So I planned absolutely nothing for this article. I spent the whole night watching the New England Patriots dismantle the Cincinnati Bengals out of one eye and just the seventh one-game playoff in baseball history out of the other eye. I live in New York, this happened at a sports bar, and I was not served by the bartender until I turned my Red Sox hat backwards so as to hide the logo.
That’s right, we’ve got playoff baseball, ladies and gentlemen. Not only are we whittled down to eight teams that have a shot at the ultimate glory, they are the eight best teams in baseball. This is not basketball or hockey, half the league doesn’t make it, it’s just the cream of the cream. The Colorado Rockies, the last member to join this fraternity: arguably the hottest team in baseball, the possible MVP in Matt Holliday, the possible ROY in Troy Tulowitzki, one of the most beloved and iconic long-time veterans for their team in Todd Helton. The Philadelphia Phillies, the beneficiaries of one of the most legendary choke jobs in sports history: coming off thirteen wins in their final seventeen games, the possible MVP in Jimmy Rollins, one of the premiere sluggers of today in Ryan Howard. The Chicago Cubs: the most cursed team in baseball, Lou Piniella’s quest for a ring, a powerful offense featuring Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee clicking at the right time. The Arizona Diamondbacks: the upstart team who everyone said to watch out for in 2009 but bloomed early, the best record in the National League, Jose Valverde, Eric Byrnes, Brandon Webb.
In the American League we have possibly the strongest quartet of playoff teams in the last decade. The Los Angeles Angels: the small-ball team in a big-ball league, with Reggie Willits, Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera, the front-loaded rotation with John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, Mike Scioscia, the rally monkey, K-Rod, the resurgent Garrett Anderson and the ever-dangerous Vladimir Guerrero. The Cleveland Indians: the breakout kid in Fausto Carmona, the hot bats of Casey Blake and Travis Hafner, the anchors of Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore, the probable Cy Young in C.C. Sabathia. The New York Yankees: the comeback kids, Alex Rodriguez’s MVP season for the ages, Jorge Posada’s career year, arguably Joe Torre’s greatest management job, the emergence of Joba Chamberlain. And, of course, the Boston Red Sox: the probable ROY in Dustin Pedroia, another standout season from David Ortiz, the sterling Cy Young worthy season from Josh Beckett, the breakout seasons of youngsters Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz, another sterling year from Jonathan Papelbon, a career year from Mike Lowell, and last but not least a final stretch which suggests J.D. Drew is not as toothless as the rest of the year would otherwise suggest.
Along with the fan bases who are rejoicing and awaiting their team’s next chapter later this week, there are fan bases that came up short. The New York Mets fans were devastated by their team’s squandering of a seven game lead with seventeen games remaining. The Detroit Tigers fans, coming off a World Series appearance, had to watch their team fade from the playoff picture as the Yankees took control over the final few months of the season. The Seattle Mariners’ fans watched their team surpass everyone’s expectations and remain in the playoff hunt well into the second half. The San Diego Padres fans crossed their fingers and perched on the edge of their seats after thirty other teams had already said goodbye to September, and the Milwaukee Brewers fans can simply look forward to what looks to be a promising 2008.
So here we go. Another summer of the greatest sport in the world has given way to autumn, and with the changing leaves come the changing fortunes of eight franchises. This is October. These are the playoffs.
