
Cubs vs. Yankees, Cubs win series
Phillies vs. A’s, A’s win series
Astros vs. Red Sox, Red Sox win series
Cubs vs. Red Sox, Red Sox win series
Braves vs. A’s, A’s win series
Astros vs. Yankees, Yankees win series
Astros vs. A’s, Astros win series
Phillies vs. Red Sox, Red Sox win series
Phillies vs. Red Sox, Red Sox win series
Phillies vs. Red Sox, Red Sox win series
Phillies vs. A’s, A’s win series

Midwest Sports Writing Genius: Cardinals vs. A’s, Cardinals win series (2)

The Midwest Sports Writing Genius is of course me. I wrote my prediction on my bulletin board at work after a heated discussion with Ralph the maintenance man. Ralph is a militant Cubs fan. (3) Anyway, Ralph was witness to the preseason prediction.

Now I know you’re thinking, “He only got it half right.” Well that’s true, but I’m the ONLY ONE WHO PREDICTED THE CARDINALS! These other people get paid big bucks and none of them saw the Cardinals coming. Besides, with the exception of 4 of the Baseball Prospectus writers, everyone picked the Red Sox or Yankees in the American League. Gee that’s going out on a limb. Take the 2 teams that spent the most cash in the off season and flip a coin. Now those courageous 4 who joined me in picking the A’s can at least pat themselves on the back since they put some thought into the decision (Even though we were wrong.) The five of us are probably the only ones who think the Moneyball approach to the game is going to eventually win championships.

I’m especially proud of the guy who picked the Astros and A’s. That took guts! But, hey on the National League side, NOBODY got it right. Everyone was too enamored with last year’s Cubs to think straight. Those who weren’t gave the Phillies too much credit. Anyway, I’ll stop gloating for now. Randy and are off to do some last minute campaigning for my run to the White House. Enjoy the Series!

(1) Randy is in fact a burrow, but prefers to be called a horse. He feels he is a horse trapped in the body of a burrow and is planning to have some sort of operation. His girlfriend, a llama named Stephanie supports him 100%. Seeing a burrow and a llama together reminds me of Dudley Moore and Susan Anton.

(2) For reasons that are not entirely clear, Randy picked the Expos over the Royals.

(3) Last year I filled his desk with sand after the Marlins beat the Cubs in the playoffs.

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