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Can you say Subway Series?

Arizona Daily Wildcat

As the baseball regular season has ended and Arizona Diamondbacks fans are jovial because the second-year team has reached the post-season faster than any club in Major League Baseball history, it is time to assess the chances of all the teams winning the World Series.

The National League

Arizona Diamondbacks

With the Diamondbacks, it all starts and ends with the Big Unit, Randy Johnson. Unfortunately for D'backs fans, it all ends here, because Johnson's post-season numbers are less than spectacular. Being 2-5 in your post-season career with a 3.41 earned run average is acceptable if you are Omar Daal, but not for Johnson.

With this in mind, look for the pitching to sputter and the offense to be mediocre as Matt Williams and Luis Gonzalez try to overcome the team's pitching woes, but with no success. Diamondbacks lose in four games to the Mets.

New York Mets

Though the Mets pitching staff on paper looks weak, Al Leiter and Rick Reed are coming off gems and look to continue their winning ways in the playoffs.

The bullpen is deep with the likes of Dennis Cook, Armando Benitez and John Franco, but what really separates the Mets from the rest of the National League is their defense. They are tighter than an Anna Kournikova tennis outfit.

The top of their order spells death to pitchers as Ricky Henderson, Edgardo Alfonzo, Robin Ventura, Mike Piazza and John Olerud feast on opposing pitchers. Look to the Mets to advance to the World Series.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves are here every year - and every year, the Braves falter. The Braves are lead by their stellar pitching staff of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Kevin Millwood. The problem for the Braves won't be pitching, though. The problem is that the Braves are experiencing too many key injuries to offensive players to carry them to the World Series.

Out are Javy Lopez and Andres Galarraga, while power-hitting Brian Jordan has become a singles hitter since being hit by a ball on the wrist in early August. With all the injuries in mind, look for the Braves to be upset by the Astros in the first round.

Houston Astros

Is this the year of the Astro? No, but they are getting closer.

The Astros have a pitching staff to rival anyone in the NL and closer Billy Wagner is automatic. Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio are finally going to learn how to hit in the post-season, but Ken Caminiti and Carl Everett don't strike fear in the minds of pitchers the same way Moises Alou would if he were healthy and playing.

The Astros will ride the emotion of the last season at the Astrodome by getting to NLCS, but the Mets have fate on their side, just as in 1986.

The American League

New York Yankees

The defending world champs have looked vulnerable this season, but their post-season experience gives them the clear advantage over all other teams.

Look for the Yankees pitching staff to resurrect themselves after a lackluster second-half, especially Roger Clemens and David Cone. The Yankees will be lead by Mr. Everything, Derek Jeter, as he cements his place among the Yankee legends with a great post-season, culminating with a World Series MVP. The Yankees have all the intangibles for the repeat. It will be a Subway Series and the Yankee pinstripes will prevail in five games.

Texas Rangers

Over the past couple of years, this has become a common occurrence for the Rangers.

Their explosive offense is overshadowed by a pitching staff slimmer than Ally McBeal. Texas will be lead by the big three of Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmerio and Ivan 'Pudge' Rodriguez. The problem will be that the Rangers pitching staff will give up more runs than this high powered club can produce. The Rangers will go home early because of the bats of the Yankees, and, once again, Rangers GM Bob Melvin will spend his winter searching for a marquee pitching free-agent.

Cleveland Indians

Poor Indians, if they could have only traded for a pitcher at the trade-deadline they could have their first title since the 1950s. Once again, though, the most powerful offense in baseball will come up short because of deficiencies in pitching. Cleveland fields an All-Star at nearly every position and every player in their lineup is capable hitting .300 and crushing home runs. Jacobs Field will be rocking up until the point Pedro Martinez takes the mound and starts to mow down Cleveland hitters.

Boston Red Sox

This is the most overachieving team of the year, with manager Jimmy Williams doing a masterful job of getting the most out of his two superstars, Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra, while surrounding them with a group of mid-level players. Martinez will dominate the Indians and the Red Sox will pull the upset of the playoffs. The post-season magic will end when they travel to New York and Roger Clemens exacts some revenge on his old team.