ESPN asked its 33 baseball analysts -- yes, ESPN has more analysts than the Menninger Clinic -- to make postseason picks. Of the 33, six picked the Atlanta Braves over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series. Of those six, two picked the Braves to reach the World Series. Of those two, only Peter Pascarelli sees the Braves winning the title.

That doesn't constitute a groundswell of support, especially for a team that had the second-best record in the National League and tied with Oakland for the third-best in the majors. Not that regular seasons mean a whole lot come October. The second-most popular choice (after Boston) to win it all  is Detroit, which was chosen by eight of the 33 Worldwide Leaders. The Tigers won 93 game, three fewer than Atlanta and one fewer than Pittsburgh, which has to face Cincinnati in the dreaded play-in game.

For the record, here are the brave ESPN folks who see the Braves beating L.A.: Pedro Gomez, Eric Karabell, Michael Knisely, Dan Shulman, Dan Szymborski and the aformentioned Mr. Pascarelli. So the next time you say, "Everybody at ESPN hates every Atlanta team," spare a thought for those six. They bucked a fairly raging trend.

And if you're asking me who I'm picking, the answer is ... nobody. I've stopped trying to guess where postseason baseball is concerned. I believe -- and have written as much, many times now -- that the playoffs defy both logic and prediction. Maybe you think that not making a call renders me a chicken. If so, then at least I'm a reasonable chicken. I've stopped trying to pretend I know what's unknowable.

(Oh, and lest you think this is only an ESPN thing, not one of CBS Sports' baseball mavens picked the Braves over the Dodgers.)

From myajc.com, our premium site: Dodgers will be tough to beat, but they're not unbeatable.

Also from myajc.com: The Uptons haven't fully delivered yet, but there's time.