National League
Astros v. Braves
The quest for the National League Wild Card turned out to be one of the most amazing races since MLB commissioner Bud Selig brewed up the idea in 1994. The Astros, who fired their manager Jimmy Williams July 14, just one day after the all star break, seemed to have taken a page from the 2003 Florida Marlin handbook. The Astros might just be a carbon copy of last year's World Champions as they will look to ride the back of Roger Clemens, a NL Cy Young contender and undoubtedly the greatest pitcher of the last 20 years. Clemens and the Astros will look to take a team that was built the Yankee way into another park ruled by a dynasty-Turner Field.
The Atlanta Braves defied all odds this year and overcame the loss of Greg Maddux, Gary Sheffield and Javy Lopez claiming the NL East Crown for a record 13th straight season. By finding a mix of starting pitching to combat the loss of two Cy Young winners in two years, the Braves were able to pull themselves out of their mid-season shambles and make yet another trip to the postseason.
The Braves will have to address the potential loss of third baseman Chipper Jones and pitcher John Thompson who ended the season with a 14-8 record. The status of both players is unsure as of now, but the Braves will need to get to the Astros' starters early in the game to expose a vulnerable middle relief corps.
Dodgers v. Cardinals
The L.A. Dodgers won the NL West, not with vaunted pitching, as they have been known for the last few seasons, but with the bats of third baseman Adrian Beltre and outfielders Steve Finley and Sean Green. If the Dodgers can get to the eigtht inning with a lead, however, the game is over. Canadian closer Eric Gagn?? had saved a record 84 games in a row (dating to last season) along with 45 saves for the season.
The Dodgers will roll into Busch Stadium and take on the best team in baseball: the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals boast a lineup that rivals that of the Bronx Bombers of 1927. Three-time NL batting Champ Larry Walker hits in the two-spot and is followed by Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds. The Cardinals also have a defense that simply does not make mistakes. Rolen is a perennial gold glove contender, while Pujols will certainly deserve consideration for his .994 fielding percentage this year.
The big question in the Dodgers/Cardinals series is whether or not the Dodgers can find holes in the Cardinals' armor. Their game is nearly flawless and it will take a mighty swing to knock them down.
American League
Twins v. Yankees
Many think that Johan Santana will be the key to this series; while this may be true, the more defining factor for the Twins will be Brad Radke and his ability to beat the Yankees. If Santana can beat the Yankees twice, which would be the most likely scenario for the Twins, a third win will be needed to secure the series. Santana will rely on his slider to strike out the Yanks but the more experienced Yankee hitters will look to take that out of the equation by going after first-pitch-fastballs.
The Twins hitters have gotten things done this year by spreading the hits around. Outfielder Shannon Stewart has hit .304 on the season but is the Twins only regular with .300-plus average.
The Yankees, meanwhile, will try to equalize their worst pitching staff in years by plating about eight runs per game. The Bronx Bombers will hope to get Gary Sheffield to serve up the same kind of numbers he's had so far this season. The key to the Yankees' playoffs is finding a way to hand the ball to Mariano Rivera with a lead. If they can do that, the dynasty will continue.
Red Sox v. Angels
The storied torture of the Red Sox nation continues as Pedro Martinez gets another chance to give Boston the dream they always wanted. With the additions of Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz, defense is no longer the issue it was in 1986. Pitching is once again a strength with the addition of Curt Schilling. The bullpen, on paper, seems to be shored up; but Keith Foulke has had trouble saving games as of late.
The Red Sox can stroke the ball, however, and if Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz can put hits together, this team will be tough.
The Angels have left the mediocrity of 2003 behind for another shot at the postseason. This time they enter with a potent offense and a formidable base running game. The loss of Jose Guillen, however, will cast a shadow over this team as he was second only to Vladimir Guerrero in RBI with 104. Bartolo Colon is a great starter and will look to relive his success of 1997 and with Troy Percival at the end of things, the Angels look to have a staff equal to the other contenders.
