Playoff winners -- usual suspects

For only the fourth time since 1989, neither the Cleveland Indians or the Pittsburgh Pirates will be active for the Major League Baseball playoffs.
Baseball fever in the Mahoning Valley has cooled considerably because of the Indians' fall from grace. The Tribe's fortunes have plummeted so far that they will be lucky to finish the season with a record better than the Pirates.
What's especially painful for Indians fans is remembering how Cleveland opened at 11-1 before the dismantling set in.
So with the Tribe and Pirates idle next week, it's time to turn our attention to the eight teams that will be playing for a world championship.
Until this week began, the defending champion Arizona Diamondbacks were just about everyone's pick to repeat as National League champions.
Gonzalez's injury
But now that Luis Gonzalez is out with a shoulder injury, baseball fans are wondering who will drive in the runs to stake Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson to early leads.
But even without Gonzalez, the Diamondbacks shouldn't have much trouble getting past the St. Louis Cardinals, a team that was rocked in June by pitcher Darryl Kile's death.
Former Yankee Tino Martinez has been unspectacular in replacing the retired Mark McGwire. Trading for third baseman Scott Rolen was one of the best moves a contender made, but it's hard to imagine the Cardinals extending this series past four games.
Once again, the Atlanta Braves have the NL's best record and two of the best starters in Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. But Julio Franco is one of their first base regulars. Go figure.
Moving John Smoltz to the bullpen gave the Braves something they so often have lacked during their 11-year streak of division championships -- a dominant closer.
Bonds needs help
Atlanta's first-round opponent, the San Francisco Giants, has baseball's most feared batter in Barry Bonds, a player who has rarely excelled in the postseason.
San Francisco's best chance for an extended postseason run ended on the day they failed to trade for Indians slugger Jim Thome. Can you imagine what damage Bonds could do if Thome was batting behind him?
A lot of fans expect Bonds to break out of his playoff slump and lead the Giants to the NLCS. The pick here though is for the Braves to win in five.
In the American League, the New York Yankees are about to become the Minnesota Twins' biggest fans.
That's because the Twins -- one of the teams Commissioner Bud Selig targeted for contraction -- most likely will open against West Division champions, the Oakland Athletics.
With Gonzalez out for Arizona, Oakland is the last team the Yankees want to play.
In 2000 and 2001, the Yankees needed a full five games to oust the pesky Athletics. If they meet this fall, it will be in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.
Pitching vs. pitching
The A's strength comes from the top of their rotation: Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder. Oakland's starters are strong enough to duel with the Yankees' Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina.
The one thing the Twins have going for them is that they have never lost a postseason game at home since they moved in to the Metrodome 20 years ago. The pick here is the A's in five.
The Anaheim Angels have stumbled down the stretch. The Yankees have a batting line up with five regulars with at least 93 RBIs (Jason Giambi, Bernie Williams, Alfonso Soriano, Jorge Posada, Robin Ventura).
The Yanks may not sweep the Angels, but it won't take them five games to advance to the ALCS.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com.