PLAYOFF PREVIEW

Here we go...

NL

Cardinals (1) vs. Padres (3)

There is no reason the Cardinals won't roll here. I think they may drop one of the first two games in Busch, but I don't see it getting back to St. Louis anyway. Cardinals in 4.

Braves (2) vs. Astros (4)

By pulling out a tough one, the Astros win the Wild Card for the second straight year. Despite having an anemic offense, this team is stronger than the last one simply by being able to offer Clemens, Oswalt and Pettite. Brandon Backe may get a playoff start as well. The Astros will likely be the popular pick, and it's not hard to see why. The Braves will have home-field which will help. I don't see the Braves winning this one so I won't pick against CW. Astros in 4.

AL

Chicago White Sox (1) vs. Red Sox (4)

Winning the wild card was, as I've said before, the best case scenario for the Red Sox. With Cleveland's crazy collapse, the Red Sox got in during the home sixth. Fenway went ballistic, Terry subbed out everyone. If the Yankees had kept it close, and I were Joe Torre, I would have kept my regulars win because I think home-field against the Angels is that important. More on that in a second.

The Red Sox will offer Matt Clement in the first game, the White Sox Jose Contreras. If I were the White Sox I would have thrown the games to Cleveland. You have to figure they will split the first two games, but I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see the Red Sox walk in there and take two, either. Clement is the question mark; he's been terrible recently. Wells in game two is solid, Wakefield in Game Three. Schilling may not even be needed in the first round. An interesting question is, would they consider using him out of the bullpen in the first round. I see this one going 4 games, and it's going to be tough for the Red Sox to lose. Red Ones in 4.

Los Angeles Angels (2) vs. New York Yankees (3)

Just retarded managing by Torre down the stretch. I didn't get Sheffield playing right. I didn't get starting Jaret Wright. I didn't get a lot of stuff he did. I would have started Chacon in Game One of the playoffs. I would have strongly considered throwing Mussina today. If he could have kept it close, they would have had a chance to snap up home-field. The Yankees have been decent on the road but they have a lot of old players, none of whom want to fly out to Anaheim tonight. I just thought he could have given himself a better chance to win even sitting some of his regulars. As it is, it'll be Mussina-Colon in the first game. They'll probably come back with Small for Game Two, and Randy for the first game from the Stadium. Despite their handicaps, I like the Yankees in this series. I think it may go five games, but they will win. I never buy the notion of bugaboos...I don't think the Yankees play any worse or better against the Angels. They are a better team than when they played a lot of games against the Angels earlier in the year. Plus the way that Anaheim's bullpen has struggled...I just plain like the Yanks. Sure the Angels will run on Posada, but that's because they can't hit. Yanks in five.