Double Play - MLB Playoff Preview

The Super Bowl, the first Thursday-Sunday of March Madness, and the first day of the Major League Baseball playoffs. Those are my three sports holidays that I get most excited for. This day brings a slate of three consecutive Game 1s, with an afternoon, evening, and night game, all between (usually) high quality baseball teams. And these Game 1s are very important in the Divisional Series that is only best-of-5. It's a long baseball season, and this is the beginning of the culmination.

Unfortunately, with such a disastrous Mets season, I've been mostly disinterested in baseball for a few months. But now it's playoff time. Forget about the Mets, it's all about these eight teams striving for history. It started off last night with a very exciting tie-breaking game last night between the Twins and Tigers that went to the Twins in 12 innings, narrowing the field down to eight teams.

Rockies vs. Phillies (2:37 PM ET)

Great pitching matchup between Ubaldo Jimenez and Cliff Lee in Game 1. A hot wildcard team is always dangerous in the playoffs. The Phillies have a lot of talent on that team, but a serious question mark in their closer Brad Lidge. Phillies should get the win tonight behind Cliff Lee, but Cole Hamels in Game 2 has been disappointing. I think Philadelphia holds on in this series, but would not be surprised if they were taken down.

Twins vs. Yankees (6:07 PM)

The Tigers had the pitching to scare the Yankees in a short series, but the Twins are a hotter team right now than Detroit. The loss of Justin Morneau hurts though, and the Yankees, who are red hot themselves, should have no problem dispatching the Twins. Brian Duensing starts for the Twins in Game 1, who has come out of nowhere to have great success with a 5-1 record as a starter since late August, including a stretch of six starts in which he allowed a combined six runs. But he faces the loaded Yankee lineup and their big ace, CC Sabathia.

Cardinals vs. Dodgers (9:37 PM)

I have a very hard time seeing the Cardinals losing this series with the great starting pitching they have. Comeback Player of the Year and Cy Young candidate Chris Carpenter starts Game 1 against Randy Wolf, and they have another Cy Young candidate in Adam Wainwright starting Game 2. And of course, they have Albert Pujols leading their offense. Andre Ethier has been a star in the Dodgers lineup this season, including several late game heroics, but he is in a deep slump right now with just three hits since September 20th.

Red Sox vs. Angels (tomorrow)

These two teams face off in the ALDS for the third consecutive year. The Angels at least managed to win one game last season before losing the series 3-1, after the Red Sox recorded the sweep in 2007 as well as 2004. This year probably won't be too different, but the Angels are certainly capable of taking the series with John Lackey against Jon Lester in Game 1 and Jered Weaver against Josh Beckett in Game 2.

My winners:
ALDS - Yankees, Red Sox
NLDS - Phillies, Cardinals

ALCS - Yankees
NLCS - Cardinals

World Series - Cardinals

Of course, fates can change very quickly in the Best-of-5 Divisional Series format. Praise it or criticize it, but it makes it very important to win that first game. A bad start by a favorite will put them in a tough position going forward. I'll be back late tonight with reactions to the day's games.