Finally...The Postseason!

After the long, stressful regular season, which drags on like a Bobby Abreu at bat, the postseason is finally here. The slate is clean. Everyone starts even and the possibilities are endless for each team.

So without further adieu, here are ten reasons why I love the postseason and my first round predictions

Things I love about the postseason:

1. Bunting draped around the ballpark and creeping shadows in the infield late in weekend day games.

2. No more drama regarding how many games up we are and if we can hold on and if the Yankees will catch us and what the Magic Number is.

3. Now every game REALLY means something, as opposed to our overreacting and obsessing over every one of the 162 regular season games.

4. Now Tito will manage every game as if it is life and death, which it is, just like we want him to manage EVERY game all year. No more resting Pedroia. No more Hinske, Kielty or Mirabelli. No more maddening lineup gyrations to help "get us where we need to be." We're already there. Just win baby.

5. Manny will actually play!

6. Now that we are in the postseason, we finally get to see ARod cool off.

7. No more Joe Morgan on ESPN to explain that a curve ball curves and a fast ball goes fast and a change up doesn't. "Now look at this. See right there." No more Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. (at least until the World Series, and if we make it that far, we can always turn down the sound.)

8. Later start times. (except for tomorrow night). Now I can actually watch the first inning instead of listening to it in the car on the way home from work. Of course the downside is a serious case of sleep deprivation when the OBP driven Sox stretch these playoff games to four hours and post midnight endings.

9. No more incessant babbling about the absurdly annoying gimmicks like President of Red Sox Nation, Wally the Green Monster and the shameless Huckster Remdawg pushing something off his web site every minute while we're trying to watch the game.

10. We are in the hunt for another World Series Championship!


And now, for the first round predictions.

Red Sox over the Angels. You always have to beware of a wounded animal (spirit?) and the Halos certainly are dinged up. Everyone always praises the Angels because the play "National League Ball". The problem is THEY'RE IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE! The key to beating them is to get ahead so they can bunt and steal themselves into submission while trailing by four runs. The Sox have had their number since 1986 (Thank you Hendu) and I see no reason for it to end now. Sox in four.

Indians over the Yankees. Maybe this is wishful thinking but the Yanks are not built for the post season. Matsui is going to have to DH so popgun arm Traitor Damon will have to play left and that puts Jason "Steroid Boy" Giambi at first or on the bench. That is a frightful defense. Plus in games one and two, the Indians have a distinct edge playing at home with Sabbathia and Carmona going. The Bombers have never faced C. C. this season and they saw Carmona only once. (beating him 6-1). Plus Steve Philips of ESPN made a great point about the two Indian aces. He said neither of them have to expand the strike zone to get hitters out. He said their stuff is so good, they can be over the plate and still get people out. So the Yankees ploy of working the count and building up pitch counts may be negated because Sabbathia and Carmona can go right after them. So if they come out of Cleveland down 2-0, they face the prospect of running out a shaky Mike Mussina or banged up Texas Conman Roger Clemens in game three. If they manage to win that one, they then will have to beat Sabbathia and Carmona to win the series. I think there is a real chance the Yankees could get beaten here, especially if AROD lays an ABOMB in the postseason again. Tribe in five.

Phillies over the Rockies. Two white hot teams colliding in what should be an outstanding series. The problem is that both of these teams have been pushing for the past two weeks just to make it here by the skin of their teeth and one of them is likely to hit the wall in this series. The betting here is that it is the Rockies who finally flame out. They had to play an extra game, and a 13 inning one at that, and used 27 pitchers to win it. Then they had to turn around and fly across the country and go into battle again. I think it's too much to ask. Phillies in four.

Diamondbacks over the Cubs. The sentimental pick is the Cubs. They have the bigger names but not necessarily the better team. Plus they will be trotting out the contrived Curse of the Billy Goat again (now I understand how annoying the Curse of the Bambino must be to out of town fans). The Dbacks have a great manager in Bob Melvin and some dynamic young stars and some flamethrowing arms beginning with Brandon Webb. And from a personal standpoint, my brother said he might be able to get us tickets to the World Series if the Sox make it against the Dbacks, so I am rooting for Arizona all the way. Diamondbacks in five.

There you have it. Let the games begin.