IN LIEU OF LCS PREVIEWS...

I've tried all day to write American and National League Championship Series previews; it's just not happening. I'm in a funk worse than the Angels and Cubs combined (both of whom I incorrectly predicted would advance to their respective LCS). Maybe I need more sleep, maybe I'm too emotionally involved in both series - with the Red Sox in the AL and all the former Red Sox (on the Dodgers) in the NL - or maybe I'm just too preoccupied with the Tim McCarver, Manny Ramirez melodrama.

For whatever reason, I can't bring myself to do it. But I will not deny history of my predictions. Red Sox in 5, Dodgers in 6.

There. Now time can work its magic. Maybe I can gear up for some mid-series analysis and recap of the sure-to-be highlights from McCarver and Buck Martinez.

PLAYOFF PREVIEW - ALDS PART 2

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
VS.
TAMPA BAY RAYS

As late as August, I was still holding on to my now foolish prediction that the Rays would finish in fourth place in the AL East. Maybe I had too much faith in the Yankee offense and the Blue Jays' starters. Maybe I refused to give the Rays the credit they deserved. But for whatever reason, I couldn't believe that this team, who had never managed to finish a season with more than 70 wins, could suddenly not only compete in but actually finish first in one of the toughest divisions in baseball. But I also never thought I would see the day that a team's marketing department would go ahead and let the team wear hats adorned with a giant "TB" on them, so shows what I know. (I have been waiting all season to make this joke. And I will tell you right now, it wasn't worth it. I'm a little disappointed).

The Chicago White Sox scored the third-most runs among the eight teams who made the playoffs. However, they also allowed the most. Ironically, they bested rival Minnesota in a pitcher's duel of all things, 1-0, to make it into October ball. That might be a more difficult feat to pull off against the Rays.

Tampa Bay sports a 29-18 record in one-run games this season. How much does that mean? Just ask those other Sox, the ones from Boston. The Red Sox were involved in six one-runs games with the Rays this year, and they lost EVERY time. Combine that with a solid Rays starting rotation / bullpen and a White Sox club that seems to rely almost exclusively on home runs to score, and this could be a very tough match-up for the South-Siders.

Maybe that's why EVERYONE at ESPN is once again united in their pick.


Either that or they're just really dedicated to finding common ground in an otherwise difficult political climate.

RAYS IN 4 (booooooorrrrrinnnnggg).

PLAYOFF PREVIEW - ALDS PART 1

BOSTON RED SOX
VS.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

The two most popular teams among females face off in what is fast becoming, or at least is hyped as becoming, a modern postseason rivalry.

The Sox have bested the halos in the postseason all three times they've met, which includes a streak of nine consecutive games. But this is a superior Angels team. The only team to win 100 games in the bigs this year, the Angels feature solid starting pitching, a phenomenal bullpen, and strong fundamental hitting that can manufacture runs.

If that's not enough, with their new-and-improved extended team name, they've taken steps to cleverly hide the exact location of where they play. Do they play in Anaheim? Do they play in Los Angeles? Do they switch back and forth? No one really knows for sure. It's just one more weapon the Angels will utilize in their attempt to vanquish the Red Sox from the playoffs for their first time ever.

As for the Red Sox, in many ways their season has been defined not by what they've gained, but by what they've lost: Manny Ramirez. After years of a hot/cold relationship, the Sox finally parted ways with the embattled slugger just before the trading deadline, receiving Pirate-phenom Jason Bay. Bay has not disappointed, anchoring a strong Boston lineup that scores runs in bunches. However, their ability to do that this series may be compromised, as the status of sluggers Mike Lowell and JD Drew remain in question.

Will Boston maintain its dominance over Anaheim/LA? Will the Angels return to their 2002 championship form? Will pretty girls everywhere pretend to be interested? Probably not, possibly, and most certainly.

As much as it pains me, Angels in 5.