Which L.A. Team Will Win It All? My Late Picks

Lots of people make pre-season predictions. But you know what I say? I  say that’s too hard. Me, I prefer to make my predictions near the end of the season. That way my chances of being right are much greater.

So that’s why I come to you not with my NFL predictions (WAY too early for that) or even NBA picks (Are you serious? Who do you think I am — Jimmy the Greek!) but, rather, with my 2009 MLB predictions. Here we go:

Right now, everyone is salivating the prospect of a NY-LA World Series. It’s the classic East Coast-West Coast match-up. The one that gets all the TV ratings. And, really, I think there will be an East-West pairing. But it ain’t gonna be who you think.

Bear with me a sec.

First of all, yeah, the Yanks look good right now. In fact, they look real good. Jeter, A-Rod and the boys are killing the ball. In fact, it looks like the Yankees will wind up with eight guys having 20 or more home runs, which is helping them easily drub Boston.

Looks like the best thing George Steinbrenner did for these guys is to step away.

Forget the Tigers — they don’t stand a chance. So it comes down to New York and the Angels. And I like the Angels.

I can’t cite anything real specific — on paper, New York clearly looks better —  other than to say that I like Mike Scioscia.  And in a year when everyone is ga-ga  about the Dodgers, I can just sense the Angels quietly being the L.A. team that goes to the WS.

Which brings us to the National League. Again, everyone is on the Dodger bandwagon — with good reason: In short time, Joe Torre has done just what everyone thought he could. That whole Manny Ramirez suspension? Bah. big deal. Didn’t even miss him. But now that he’s back . . .

Every time the Giants or Rockies look like they’re going to make a run for it, the Dodgers kick it in and distance themselves.

The Cardinals are also looking good, led by Pujols at the plate and Carpenter at the mound. But while Matt Holliday was a good acquisition, they’re a little thin offensively once you remove the two big guys.

I like the Phillies. While they’re pitching is a bit weak, I see them scoring a LOT of runs in the playoffs. After all, the Phils will probably wind up with four guys hitting 30 or more bombers.

So I know it’s not the sexiest World Series, but I’m looking at the Angels v. the Phillies. And after beating the better American League teams, I think the Angels are going to be on a roll.

Prediction: Angels 4, Phils 2