"Subway series" predicted for championship

by Nick Luchko staff writer

Alright,, in an earlier edition of the Loquitur I stated in my baseball preview that a subway series between the Yankees and the Mets would happen. Many people laugh at my prediction and as it stands right now it could happen.

Major League baseball wild card playoff series begins this week with eight teams that have a legitimate shot to win the crown.

In the National League, the Eastern Division was won once again by the Atlanta Braves. This is their eighth title in the nineties but only one championship to show for it. They will be taken on the Houston Astros who won the Central Division.

I see this as a great opportunity for America to see two baseball great teams go at it. Both teams have identical pitching staffs and starting line-ups that combined power and speed.

I feel that the Braves are the better team, but I'm going with the Astros. The reason for this is because of two intangibles that I feel every team needs. Heart and a bullpen. The Braves have neither of these. The Astros are hungry and plus a good showing in this year's playoff will sell some tickets for the new ballpark being built. Astros in five.

In the other National League series, I see the New York Mets destroying the Western Division champion Arizona Diamondbacks.

Although the Mets might be tired from the one game playoff they had with the Cincinnati Reds, I feel that this roll that they are on now will only propel them further in the playoffs. Mets in four.

Over in the American League, the defending World Champion, New York Yankees will take on the Texas Rangers, who won the Western Division.

Both teams have strong at all position players, but the Yankees pitching is far superior than the Rangers and that will make the difference. Yankees in three.

While the Yankees and the Rangers battle it out in one series, the Cleveland Indians will take on the Boston Red Sox in the other series.

I like the Red Sox spunk and the way they play tough baseball, but the Indians are just too strong. Cleveland this year set a record by a team for runs, so the Red Sox have no chance. Indians in four.

So the divisional series are set. The Astros should give the Mets a run for the title of National League Champion, but I don't see it happening.

The Mets made some great pickups in the pitching department and that will help them at this time. Mets in six.

In another classic matchup, the Yankees will once again come out as the winner over the Indians.

The Indians strongest asset was their hitting, but against the Yankees pitching staff, that should be stopped. Yankees in six.

So the classic matchup that the television and the fans want is on. The New York Yankees vs. the New York Mets.

The Mets will make it a respectable series, yet the Yankees will be just a little bit better.

After going through all the turmoil that the Mets have had, the Yankees will be just too strong and too tough to win out. Yankees in five.

I have to say that in the last two years we have seen some great baseball. I really feel that the game is number one again among sports fans. Going into the next millennium,hopefully we can see this great play continue and maybe the Phillies will be able to win a couple championships.