Last spring, The Northern Star Panel of Baseball Experts ran predictions on the four divisional races. While only two picks hit the mark (Dave Tuley with St. Louis and Dan Moran with San Francisco), there were 11 picks of second-place teams.

Of course, close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and anything over 10-megatons. So, this being October, it’s time to make fresh predictions on the playoffs and the World Series.

Jeff Kirik, sports editor

San Francisco? Minnesota? How did these teams get into the playoffs? Since Detroit beat my predicted World Series champs, the Blue Jays, I’d have to say they’re the favorite. St. Louis looks much stronger than the Giants, too.

The Twins do have a lot of power and could outslug the Tigers. And the Giants could have good enough pitching to keep St. Louis’ rabbits off the basepaths. Who am I trying to kid?

This time my gut feeling seems too strong. Then again, it could just be a stomach ache. It’s going to be Detroit over the Cardinals in six.

Dave Duschene, editor

You know, that wasn’t me who picked the Mets, Reds, Rangers and Yankees last fall. I think it was Editorial Editor Mike Solley. We all know he doesn’t know squat about baseball. After all, he is a Sox fan. Anyway, I’m going to save my family name and pick the real World Champions.

I know for a fact the League Championships will be wrapped up quickly, with the steady Twins beating the streaking Tigers and the solid, young Giants beating the fluke Cardinals. And then, in the seventh game of the Fall Classic, the Giants will edge out the Twins in some sort of dream-sequence recall of those great, end-of-the-60s Series.

Kari Brackett, sports reporter

OK, so I was a little off last spring in my predictions for the World Series. I admit I predicted Texas would win the AL West. So what if they finished last? So what if they were 10 games out? At least give me credit for picking the last place team in the AL West.

I am going to try and prove myself as a professional psychic this time by chosing the winning World Series team. I say Detroit will defeat Minnesota for the AL Championship, and St. Louis will become the NL Champions after winning against San Francisco. If I can see through the hazy crystal ball correctly, St. Louis will be the World Champions. Mark my words.

Dan Moran, sports reporter

I’d like to be remembered by all you couch potatoes as being more than “that guy who screwed up the Final Four predictions.” I’d like to be remembered as the only guy in the tri-state area who picked the Giants to win the NL West. So go suck an egg.

Baseball is my game. I picked the Giants for their good young hitters, their solid pitching and for Roger Craig, the most underrated manager in the game.

And now I’m sticking with them. I think the Cardinals are the nellies of baseball, a bunch of miserable slap-hitters who couldn’t live without their bouncy artificial turf. The Tigers have peaked, and the Twins are from the AL West. Enough said.

But next year—next year—those Cubs are going to be so good ….

Dave Tuley, assistant sports editor

I was robbed!

All four of my division winners were in the running until the final month. However, Eric Davis couldn’t carry Cincinnati by himself, Kansas City somehow lost its September drive of years past and Toronto just plain choked. So here I am, having to be content with one division winner and three runners-up.

ow can Mr. Moran say baseball is his game when he also picked the Cubs, the White Sox and the Yankees to win their respective divisions? But enough professional ribbing.

The St. Louis Slap-Hitters will run over (or under) the Giants to meet the Minny and Pauly Twins in the championship of the world—serious. The Cardinals will fly high and the Twins’ dreams will be aborted.