The Yankees won the title this past Wednesday night, so the media has been less inclined to criticize or ignore baseball than usual of late. They’re also more likely to wrap the season up for 48 or 72 hours (instead of 24 or fewer) before moving 100% into football, instead of the 95% coverage the NFL has enjoyed since September.

But during the MLB playoffs, I did hear, nationally and locally, on TV, radio, and the blogs, that the postseason “lacked.” While it’s true no series went the distance, close to half of the 30 total games played went down the last  inning or even the final batter. The media’s consensus could not be more incorrect; this was a GREAT postseason overall.

Let’s take a look at the best games, in no particular order:

Game 3 ALDS: Anaheim at Boston

The Angels finally overcome a two-decade nightmare versus Boston by sweeping them in comeback fashion at Fenway: with three runs after two were out in the 9th, off a closer who’d never blown a postseason save.

Game 2 ALDS: Minnesota at New York

A-rod finally “gains his stripes” with a two run homer off Joe Nathan to tie the game in the 9th, then Mark Teixeira, in one of his few big hits during a subpar postseason, hits a walk-off to left in the 11th.

Game 4 NLDS: Philadelphia at Colorado

The Phillies close out the series with three in the 9th off Rockies’ closer Houston Street. This after the maligned bullpen blows a 2-1 8th inning lead, and the series looks destined to return to Philadelphia for a deciding fifth game.

Game 2 NLDS: Saint Louis at Los Angeles

Favored Cardinals are one out from tying the series on its way back to Saint Louis when Matt Holliday drops a fairly-routine fly ball, paving the way for an improbable Dodger rally off closer Ryan Franklin, capped by a walk-off single by seldom-used veteran Mark Loretta.

Game 4 NLCS: Los Angeles at Philadelphia

Dodgers are one out from a 2-2 series tie with pivotal game five on the horizon. However, Jimmy Rollins — who had a terrible postseason otherwise and was cocky to boot — splits the right centerfield gap to score two runs, giving the Phils a 3-1 series lead. They cruise in Game 5 to the pennant.

Games 2, 3 and 5 ALCS: Anaheim vs. New York

Game 2 saw Anaheim boot the ball all over the park, and blow an 11th inning lead, eventually losing in the 13th on an error in judgment by their second baseman. Rodriguez again hits a game-tying homerun to save the day for New York, this time in the 11th with two outs. Anaheim avoids pitching to him the rest of the series in close games.

In Game 3, Anaheim comes back from desperation down 3-0, ties the game, then after some questionable managerial moves by Joe Girardi, wins it on an 11th inning walk-off by their hot-hitting back-up catcher. (.533 in the playoffs)

Game 5 witnesses an early 4-0 Angels lead, then a six-run Yankee 7th as the Pinstripers move to within nine outs of the AL pennant. But Anaheim pieces together three clutch runs in the bottom of the frame, then holds on through a bases loaded, two out, full count at bat in the ninth. A spectacular game.

Game 4 World Series: New York at Philadelphia

A series changer. Phils comeback with a run in the 7th and 8th to tie Yanks, then Brad Lidge gets two quick outs in the 9th as Philadelphia looks toward the bottom of the 9th and a potential 2-2 series. Yet, down to his last strike, Johnny Damon singles, then Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada get back-to-back run-scoring doubles. New York puts a 3-1 stranglehold on the series as they move toward their 27th world title.

Honorable mention: Games 2 and 3 Philadelphia vs. Colorado; Game 2 Philadelphia at Los Angeles; Game 5 New York at Philadelphia.

And the best game, of course, was not a playoff game, but rather the “play-in” game on October 6 between Detroit and Minnesota. A classic if I ever saw one.

There will not be a freeway series this year in baseball, nor will there be a cross-country coastal series. There will be an “Amtrak” Series, however.

And hopefully the Phils and Yanks will travel like The Babe did in the old days when they commute back and forth over the next week or so in the Fall Classic.

By virtue of a clutch game 4 win that gave them series control and an eventual second consecutive NL pennant, the Philadelphia Phillies will take on the New York Yankees, fresh off another close victory and series win over the gutsy Anaheim Angels.

Before we get into previewing the 2009 World Series between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, here is a quick look at the TV schedule and probable pitching matchups (which we will update as more information becomes available).

Yankees-Phillies 2009 World Series TV Schedule and Probable Pitching Matchups

While the Phils waited nearly 100 hours to see who they’d face from the AL, New York was busy capitalizing on Angel miscues again (while leaving busloads of runners on base) to take the AL pennant early Monday morning before a hungry crowd at the new Yankee Stadium.

Do we have the two best teams in baseball playing for the world title for perhaps the first time since 2004? Some would argue yes; I might argue no (Chicago and Houston were darn good in 2005, but since they did not play on the east coast, the media would not admit it; the Rays and Phils were arguably the two best in 2008, but Tampa is not Boston nor New York).

In any event, Clifton Phifer Lee and ALCS MVP Carsten Charles Sabathia take the hill Wednesday night to kick of the 124th World Series.

(It’s very sad for an Indian fan such as myself to see the two starting pitchers in the World Series opener be ex-Cleveland hurlers… and the past two Cy Young winners! Even Yahoo Sports, in one of their previews, noted this is “a match up that only a Clevelander could hate.” They then went further with that analysis. Indeed, my wife and I saw Lee and Sabathia pitch in person FOR the Indians back-to-back nights just 16 months ago in Cleveland.)

Reading the New York papers the past two mornings, you’d think the Phillies should not even show up. Long-time NY sportswriter and all around know-it-all, Mike Lupica, has pretty much guaranteed a Yankee victory parade, while all is forgiven of Alex Rodriguez, who plays in his first Fall Classic. Monday’s huge New York Daily News headline deliriously blasted “World is right again” — with the Yanks back as AL Champs.

Aside from the ignorant hyperbole, not all baseball fans are thrilled (in fact, probably the majority) the Yankees will play in the Series. And it’s not their players or even their payroll, but often the unchecked egos of their fans and media, most of whom I know didn’t watch the playoffs the past eight seasons once the Pinstripers were eliminated.

“I am a Yankee fan, not a baseball fan,” one New York friend emailed me last night. Another temporarily blocked my emails when I questioned Joe Girardi’s moves in Game 3. Even the venerable “Paper of Record,” rarely known for their detailed sports takes, has deemed the past few Yankee-less World Series as “clunkers.”

The great fans of Boston, Chicago, Saint Louis, Detroit and Philadelphia might disagree.

Philly fans, who can be abrasive, are now suddenly the underdog for the first time in awhile, despite being the experienced, defending champs. They’re “excited” about this opportunity. But since they were champs last year, shouldn’t the Yankees be “excited” too, or even more ecstatic, since so many of them have never played on the grandest stage? No, they’re the Yankees; they “belong” here. They’re now the sentimental favorite, apparently. A New York-centric view of the world indeed.

One Phillie fan I know, wrote me s such:

“For a team that hasn’t won a World Series in the last nine seasons, they are awfully entitled, thanks to ESPN, SI, etc., constantly declaring them as champions at the start of every year.”

But I truly digress…and apologize.

The Yanks were, in many ways, given games 1, 2 and 6 at home versus the Angels. Their only clutch hit with men on base during Sunday’s clincher was Johnny Damon’s 4th inning single, while overall, aside from the 7th inning of game 5 and throughout game 4’s drubbing, the Yanks relied on homeruns for their offense, mostly solo shots.

Again, give them credit for pouncing on their opponents’ mistakes, but it was sad for any baseball fan to see the Angels implode, considering Anaheim had the best defensive season in franchise history during 2009. The Phils are good defensively too, and will want to avoid those shortcomings, hoping, among much else, that Chase Utley ceases turning the double play like Chuck Knoblauch or Steve Sax.

Old adages and history often tell us that good pitching beats good hitting. And though these teams have no doubt pitched well, they also have the best hitting lineups in baseball, so as usual, the clichés may work oppositely.

Philadelphia has a deeper starting rotation, but is it actually better than New York’s top three?

The Phils, overall, have better position players than the Yanks, especially in the outfield; they have an AL-style lineup, while New York, despite immense power and payroll, played small-ball to beat the Angels in at least two ALCS games. This World Series will probably come down pitching, especially with men on base — like most playoff short series do — but a few key decisions must be made:

• Does New York plan to use Sabathia on three days rest twice (if necessary)? Or will Chad Gaudin, who’s thrown one meaningless inning this postseason, pitch in game 4?
• Is Charlie Manuel right to throw Pedro Martinez in game 2? And is he doing this more to shelter 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels from the Bronx crowd?  Or because he has a hunch about this being a “special” October for Martinez, who knows New York’s hostile atmosphere very well? If the former, how confident can “Jolly Cholly” be if Hamels has to start a game 6 or 7 in NY? Hamels is a key — perhaps THE key — to the outcome of this series. Period.
• Despite Jorge Posada’s one RBI in the ALCS and ten LOB in game 6, is Joe Girardi still going to have Jose Molina catch instead of Posada, and thus have two near-automatic outs in the lineup?
• Is Philly considering Cliff Lee on three days rest for game 4, or do they have confidence in Joe Blanton/J.A. Happ?
• Will it greatly hurt the Yankee offense when they sit Hideki Matsui in Philadelphia? And assuming the Phils DH Raul Ibanez in New York, how much of a lift will putting Ben Francisco and/or Greg Dobbs in the lineup give the NL champs?
• With respect to bullpens, while Philly’s was better than expected in the NLCS, sans Game 2, the Yankees, especially Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain ,were still subpar. Of course, Mariano Rivera was solid, if not spectacular, sans the 8th inning Game 6. Brad Lidge was Rivera in 2008, but this is 2009.

The storylines are splendid, and the two skippers as different as night and day. In the end, will the Yanks hang banner number 27, or will Philly become the first NL squad to win consecutive titles in 33 years?

To me, the first two games should answer those ultimate questions. Therefore my prediction is that if New York takes a 2-0 lead, it’s over. But if Philly can steal one in The Bronx — i.e. if AJ Burnett comes out flat — I’ll take the Phils, perhaps in as few as five games. At least this series will draw huge TV ratings. They’ve already been through the roof this postseason, in spite of all the unnecessary days off between and during series.

Last thought: where would the Yankees be without the capital to acquire Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and Burnett, three of the five main keys to their success in 2009, and two-thirds of their starting pitching rotation? The third being Andy Pettitte, who, without steroids, would have retired by now.

By the same token, where would the Phillies be without Cliff Lee and Raul Ibanez? Even I, regularly reticent to utilize such banalities, cannot ignore the “rich getting richer.”

**********

* – C.C. Sabathia photo credit: AP via Newsday

* – Cliff Lee photo credit: The Zo Zone

[Writers's Note: As someone raised in southern California who attended dozens of Angels games during his college years, including two playoff games in 2002, I will refer to the Angels' city as Anaheim, not Los Angeles nor "Los Angeles of Anaheim."]

No doubt we have the two best teams in the AL — perhaps in baseball — playing for the American League pennant.

The New York Yankees surpassed 100 wins this season and reclaimed the AL East as their own. The Anaheim Angels continued their dominance of the AL West with another 90+ win season and division title.

Fans should be ecstatic to see this quality matchup.

It also presents many story lines.

[Editor's note: Before we get to the storylines, listen to AJ's appearance on the MSF podcast previewing the ALCS and NLCS. Below you will also find info regarding how the Yankees and Angels fared this season, plus the TV schedule, and probable pitching matchups.]

Midwest Sports Talk Podcast: ALCS & NLCS Preview

2009 ALCS: New York Yankees v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

• Yankees-Angels season series: 5-5
• Regular season records: Yankees 103-59 | Angels 97-65
• Regular season run differential: Yankees +162 | Angels +122
• Official Websites: New York Yankees | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• StubHub: Yankees-Angels ALCS Tickets as low as $102 (for games in New York)
• RazorGator: Yankees-Angels ALCS Tickets
• TickCo: Yankees-Angels ALCS Tickets Save $10 on Orders of $150 or More at TickCo (code = Minus10)

Yankees-Angels ALCS TV Schedule and Pitching Matchups

Yankees-Angels ALCS Preview and Analysis

In the Division Series, both teams exorcised demons of various kinds. It’s well-known that the Angels had never beaten the Red Sox in the postseason, and had seen their season end at Boston’s hands the past two Octobers and three of the last five. That Anaheim took Boston in sweeping fashion, in come-from-behind-style at Fenway for the clincher, after dominating in California, was perfect.

The Yankees had owned the Twins in postseason play this decade. However, in terms of a hurdle somewhat akin to Anaheim’s, you’d never know with all the media praise and accolades, that New York had not won a postseason series since 2004 before Sunday’s win.

That was their hurdle, folks. And it just might be a stat worth nothing, but ESPN, TBS and MLB.com passed, at least as far as I heard.

In any event, nearly half of baseball (14 of 30 teams, by my count — so much for lack of parity;  see one-third of the 2009 NFL teams being awful for that) had won a postseason series since the Yanks last did, versus Minnesota five years ago, nonetheless.

I’m not discounting the triumph, New  York’s good starting pitching, or A-rod’s recrudescence, but the Yanks have not won a postseason series from someone other than the Twins since the 2003 miracle versus Boston. The Angels are not the Twins. While Minnesota is arguably the 6th or 7th best team in the stacked AL, Anaheim is at worst second best to NY this year, better in the minds of many.

Minnesota, thanks to bullpen implosions, base-running blunders and one horrible umpiring call in the left field corner, gave the Yanks Game Two and conceivably lost a winnable Game Three due to similar mishaps. While the Yanks starting pitching was better than expected, they fell behind in all three games against a team whose lineup is full of guys making less than a million bucks that few outside of baseball know (and a batting champ).

Additionally, New York needed late homers to tie Games Two and Three; so, since no one else is telling the truth, the Yankees did little to impress (me) aside from AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte and Rodriguez. C.C. Sabathia, who will pitch Game One Friday night in the Bronx, was good, but this workhorse also could not get through the 7th. The team hit just .225. The usually tough NYC media hardly noticed, ebullient in praise and platitudes, as if this were a Barack Obama speech.

Will C.C. survive against his next, much tougher foe? Considering the love he’s receiving (nearly 65% agree he should start Games 1, 4 and 7), I am apparently insane, but his eight hits allowed over 6.2 laborious innings versus a team that was half-asleep did not impress me.

Now New York is, at time of this publication, toying with the idea of using the big guy (along with Burnett and Pettitte) in a three-man rotation. While heavy rain and cold may make this moot, there are historic pros and cons to such a move.

Again, I’d add, since no one else will, that Sabathia has allowed 16 hits in his last 9.1 innings pitched, with 11 runs allowed, six earned. Statistically, he’s not exactly hitting his stride, but local observers, ignore this, and feel he’s at his peak?

Factually, Sabathia was 0-2 with an ERA over six against the Angels this season. His career ERA vs. Anaheim is close to five and he’s lost seven of 12 decisions.

{A local talk host here in Indianapolis, who hails from the northeast and is a confessed Yankee fan was quite honest Tuesday afternoon. He claimed ESPN, which thankfully is not televising playoff games anymore, is so biased, so pathetically pro-Boston and New York, that it will be “unbearable” to watch their pro-Yankee analysis the next week or two. Just a heads up.}

The crux of the matter heading into Friday, for me, is this:

Rarely, if ever, in my 25 years watching baseball have I witnessed a team facing an easier postseason matchup than the Yanks in Round One.

Minnesota was a .500 team through mid-September; they were playing without their second best player (the 2006 AL MVP), and their top starter did not pitch at all since they used him during last Tuesday’s play-in marathon. The Twins had to play that five hour thriller just to get into the playoffs, then, due to a scheduling quirk, fly to New York, arriving about 12 hours before Game One with a rookie pitcher going.

Yet, Minnesota still somehow managed to take a 2-0 lead in that tilt, then fatigue set in, during the only game they lost semi-convincingly. The Yanks, hungry and rested, took on a team they regularly handle (and did so seven times in 2009), while the Twins’ franchise had lost four (now five) playoff series in a row and now eight straight playoff home games.

Most startlingly, the Yanks trailed in every game, and needed last at bat heroics, poor Twin base running, bullpen implosions and an all-time terrible umpiring call to eke out Game Two at home, and in many ways, needed some of the same in Game Three. Were the Twins just happy to be in? Perhaps, but the Yankees could not have had a worse prep for the powerful Angels.

While playing the Twinkies gave New York no favors, playing Boston primed the Angels. I surmise Yankee Nation was so desperate to finally win a playoff series that they overlooked how simple this first task should’ve been in 2009.

The Angels stellar offense features high-priced talent, patient hitters like motivated ex-Yankee Bobby Abreu and other veteran leadership. Anaheim also has top notch managing, camaraderie, clutch players, and much else. They will be more than formidable. The Angels were vulnerable in April and May, reeling from the loss of a young teammate, three major starting pitching injuries and a hot Texas Ranger team. They stymied that, and succeeded, as good teams do. Down to their last strike versus Boston, this very complete, mostly homegrown team, could’ve packed it in and awaited Game 4; they did not.

In terms of nuts and bolts, both teams are very deep hitting-wise. The Yanks have more power, while the Halos showcase more reliable guys who can put the ball in play and set the table for the power men and especially steal bases, which will be key. The Yanks have three guys who pitched solidly in round one, but that was against the Twins crew, not Anaheim’s lineup of .300 hitters.

Though the Yanks fancy a three-man rotation, I should still note that New York’s fourth starter is a major question mark. Joba Chamberlain looked passable in brief work, while Phil Hughes was awful in two of three appearances. Mariano Rivera was ultimately Mariano Rivera success-wise, yet allowed four hits in three innings pitched. Surely he’s  superior to Angel closer Brain Fuentes, though Brian sailed through the division series, especially at Fenway when he was needed most.

The Angels might be concerned with the ineffectiveness of Scott Kazmir , while Joe Saunders, winner of 16 games in 2009 and scheduled to pitch Game Four in Boston, will now go in Game Two on the road. Both could factor in positively against the left-handed-dominated Yankee lineup. Anaheim is wise to one lefty Saunders at New York to neutralize the Yanks’ left-handed power at the lefty-friendly Yankee Stadium.

Jered Weaver and John Lackey are obviously a tremendous one-two punch no matter where they throw. Lackey is experienced, clutch and confident. The big Texan will oppose Sabathia in the opener Friday night; Weaver will throw in Game Three back home, with Kazmir to follow. Anaheim has serious starting pitching depth.

I confess looking to prior series in order to analyze the upcoming one can be futile, especially when baseball is the most unpredictable of all sports, therefore one must look at how the Yanks won 103 games this season and the Angels 97. Both teams are very, very good. There are numerous storylines, of course, but consider these stats:

The teams split ten games in the regular season, though the Yanks won three of the last four.

New York is 63-73 vs. Angels since 1996, playing especially poor in Orange County. The Yankee team ERA is five during that stretch.

And while it’s well-known that the Yanks were eliminated in 2002 and 2005 by Anaheim, some forget they beat the Angels in the opening game during both of those five-game series.  The Angels won’t fear playing or falling behind on New York’s big stage, as they tied the Phillies for most road wins in 2009, with 48 triumphs in 81 tries.

So far, as the sheltered NY media is wont to do, they have paid lip service to Anaheim’s dominance of the Pinstripers. Aside from a short Thursday morning assessment in the Daily News, even when they try to make serious lists of why the Yanks will take the series, they come off cliché and silly. (To be fair, so have the Angels writers.)They do so at their own (team’s) ”peril.”

I prefer not to make predictions, but as you can see, I have a hunch here about one “special” team. And though I’m disinclined to guess how grown men will perform on an athletic field, especially baseball, as you can see last week, unlike most in the east/midwest, I was confident in the Halos handling Boston. If the Angels perform to their potential, a Freeway Series may indeed beckon in 2009.  Heck, John Wooden hopes so. Can’t go wrong with the birthday boy.

The crisp fall air, the drama of a one-on-one matchup between hitter and pitcher — ahhh, you have to love it.

Time to preview the National League Championship Series, which features a rematch of last year’s NLCS between the Phillies and Dodgers.

[Editor's note: Before we get to the pertinent betting info, listen to AJ Kaufman's appearance on the MSF podcast previewing the ALCS and NLCS.]

Midwest Sports Talk Podcast: ALCS & NLCS Preview

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Best-of-seven series starts Thursday, October 15, 8:07 p.m. ET

Sportsbook odds: Phillies +105, Dodgers -125

The Phillies may have baseball’s deepest roster in every regard.

Amazingly, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, Jayson Werth and Jimmy Rollins gave the City of Brotherly love four of the NL’s top 15 home-run leaders this year. There are simply no easy outs in the lineup and, as Werth and Howard showed the Colorado Rockies, almost every batter is a game-changing hit waiting to happen.

Worse yet for the opposition, speedy Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino are usually on base when the big guys connect on a fastball.

The Phillies also have virtually unparalleled rotation depth. Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels give them a potent one-two punch but J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton are no slouches. If Philly needs a fifth starter, they have some guy named Pedro.

The Dodgers counter with a ragtag group.

Clayton Kershaw is outstanding but Randy Wolf is due to lay an egg after a remarkably consistent season. How much fairy dust does Vicente Padilla have left? He seemed finished before the Dodgers snagged him from the depths of hell in the summer and he hasn’t lost since. Whereas the Dodgers have to hope their overachievers will keep overachieving, the Phillies have reliable arms.

Offensively, the Dodgers’ lineup is nothing to sneeze at either; Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez have a knack for clutch hits and Matt Kemp was a legit MVP candidate this season. Still, as good as the Dodger bats are, they can’t quite match the Phillies’ potent group.

The bullpen was a concern for the Phillies in the regular season, with Brad Lidge sporting an astronomical ERA and looking nothing like his champion self of a year ago. He quieted concerns with a two-save performance in the NLDS, so the Phillies may be OK in that regard, but they can’t hold a candle to the Dodgers’ pen. Los Angeles has strikeout machine Jonathan Broxton and reliable setup man George Sherrill anchoring what was baseball’s best group of relievers this season.

While betting services experts are leaning toward the Dodgers, I’d be careful if I were you.

Think about it; they should’ve been tied 1-1 with St. Louis but Matt Holliday dropped the final out. They would’ve faced Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright again in Games 4 and 5 and easily could’ve lost the series. They’re a good team, but they got some luck in the NLDS and they’re depending on a shaky rotation. In a best-of-seven series, the deeper team should persevere.

MLB pick: Phillies

Apparently, this series was inevitable.

Neither the New York Yankees nor the Angels had any trouble disposing of their first round foes, the Twins and Red Sox, respectively.

It sets up a meeting between the AL’s two most consistent teams in 2009, and one that should be far more interesting than the ho-hum ALDS series that we just witnessed.

Here is your quick preview of the Yankees-Angels ALCS, with the TV schedule, pitching matchups, and some other resources for you:

2009 ALCS: New York Yankees v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

• Yankees-Angels season series: 5-5
• Regular season records: Yankees 103-59 | Angels 97-65
• Regular season run differential: Yankees +162 | Angels +122
• Official Websites: New York Yankees | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• StubHub: Yankees-Angels ALCS Tickets as low as $102 (for games in New York)
• RazorGator: Yankees-Angels ALCS Tickets
• TickCo: Yankees-Angels ALCS Tickets Save $10 on Orders of $150 or More at TickCo (code = Minus10)

Yankees-Angels ALCS TV Schedule and Pitching Matchups

While most know of the Dodgers’ struggles the past fortnight or so, they finished by winning their final two games. 

And though St. Louis had little to play for other than home field in round one, the Redbirds dropped eight of their final ten, mostly to teams now playing golf.

Thankfully, perhaps, they avoided the Rockies, who took six of seven from them in 2009, and instead get the Dodgers, who limp into the postseason, after being arguably the NL’s best squad most of the season.

Here is the TV schedule and the pitching matchups for the Cardinals-Dodgers NLDS series:

Cardinals-Dodgers LDS TV Schedule and Pitching Matchups

Before winning Saturday and Sunday — the latter a meaningless game which Colorado played back-ups — Los Angeles had lost five in a row, four of them to the Padres and Pirates.

The Dodgers have been a solid home team this season, but they dropped two of three at Chavez Ravine to STL in late August. The reason? Cy Young frontrunners Adam Wainwright and recently-minted Comeback Player of the Year Chris Carpenter, who foiled LA’s lumber during the regular season, on their way to 41 combined victories despite the latter missing five weeks (and six starts) in April/May.

Those two fellows stand as Saint Louis’ biggest strength in the series.

Hitting had been a strength of the Dodgers all season, but lately, while Manny Ramirez has not homered since mid-September (4 for 28 this year against STL with no homers), key role players like James Loney and especially Russell Martin, have scuffled of late. Andre Ethier, the Dodgers big stick on the left side, will need to capitalize against a Cardinal staff full of right-handers. One strength Los Angeles has, that does not get enough attention in postseason but really matters, is defense. There is no playoff team better defensively than the Dodgers.

With journeyman Randy Wolf assuming the role of “staff ace” in a game one start versus Carpenter to be followed by 21 year-old Clayton Kershaw against Wainwright, LA could have major issues trying to get this series back to LA, as STL is bound to win one of those, if not both. Right-handed sluggers like Pujols, Matt Holliday, Ryan Ludwick and Mark DeRosa — 116 homers between the four this year — will be salivating to see Wolf, who allowed a startling 23 home runs vs righties in 2009. Heck, 2002 NL MVP (and right-side slugger) Troy Glaus will probably start a game or two as well. Defensive stud and 2006 NLCS hero, Yadier Molina, willstart game one despite missing most of the season’s final week.

On the other hand, the Cards need to split at worst in LA (home field means very little in the postseason) as they have major issues in the 3-4 starter area, with struggling Joel Piniero , spotty Kyle Lohse and  42 year-old John Smoltz getting the balls this weekend.Blue-collar closer Ryan Franklin has become a major issue for the Cards after having a sensational first half.

The Dodgers’ ace in the hole is Chad Billingsley, who’s been hurting, but when healthy is their best pitcher.  His status is unknown. So is the back-end of the rotation, though there are quality candidates. LA’s bullpen, however, worked the third most innings in baseball during 2009; the Cards’ pen, the fewest in baseball. Then there’s the Red Birds’ ”ace” is known to many, and can be the difference in any series: Mr. Albert Pujols.

Gerry Farley of the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, explained why Saint Louisians should be confident:

“This is, by far, the better matchup for the Cardinals. The Dodgers lack a dominating starter. Their opening-game starter, lefthander Randy Wolf, is the bad-karma pitcher of the season. The Dodgers have nine blown saves behind Wolf, who has trouble getting beyond the sixth inning. Lefthander Clayton Kershaw allowed 4.79 walks per nine innings and also usually departs in the middle innings.”

There are many other great storylines in this one, and despite all the perceived mismatches, I could easily see it being the first division series since 2005 to go five games — and the only one to do so this season.

The Cardinals, arguably the “team of the decade,” at least in terms of consistent success, would like to add another deep run to their 21st century resume.

Yahoo Sports, which, for my money is far superior to ESPN.com, has done a great job with playoff synopses. St. Louis’ can be found here. A more local look at the NL Central champs is here. For more on the Dodgers, see here.

Not really, but again, does any of this matter once the game begins?

Here is the TV schedule and the pitching matchups for the Twins-Yankees ALDS series:

Twins-Yankees ALDS TV Schedule and Pitching Matchups

Sure, the Yankees could roll, since they’ll now avoid Twins ace Scott Baker until at least game three, probably drawing rookie left-hander Brian Duensing in game one. But it will be interesting to see how a poor playoff pitcher like CC Sabathia (note his terrible final start of the season in Tampa) performs, or an inexperienced playoff pitcher like AJ Burnett.  Andy Pettitte is Andy Pettitte, for better or worse, but if there’s a game four in this series or the next, Joba Chamberlain apparently cannot get through four innings, so there’s issues therein that will relegate him to the bullpen for at least the division series. Chris Singleton and John Kruk both said on Baseball Tonight last week that the Yanks cannot throw Joba as a starter, perhaps not even in the bullpen. Though that’s typical hyperbole from ESPN, that’s still not good for the Pinstripers. Calling Chad Gaudin?

There is a lot of pressure on the Yankees this October. And no, it’s not on Alex Rodriguez, for a change. Rather, the Yanks have not won the world title since 2000, and last won the AL pennant in 2003. Though they missed the postseason last year, New York fans I know are demanding and expecting a championship – so is their media – presuming they’ll at least quickly dispatch the Twins on their way. They probably also thought that in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Remember, the Yanks were supposed to rip a mediocre Detroit team in 2006. They lost in four. And while New York did beat Minnesota all seven times they met in 2009, four of them were by one run, and all were pre-All Star break, when Minnesota was buried in the standings.

There is zero pressure on the Twins. They’ve won 17 of their last 21, catching a Tiger team who had a seven game lead four weeks ago. Considering their miracles, if they win ONE game, people will applaud. Good luck, GI Joe; it’s David vs. Goliath, beginning in Gotham.

Yahoo’s Yankees synopsis here.

The Twins can be found here.

In an intriguing matchup of the last two NL pennant winners, many believe Colorado is the favorite in this series again, but seriously, the Phils are the defending champs, winners of 93 games, with a stacked lineup as good as any in baseball, and due to their huge attendance this year, the gross/money to rent proven hurlers like Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez to make a run at a repeat.

(Yes, Philly fans will angrily attack me for this as you did before, but you guys are nearly as “guilty” as the Yanks or Red Sox of acquiring key free agents to put you over the top — see Lidge, Brad in 2008, Ibanez, Raul this season as well as Werth, Jayson; Lee, Cliff; Martinez, Pedro, etc.)

Here is the TV schedule and the pitching matchups for the Rockies-Phillies LDS series:

Rockies-Phillies NLDS TV Schedule and Pitching Matchups

Harkening back to their magical 2007 run, the Rockies are quite dangerous, but I have major questions about their starting pitching. 

Jorge De La Rosa, their top winner, who pitched suspectly his last few starts, is now ruled out for the series. After he and Ubaldo Jimenez, the Rockies have the 20 million dollar duo of Aaron Cook and Jose Contreras, which shouldn’t exactly instill fear in the hearts of Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, Jimmy Rollins, Jay Werth and Ryan Howard. 

Philadelphia’s incredible lineup socked nine homers in six games vs Colorado this season as the Phils took four of six. They simply have unparalleled hitting depth. And while so do the Rockies, they hit lefties poorly, and Philly could throw lefties — including 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels – in the first three games, definitely the first two at home, beginning with Cliff Lee. Colorado’s lineup, though perhaps not quite as impressive on paper, is still not to be underestimated.

In 2007, the Phils were guilty of that, and judging by their media “introducing” its fan base to Colorado as if they’re some unknown entity, we should hope this is not true again. I doubt it is. The Phils have an Appalachian skipper who is the antithesis of the sheltered northeastern baseball fan that only follow his team and its immediate rivals, and that is a very good thing. The calmness and lack of capriciousness from Charlie Manuel is the best thing to happen to Philadelphia baseball in eons.

And while few will deny the Phillies’ shaky bullpen will be the talk of their postseason, Colorado’s 4.53 bullpen ERA is worst among the eight playoff teams, despite the solid work of Houston Street. Big Ryan Madson or whomever closes in lieu of Brad Lidge , need not be a panacea, but he must be extremely effective if the Phils are to repeat, considering Lidge was literally perfect in 2008.

Two Octobers ago, the Rockies waltzed into Citizens Bank Yard and pummelled the shocked Phillies two afternoons in a row. This year’s version is 74-42 under Jim Tracy, as they arrive in the postseason as the NL’s hottest team. But this 2009 Philly team proved last year they learned from that. They’re not out for revenge, which is always preferred.

For more on the Rockies, go here.

The Phillies blueprint can be located here.

For the third year in a row, and fourth out of six, they draw Boston, who, each time, has ended their season.

LA/Anaheim has won the AL West five of the past six seasons, but have yet to return to the World Series (they won in 2002 as aWild Card). The Angels have won 89 or more games for six years running, have captured three straight division crowns , and, unlike their opponents, three-quarters of their roster is homegrown. 

That’s some fascinating or troubling history, depending upon which side your allegiance falls.

Here is the TV schedule and the pitching matchups for the Angels-Red Sox ALDS series:

Angels-Red Sox ALDS TV Schedule and Pitching Matchups

While the Red Sox have been up and down the second half of the year, the Angels played .600 ball in putting away a solid Rangers team that did not finally fade until mid-September. They can hit, field, pitch and certainly run, which they’ll do versus a Boston team that cannot stop the run (to use a football analogy). Also consider mid-season acquisition Scott Kazmir, noted “Red Sox” killer who goes at Fenway in Game 3, has an ERA around two since joining the Angels.

While in years past, it was the Angels who came into October banged up and with question marks, this time it’s Boston, who though as talented as anyone, has many mysteries (Varitek, Ortiz, Lester’s health, Buchholz, Papelbon’s stamina and hype, even Beckett). So, if the Angels can win the first two in California, they’ll be set to exorcise those demons. If they can just split, it’ll be better than 2007 or 2008. Either way, every team must climb that hurdle: Boston over the Yanks, the Bulls over the Pistons in the late 80s NBA and so on.

Boston played poorly the last ten days of the season, dropping six in a row at one point. They were also under .500 on the road this season (39-42), while Anaheim was equally as strong on the road as at home.  While both teams have deeper starting staffs than the other two AL participants, the BoSox probably have a better staff as well as postseason’s best bullpen, including Daisuke Matsuzaka and guys you’ve likely never heard of. On the flip, Angels’ closer Brian Fuentes pitched poorly against Boston (8.10 ERA). The Angels though, are truly blessed with depth and versatility. Cuban defector Kendri Morales has a great story and should also be third in AL MVP voting for 2009. About a month ago, they put a lineup on the field in Toronto where every hitter, one through nine, was hitting over .300. The Angels have as good a shot as ever, are confident, and for one sentimental reason, they’re motivated in 2009.

Angels preview here.
Red Sawx here.

On Wednesday afternoon, the postseason finally gets underway just as crisp weather spreads through the Midwest. After a semi-lackluster September ended another memorable campaign, the final few days were intense, especially in the AL Central, where we enjoyed a four and a half hour Tuesday night “play-in” classic that had everything a sports fan could desire.

To me, 2009 does not give a clear favorite for the title.

No, the Yankees, despite their 103  wins, are not a shoo-in. They have not won a playoff series since 2004; therefore, no matter their lineup, they need to prove it in October 2009.

I should elaborate that NO ONE can predict baseball, especially at playoff time, and that’s the beauty. History has proven that anything can happen, and unlike other sports with crooked, homecooked officiating (NBA, NHL), umpires RARELY decide a baseball playoff game.

Also dissimilar to the NBA, where the team with the most superstars usually wins, between pitching, the mental aspects of the game, and other variables, we have no idea what will occur in the coming weeks. Often the teams playing the worst coming in, succeed in the end. Momentum can mean very little. Just look at Octobers past.

Therefore, these are previews, sans prognostications.

Football is on hiatus for a few days, so turn your sports attention to October baseball. If Tuesday night’s four hour festivities were any indication, it’ll be magical as always.

I will return with LCS previews on the 14th but for now, LDS previews, which will be coming one-by-one this evening and linked below as posted:

• Cardinals-Dodgers LDS Preview, TV Schedule, and Pitching Matchups
• Rockies-Phillies LDS Preview, TV Schedule, and Pitching Matchups
• Red Sox-Angels LDS Preview, TV Schedule, and Pitching Matchups
• Twins-Yankees LDS Preview, TV Schedule, and Pitching Matchups

 Now, related but not germane to the preview, some ancillary points worth noting:

1. Yes, the playoffs will undoubtedly run into November this year, so be ready for baseball-hating pundits to note this (and other misleading claims) angrily. Then remember that baseball has the shortest postseason of the four major sports, with round one being just a paltry three out of five. Ask the Yankees (2002, 2005-2007), the Angels (2004, 2007-2008) and the Cubs of 2007-2008 about how quick October can end. I say make it best of seven, and if necessary, shorten the season back to 154 games.

1a. The bulk of playoff games will start BEFORE 8pm, all of them once we hit the LCS and World Series. That’s good for those of us in the eastern time zone. Major League Baseball has even been sagacious enough to start the west coast LDS games by 9:30pm eastern time, rather than 10 or 10:30pm. All NFL primetime games start AFTER 8:30pm, yet no one complains.

2. Despite what the “competitive balance” pundits say, baseball has had 14 different teams in the World Series this decade, while pro football has had 13, pro basketball just ten. (Only the Red Sox (2), Cardinals (2) and Yankees (3) have played in multiple Fall Classics this decade. The “greedy” Yankees have not been there in six seasons. Small market Tampa and Colorado have. Miniscule payroll Minnesota has won (or tied) their division title SIX times this decade!) The last four World Series have seen eight different teams participate in them.

So, while cries of “what about Pittsburgh and Kansas City” may reign from your baseball-hating friends stuck in 1994 or from ESPN, there’s not much weight behind it anymore in terms of those stats…though I will confess that fans in Philadelphia, New York, Boston and both Los Angeles clubs should realize their teams’ annual playoff appearances are aided by their immense payrolls.

Let’s also acknowledge that over a mentally grueling 162 games, the cream should rise to the crop. The NBA has some really, really bad teams each season in just half that amount of games. But no, in 2007, baseball had NO teams play below .400 ball; and no one played .600 ball. That is remarkable. In 2008, just two teams played .600 ball, with just three playing under .400 ball. And in 2009, since the Orioles used some old “Magic,” ONLY the Nationals, who by the way won their final seven contests, lost 100 games, while only the Yanks won 100. One team played .600 ball and just three played under .400 ball (two barely). And heck, the Nats also took two of three from the Yankees in New York back in mid-June. The Pirates, second worst in the NL, took three of four from the Dodgers (best in NL) just last week. This does not happen in other sports.

Recall the NFL, as of now in 2009, has seven or eight REALLY BAD teams. How many does baseball have? Three or four max.

3. Despite all this, baseball is still very popular. Consider all the negative attention (steroids, competitive balance, lack of coverage in comparison to football or basketball) and the variables against it (long season, weather, tenor of game in age of impatience, climax of season during NFL opening, etc), one might be amazed to know baseball broke attendance records each season from 2004 through 2007. 

With the Cubs winning a league leading 97 games during the regular season, and the White Sox season being extended by one game and into the playoffs, fans throughout the Windy City were given something to talk about all season long (a rarity in itself) at the watercooler or over lunch during the 182 or 183 game schedule.

Normally a Cubs season theoretically only lasts until the dog days of summer. This year has been a thrill in it’s own right, with the team basically going wire to wire before taking a seat to the Los Angeles Dodgers in yet another first round meltdown.

The White Sox bettered their cross town rivals by extending the regular season after defeating the Tigers in a makeup game and extending the season to play the Minnesota Twins again (for what seemed like the 10th time in a week). The Sox did manage to once again outplay the Cubs by winning at least one game against the upstart Tampa Bay Rays.

Both teams unfortunately have an early start in assessing their squads’ needs for another playoff run next season. The White Sox obviously have less pressure to repeat because after winning it all in 2005, the team is exempt and like every team that has won it all has a free pass for at least two more seasons (although White Sox fans still want to win NOW!!!!!).

Even though the Cubs futility has well surpassed any White Sox exploits the north siders look to have a team that can repeat year after year without any major improvements to the lineup. The only real concern for the Cubs is the Fukodome experiment (that seemed to fail miserably), and the erratic play of Ace (or Joker) Carlos Zambrano who has been on a roller coaster ride since the first day on the mound.

The Key focus should be on resigning Ryan Dempster to an infinite contract in the off season, and making sure that everyone else stands pat for the Cubs for the next several years.

The White Sox are another issue, they need to set their sights on an extension for pitcher John Danks, for as long as he wants to pitch for the South Siders. The next viable contract that the White Sox have to corral is to keep Jermaine Dye happy during the off season. Alexei Ramirez also has to remain in the infield for Ozzie Guillen who did another remarkable job this year.

Ozzie seems to be (and justifiably so) exempt from any firing squad that White Sox management has considered throughout the year because the Sox need him on the bench just as bad as reporters need him in the lockerroom for his one of a kind sound bites that he so willfully offers up during the course of a season.

[tags]chicago white sox, chicago, chicago cubs, baseball, mlb, mlb playoffs[/tags]

So I decided to wait until the morning, and as crushing as last night’s loss was, I still feel pretty positive about the White Sox. I certainly feel positive about this season. As I recall, most of the pundits were picking the White Sox to finish 3rd or 4th in the division. Cleveland and Detroit were the “it” teams in the offseason. Way to step it up Indians and Tigers. I remember talking with KVB at the start of the year, recalling how every time the White Sox are picked to do nothing we end up having a good season: 2000, 2005, 2008, just name a few seasons. With the additions of Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera I thought this team could be better. And it was, because we all remember how God-awful 2007 was.

And even though the White Sox flamed out in the first round, with a 1-3 series loss to the upstart Tampa Bay Rays, I consider this season to be resounding success. Here are three key reasons why:

1. We found some young pitchers to build around in Gavin Floyd and John Danks. Mark Buehrle is and will continue to be the ace of our pitching staff. Javier Vazquez? Who knows. He’s a good April-June pitcher, but the ‘ol sphincter starts to tighten once the games get more important and I’m just not sure we can trust him to win game games. I don’t know what the report is on Jose Contreras, but I certainly hope he is back healthy at some point next year. With question marks surrounding Javy and Jose Contreras, just think where we would be without the emergence of Gavin Floyd and John Danks. These two guys proved that they can be reliable starters over a 162-game season, and that they have the ability (although Gavin did not show it yesterday) to step in clutch situations. I feel good about Buehrle-Floyd-Danks topping our rotation moving forward. And I would not be shocked to see Clayton Richard in the rotation or pitching key relief innings next year. I like him, and he showed me a little something down the stretch and in the playoffs.
2. Carlos Quentin. The White Sox found their next superstar, and this guy was the runaway MVP if he doesn’t get hurt. I think the injury will give him extra motivation next year, and he’ll have another strong season. He’s young, he’s tough, he’s clutch, and he is just a solid all-around player. The South Side will continue to fall in love with this kid for years.
3. Alexei Ramirez. He will most likely be manning the shortstop next year, and proved that his success with the bat in Cuba could translate to the majors. I’d love to see his combination of speed and power higher up in the order, but he may be best served hitting 6th or 7th to drive in our slow boppers in the middle of the order. The negative is that they can clog the bases for Alexei. Either way, Alexei Ramirez is special and someone to build around.

(I know I said three reasons, but let me add more: Matt Thornton. He had a great season and provided stability to a sometimes shaky bullpen. I hope we lock him up longterm because worst-case-scenario he is a superb specialist to get lefties. The best and more probable case is that he is bridging the 8th inning gap to Bobby Jenks for the next few years).

You will notice a theme in all of the aforementioned reasons why I consider 2008 to be a successful season for the AL Central Champion Chicago White Sox: they are positive signs for the future. I think our franchise is set up pretty well to match or exceed this year’s success next season. We have a GM in Ken Williams who is committed to doing whatever it takes and taking smart chances (Danks for McCarthy, Floyd for Garcia, Quentin for peanuts, signing Alexei) to improve our team. We have a manager who is dynamic, more cunning and smart that people give him credit for, who can adjust his style to match his team, who has the respect of the veterans, and who has proven is ability already with a World Series title. We also have an owner in Jerry Reinsdorf who has proven he will step up to the plate and spend money to field a winning team. And, finally, with a solid stable of veterans who have at least 1-2 more years of solid play while bridging the gap to the future with young guys and newcomers over the next few seasons.

No doubt there will changes for the White Sox in 2009. Orlando Cabrera will likely be gone, as will Ken Griffey Jr. 2005 stalwarts and South Side veterans Joe Crede and Juan Uribe will probably be gone too. Javier Vazquez? I don’t know his contract situation be it seems to me that it would be hard for him to stay around with his last season failures and the lack of the confidence Ozzie has in him. And one can only hope that Boone Logan and Ehren Wasserman are no longer taking the ball and toeing the rubber at U.S. Cellular Field for the White Sox ever again. Nick Swisher’s role on next year’s team seems to be up in the air. Harold Reynolds made a good point yesterday about Swisher being an energy guy and a switch-hitter, and that this predisposes him to needing regular playing time to be effective. I agree. I’d love to see a role for Swish on next year’s team because he quickly became one of my favorites when he joined the team.

Who will be brought in? We shall see. Probably a speedy centerfielder who can hit a little bit. It will be interesting to see if guys like Chris Getz, Gordan Beckham, Josh Fields, Lance Broadway, etc step into regular roles at any point next year. And let’s not put it past Ken Williams to find a diamond in the rough somewhere along the way in the offseason that turns into a star. At this point last year, who would have thought that Carlos Quentin and Alexei Ramirez would be looked at as cornerstones for the future?

The 2008 season ended with a disappointing 6-2 whimper from the White Sox last night at U.S. Cellular Field, but it came on the heels of one of the most exciting 7-day stretches in the history of White Sox baseball. Let’s not lose sight of that Sox fans. The seasons is over, but it was a great and successful season that will result in some sort of banner or flag flying in U.S. Cellular Field forever proclaiming this team as 2008 AL Central Champions. In a season in which we supposed to finish 3rd, our best player was hurt for the final month of the season, our other All-Star was hurt and non-existent after the break, and in which we were completely one-dimensional offensively, being able to call yourself one of six division champions in baseball is nothing to take lightly.

Congratulations on a great 2008 White Sox. I am already looking forward to a successful 2009.

And Sox fans, even though today is rough, remember: at least you aren’t a Cubs fan!

[tags]chicago white sox, baseball, mlb[/tags]

It’s hard, when you get no love from your own squad. They barely make Sportscenter and the only thing other fans outside of the Bay say is, “Your team should be in AAA.” I spent my college years in Boston in a sea of Red Sox and Yankees who just laughed at me. It was an amusement, “Wait, are you a Rays’ fan?…..Wow, that’s….That sucks. HA! Man, didn’t think there were any Rays fans.” Well, we exist and we have feelings, thank you. It stung a lot when you got to see AL playoffs that you thought you would never, ever see. There was no tradition of winning, there was not a major Rays’ nation, we played in a dome! Knowing what I know about the Rays, home games and a childhood spent there seemed to pale in comparison to my friends who grew up in Yankee Stadium, Fenway, even Camden Yards. We were a laughing stock compared to the epic ALCS matchups of 2004, 2005. My team was hard to embrace in the face of some best baseball games ever played, games that I would never get to be a part of.

I got over it, I made trips to Fenway knowing I could see my team and get a ticket that wasn’t in high demand on the corner of Yawkey. I kept the talk of my allegiance to the top of my head and paid more attention to the news in baseball. I hate to say it like this, but I faded.

Growing up going to games at the Trop was easy, you could get in for 8 bucks and sit 8 rows above the dugout by the second inning. It was even more common because my pops worked for Tropicana. News of free corporate tickets would drift through email chains and my Dad would end up leaving a voice mail at home saying, “Just got four tickets to the Rays game on Saturday, who’s in? Don’t all jump at once.” I loved going, we would drink in the parking lot, buy beer with someone’s brothers’ fake ID, and eat dollar dogs. It was a great way to spend a lazy summer day. I loved my team, but I wanted to taste October.

When I moved to Chicago, I knew I couldn’t root for the Cubs, to me they stunk of the Red Sox and Yankees with fans who were spoiled by tradition and pride of any sort that I couldn’t find in any corner of the Trop. I felt comfortable with following the Sox. They were a team that I could relate to, that I lived near and was surrounded by constantly. You start to follow a team, simply by the city you live in and you grow on a squad. You go to games and you gotta’ cheer for someone, pick the local boys. So, I did. Got plenty of chances to games, went all the time as a baseball fan but the Cell grew on me. I liked that team, they seemed humble like my hometown boys. Especially, in the ’07 season.

I knew that there would only be so many games when I had to pick sides and never thought that it would be in a game that mattered. They never really did, until I went to the Rays series in August this year. The White Sox got tested and the Rays won the series in a commanding fashion. I watched with mixed emotion trying to make sense of it all. Who are you? Who is this team wearing blue and white? Where’s the Devil Rays of purple and green? The team who was a joke. The team who I wanted to break out since I was 11. Now, a decade later, you mean something? When I’ve started talking to another team.

I knew the Rays would win the division but wasn’t close enough to New England anymore to relish it like I would have. I got my digs in on the Yankees and loved dethroning the Red Sox. (I can’t wait till Red Sox fans piss and moan and, then, piss their spoiled ass pants, when the Rays win this ALCS. Fuck Brady. Fuck Papelbon. Fuck Paul Pierce.)

This was different. I like the White Sox. I went to the Twins playoff game alone cause I wanted to be a part of the Sox run. Knowing, full well, that a White Sox win would force a series start in Tampa Bay. What would I do? I waffled and rooted for the series to go deep, just to enjoy the ride. I couldn’t ask for something more fulfilling than to know that I had the luck of being happy with either team going to the playoffs. I felt a huge swell of pride, knowing that the Red Sox were the wildcard and the Twins had to go home.

But I was clearly torn. I stumbled through conversations about my colors during the series. I just changed the subject tried to explain my situation. My father wrote an accusatory text message from Tropicana Field during game 2, “Remember where you were Raysed, boy.” I was torn. I knew game one would go to the Rays and I was good there. Game two was understood, frustrating for the Sox fan in me because a sweep was on the horizon. We got over that hump Sunday and I was glad to know that a game 4 would be played Monday. After Upton’s homerun, though, I knew it was coming. This Rays team is good and we were on the ropes by the 4^th. Even though a number of my expletives expressed frustration with Sox hitting I walked away from the game thinking. Is my Crawford jersey clean? Cause I’m gonna fucking murder some Red Sox fans and lose my voice in bar, send obnoxious voicemails to all my spoiled college buddies wearing their Brady jersey and ’04 World Series hats. Then I’m gonna take a day off work and go see a World Series game in the Trop with my buddies who still live with their parents. Who can’t get excited for that opportunity?

Fairweather, traitor, bandwagon? Yeah, I get it, feel free to launch them all at me but I really don’t care because I’m in love with baseball, and right now, it loves me back.

Gene Wojciechowski who I assume is the Midwest reporter for EPSN.com, has written three such pieces about the Cubs since the playoffs began, compared to one each for the White Sox (who won a one-game playoff and three in a row to end the season) and the Brewers (who beat the Cubs to clinch on the last day). A piece for Outside The Lines, No Love Lost (also a great Joy Division song), has a link entitled “Share your misery, Cubs’ fans (although this was done before the playoffs).

“Cubs Misery Continues” – a piece on how one fan would not invest too much emotion into the Cubs after the 2003 season, which prompted him to write Wrigley Blues about the 2004 season, only to succumb to, yet again, another heartbreaking Cubs’ loss in both 2007 and 2008.

Let’s compare this to other long suffering franchises. The Cleveland Indians, next up on the drought at 59 years, were good for most of the 90s and made it to the ALCS last year. They went up 3 games to 1 on the Red Sox and eventually lost the series. THAT was heartbreaking. One win away from the World Series and then they coughed it up. But were there pieces, help groups and everything short of counseling for those long-suffering Indians fans? Nope.

Six years ago the San Francisco Giants made it to the World Series; they hadn’t won it all since they moved to San Fran in 1954 (53 years math majors!). They also were up, 3-2, with two games left in Anaheim. Then Scott Spiezio came up and golfed a ball into the stands, delighting the Rally Monkey and the Thundersticks. That reinvigorated the Angels, who then rallied to win the game 6, 6-5, and game 7 for the championship. Were there any gratuitous pictures of Giants fans with their heads hanging, or articles on how it’s been so hard to be a Giants fan? Not on this scope.

So let’s be objective here. The 2003 NLCS Cubs’ collapse was historic. Only five outs away. It deserved everything written about it; Bartman, however, did not (there were two big turning points in that series – Beckett’s game 5 complete game shut-out and Alex Gonzalez’s error). Heck, the other cursed franchise – not the White Sox (86 years at the time), you simpleton, the Red Sox (87 years) – were also five outs away from the World Series, only to be beaten by the hated New York Yankees. Sure, there was the same outpouring of grief that the Cubs got, but the Red Sox did something about it – they won it all the next year (and proceeded to become worse than Yankees fans).

OK, so we’ve gone continental. Let’s keep it local. Before 2005, the White Sox last made the playoffs in 2000. They promptly got swept by the Seattle Mariners in much the same way the Cubs did; lack of hitting, bad pitching, etc. They, like the Cubs, had the best record in their league and didn’t show up for the series. Were there any stories about how long it’s been since we last won? Fans perspective on what it’s like to suffer? Possibly, but as abundant as this. So the White Sox fans were rewarded with a 2005 World Series championship, the lowest rated World Series ever (as rated by Nielsen). Were there dedications, pontifications and heartfelt prose written on the White Sox? You bet your ass; they just won it all.

So now we get to the Cubs of 2008. NL-leading 97 wins. Dominant pitching staff. Excellent bench. Threatening order one through eight (sometimes even nine). Nine out of ten ESPN experts picked the Cubs to win the series; most commonly 3-1. Jayson Stark had them winning the World Series, beginning the piece by stating:

“Our friends from Chicago are already pleading with us not to write this column.

Sorry.

Our friends from Chicago think that if we pick the Cubs to win the World Series — heck, if anybody picks the Cubs, whether it’s an ESPN employee or the guy who changes their oil at the Express Lube — it guarantees, absolutely for sure, that it can’t possibly happen.

Sorry.

We’re doing it anyway. We’re predicting the Cubs will win the 2008 World Series.”

This, naturally, led to him picking the dream match-up of – whoa there, sparky, not an “L” White Sox-Cubs series – but the EPSN/MLB/Advertisers revenue dream pairing of the Red Sox and the Cubs.

As Stark so eloquently states, people from Chicago didn’t want this column written. He couldn’t be further from the truth. By getting so close to the World Series (i.e. making the playoffs) and losing, Cubs fans get to whine, complain, sulk, and write books about how it hurts so much to be a Cubs’ fan. It allows people like Rick Reilly, who is usually spot on with his skewering of sports culture, to make a list of unforgettable and unfunny predictions on how the Cubs could lose in the postseason this year. The man behind the “Cubs Misery Continues” column, William Wagner (special to SI.com, by the way), managed to milk those long suffering fans by writing his tome of the 2004 season, Wrigley Blues, which was inspired by the Cubs very close brush with simply making the 2003 World Series. He thought they were going to win it all the following year and he was to be the one to chronicle it; he was wrong and got rewarded with an engaging, unique perspective on what’s it like to be a suffering Cubs fan. Yeah, you and the countless millions who watched the Cubs follow Bozo the Clown on WGN throughout the 70s and 80s.

You may be asking, “Why are you bothering to read these articles?” Put simply – they’re funny. To see these people live, die and cry about and for the Cubs is a riot. You know what happened after the White Sox lost in the 2000 ALDS? I took a few jokes from Cubs’ fans about then winning more games in October than the Sox (1-0) and I moved on. I was optimistic about the 2001 season, but not to the point of following them to write a book about it (in fact, no one was).

Maybe Cubs fans should do the same.

[tags]chicago cubs, espn, mlb playoffs, curse[/tags]

The sweep was the Cub’s first since June 27-29 when they lost three straight games to their cross town rivals Chicago White Sox in Interleague play.

Ironically the Dodgers avenged an earlier sweep at the hands of the Cubs at the Friendly Confines back in May. The only difference is that the Dodgers are advancing to the National League Championship Series and the Cubs are looking to 2009 where they will hopefully find a way past the first round.

The Dodgers face the Phillies for the right to be called NL champs, with game one set for Thursday. The Dodger Blue return to the NL Championship round after a 20-year absence since the fatal blow by Kurt Gibson propelled them to the World Series in 1988.

The Fighting Phills return to the playoffs after 15 years of futility since the Phillies took centre stage in 1993 boasting a 97-65 mark. It was the only time in the 1990’s that the Phillies enjoyed a winning record making the best of it.

Since the Cub’s sweep of the Dodgers this season, first year manager Joe Torre has added slugger Manny Ramirez to the fold which has more than revamped a struggling lineup before the trade. The difference has been Night and Day for the struggling Dodgers.

Despite being one game out of the NL West race and one game below .500 and struggling for power due to injuries the Dodger Blue signed Ramirez just hours before the July 31^st deadline.

“If we didn’t have him, I don’t know what our chances would have been,” said third baseman Casey Blake, acquired five days earlier.

With Ramirez, the Dodgers went on an 18-5 tear to clinch the NL West and put Ramirez in the postseason for the 10th time in his illustrious career.

[tags]chicago cubs, los angeles dodgers, mlb, mlb playoffs, baseball, manny ramirez[/tags]