2007 World Series Predictions: History Repeats Itself

It's nearly October and the strongest teams in either league are finally playing their best baseball. The pennant races are heating up in some divisions, while the better American and National League teams are beginning to pull away. Two in particular. And those two teams are currently the best candidates to represent their respective leagues in the fall classic. Here are my 2007 World Series predictions.

How well do you remember 1986? I was ten years old, and I don't remember much of it. But I sure as hell remember that October. And it directly ties in with my 2007 World Series predictions. Because it seems that we could very well see a rematch. The New York Mets versus the Boston Red Sox.

Boston recently swept the Chicago White Sox to take a seven and a half game lead in the east. ESPN analysts are now back-peddling from their own predictions that the New York Yankees would continue their surge and reclaim the division. Sorry. No way, no how. The Red Sox magic number is now down to twenty-five, and they still play Tampa Bay six times in September.

Meanwhile, the New York Mets have a similar lead in the National League east. The Phillies are plagued with injuries and Atlanta just can't seem to string along a winning streak. And the Mets are playing some great baseball. Carlos Beltran is hot, Moises Alou is solid, and Jose Reyes is his usual unbelievable self. It's easy to argue that the Mets don't have as good a squad as they had last year. But this team will again win their division, and this time they're heading to the World Series.

Is the country ready for a return to 1986? Will the outcome be the same? Probably not. As much as I believe in the 2007 New York Mets, the National League winning the World Series this year seems like a long shot. Home field advantage aside (the All Star game rule needs to be changed), Boston has both a better rotation - Dice K, Beckett, Schilling, and Wakefield - and a better bull pen - Papelbon, Okajima, and Gagne (who will get things together in the fall).

Will this match-up be a great thing for baseball? You bet. The Boston Red Sox have recently been dubbed America's Team, because of the size and enthusiasm of the Red Sox Nation, and because of the team's following on the road. And it's about time that the Amazing Mets recapture their former glory, as well as the title "the best baseball team in New York."

Feel free to sound off with your own 2007 World Series predictions in the Comments section below.