MLB Playoff Preview

I love the opening rounds of the MLB Playoffs. With games today at 3, 6:30, and 10, I have a full day of baseball watching ahead of me. Sure, you can argue that the MLB doesn't do a lot of things right, but there's nothing like a healthy does of playoff sports to give you that little extra boost on hump day to carry you through towards the weekend. What follows are some of my ramblings, observations, and yes, picks, for each of the four LDS series. I'll be doing these one series at a time in order to squeeze them all in before each series kicks off, so check back later if all four series picks aren't up yet.


Phillies - Rockies

Biggest Storyline - Momentum: In the match-up of "who's hotter?" the Rockies have the edge. Winners of 14 of their last 15, including the last in such dramatic - and controversial - fashion, no team enters these playoffs on as much of a high as the Rockies do. If any team can come close, though, it's the Phillies, who also enter on something of a roll themselves, having rallied from down 7 games in September to win the division, a feat matched by only two other teams since 1900.

Prediction: Phillies in 5


Red Sox - Angels

Biggest Storyline - ? I can't think of what the big story will be here. The Red Sox weren't stellar down the stretch, but still took the AL East. For me, this series boils down to which team's big three will have the better starts. Can the Angels' pair of Cy Young contenders (John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar) join with Jered Weaver to outperform the likes of fellow Cy contender Josh Beckett, former post-season hero Curt Schilling, and post-season rookie Dice-K?

Prediction: Angels in 4


Cubs - Diamondbacks

Biggest Storyline - 1908: Whenever the Cubs are involved in a playoff series, the focus will inevitably turn at some point to the longest championship drought in major sport history. At some point during the series we'll hear the obligatory "will this be the year for the Cubbies?" references. The further the Cubs advance, the greater the saturation of 1908 comments will be. I'll put the over-under on these at 5 1/2 for game one tonight. If they were to make it to the World Series, that number would be something like 1,452 1/2. This isn't to say that there aren't other story lines here, just that the Cubs perpetual ineptitude will overshadow them all.

Prediction: Cubs in 4