Why the Dodgers and Angels won't meet in the '07 World Series
Because that's what Sports Illustrated is predicting in its March 26 issue that hits the newsstands Wednesday. See the headline "Freeway Fever" down there along the right side? It means curtains for both Nomar Garciaparra and Frankie Rodriguez. Why couldn't the magazine just have predicted a UCLA-USC matchup for the NCAA national championship?
In its 1-to-30 overall team regular-season power rankings, SI actually lists the New York Yankees as the best team overall, with the Angels second, the Boston Red Sox third and the Dodgers fourth. But in their playoff scenario, the Angels beat the Yankees (again) in the ALCS, while the Dodgers win the NL West, beat Atlanta in the first round, then the New York Mets in the NLCS to reach the World Series.
At least if there's a cover jinx involved in this, it's going to drag down new Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka along with it.
Here's how SI determined the standings (with power rankings in parenthesis):
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East:
1. Yankees (1)
2. Red Sox* (3)
3. Blue Jays (9)
4. Orioles (24)
5. Devil Rays (28)
Central:
1. Indians (7)
2. Tigers (8)
3. White Sox (12)
4. Twins (17)
5. Royals (29)
West:
1. Angels (2)
2. Athletics (14)
3. Rangers (22)
4. Mariners (25)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East
1. Mets (5)
2. Braves* (10)
3. Phillies (13)
4. Marlins (21)
5. Nationals (30)
Central
1. Cardinals (6)
2. Cubs (15)
3. Brewers (18)
4. Astros (19)
5. Pirates (26)
6. Reds (27)
West
1. Dodgers (4)
2. Diamondbacks (11)
3. Padres (16)
4. Rockies (20)
5. Giants (23)
*Wild-card team