Best Playoff Season Ever...Besides Hockey...But Hockey Doesn't Have the Cubs, So Who Cares?

Baseball's second season starts again this afternoon. This could be one of the most interesting post seasons in recent history. Going into it, there are so many story lines that should spark an interest out of the baseball world. Where do we start?

Alex Rodriguez has more going against him than just his lack of post season production. With that lack comes the amount of attention he is getting. Rumor has it that at media day yesterday in New York, Derek Jeter was sitting at his locker by himself after their work out. The media leaving Jeter alone in October? I think we have seen that pressure isn't something that A-Rod handles too well. But the other pressures that are coming to him are coming at about 30 million miles per hour. A-Rod can opt out of his contract 10 days after the completion of the World Series. That date is the near future and A-Rod and his agent have one pressured decision to make. This being said...I just don't see the Yankees getting past the Indians. A-Rod can hit .400 in the series, but I just don't like how the series sets up for New York. The CC Sabathia/Chien Ming Wang match up is one of the best match ups of the entire post season as Wang is outstanding but gets no publicity for the reason that his name isn't Rodriguez, Jeter, or even fellow member of the Orient Matsui. But with Sabathia, a lefty power pitcher, followed by Fausto Carmona, a righty sinker baller, is one of the hardest back to back match ups I can remember simply from dominant pitching styles. You are looking at basically the same team as last year for the Yankees...and the year before that. I like Cleveland in 4.

Speaking of pitching match ups; what about the 39 wins of Josh Beckett and John Lackey? I expect Game 1 to last 23 minutes with a Garrett Anderson homer in the first being the difference. It seems like I always pick the Angels to win the World Series, assuming the Cubs don't make it every year. They just do it the right way, their lineup is great for the post season, and they have the best manager, in my opinion in baseball. All this aside, I am looking forward to seeing DICE-K in Game 2. So much emphasis has been put on his stamina and I want to see him in October. Lest we forget, he lost his first career regular season start. Angels sweep is bold...but I'll say Angels in 4.

America's series...Colorado with no pitching versus Philly with Cole Hamels and no one else. I don't see Colorado losing at home. I don't think that's possible. And unless Hamels pitches 3 times in the series, I don't see this being favorable for the Phillies who are running into a train in the...ROCKIES. This series really could go either way but I am saying Colorado in 4. They will take Game 2 and run away in Denver. However, all of these games will be in extra innings or won in the bottom of the 9th. It's what these teams do.

Finally, the forgotten series. There is no reason that the Cubs should win this series. Hitters just don't hit in the post season. Pitching dominates and I don't like Carlos pitching in high pressure situations. Last time in the post season, Carlos wasn't effective in the NLDS and had to have Wood/Prior to bail him out. Ted Lilly, however, is lights out and even if the Cubs fall tonight with Carlos, Lilly will win tomorrow to split. After that, Wrigley is all I need to say. The Cubs have Mark DeRosa. Arizona doesn't. Also, Alfonso Soriano has more post season experience and success than anyone in the NL. Wait, Jamie Moyer played in the '53 series, so second most. Either way, the intangibles are with the Cubs. And there is no way that I will pick them to lose anyway. Kerry Wood out of the bullpen? In October? Steve Drew wants none of that. Cubs will become the first team ever to win a 5 game series in 2 games.