The MLB Postseason Is Here! I LIVE FOR THIS!

Prince Fielder,Derrek Lee, Ryan Howard, and David Ortiz are ready for the postseason.

The 2008 MLB Posteason Is Here! Here Is My Analysis of the Divisional Playoff Matchups:

ALDS: WHITE SOX VS RAYS
The White Sox had to battle to get to the postseason. They won that makeup game against the Twins to tie for the AL Central, and then they won that tiebreaker game against the Twins to advance to the ALDS to play the red hot Tampa Bay Rays.

Tampa Bay leads the season series against the White Sox 6-4. In these games, the Rays had a knack for waiting until late in the ballgame to strike, and when they struck late, it was for the win nearly every time.

I think this series has the most potential to go all five games. I'm going to go with the White Sox, especially if their bullpen is as strong as it has been in the last few days.
WHITE SOX IN FIVE


ALDS: RED SOX VS ANGELS

This series should be a lot of fun. There will be a lot of runs scored in this series, and I like the Angels. They have been the best team in the American League all season. As someone who saw the Angels play in person on September 19th,They have so many ways they can beat you. They can outhit you, outpitch you, and when Francisco Rodriguez on the mound in the ninth inning, those games are over, no question about it.

The Angels lead the season Series 8-1, and that was before the Red Sox unloaded Manny Ramirez.
ANGELS IN THREE


NLDS: PHILLIES VS BREWERS

This is another series that I think will be a lot of fun. I think both Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard will both be huge factors in their teams and how they do.

Starting Pitching wise, Milwaukee has the edge, especially with C.C Sabathia. The fact that he threw a complete game on Sunday on three days rest is incredible!

Bullpen wise, Philly has a huge advantage, especially when you consider Brad Lidge, the Phillies closer, has been PERFECT in his save opportunities! 41 for 41 in save chances!

Offense wise, Philly has a slight edge. Yes, Milwaukee has Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, but Philly has Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Pedro Feliz, and Ryan Howard lead an offense that Is Scary Good.

Philly beat Milwaukee 5-1 in the season series.
PHILLIES IN FOUR



NLDS: DODGERS VS CUBS

This is the series I will be looking forward to. The thing that turned the season around for the Los Angeles Dodgers was the trade of Manny Ramirez. Why Is Manny Ramirez doing so well in Los Angeles? He no longer has a 37 foot high Green Monster out in left field taking away lots of shots that would-be homers at every other ballpark.

The Dodgers are more than just Manny Ramirez. They have Matt Kemp, Andre Eithier, and James Loney. This team has been able to fuse the young talent along with the veteran leadership, and as a result, the Dodgers are in the postseason.

Game One of this series should be a lot of fun. You have Ryan Dempster getting the ball for the Cubs. Dempster won 17 games for the Cubs this year, after he spent last season as the Cubs closer! Derek Lowe for the Dodgers is a classic sinkerballer, just like Brandon Webb. Hopefully the Cubbies plate discipline doesn't disappear when they head to the postseason.

This Cubs team is different than last season's team that went three and out in the National League Division Series. The Cubs have five players with at least 20 home runs, five with at least 74 RBIs, and Three pitchers that have at least 14 wins.

Another thing that the Cubs didn't have last year that should make the difference is Home Field Advantage. The Cubs have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. That 10th man, the crowd, makes all the difference.

In The Season series, the Cubs went 5-2 against the Dodgers this season. However, The Dodgers have become a much different team since then. Manny Ramirez really has made all the difference.

CUBS IN FOUR

Watch The MLB Postseason On TBS Or Listen To It On ESPN Radio!

C.C Sabathia 3-0 for Brewers, Rich Harden 0-2

C.C Sabathia last night dominated again. Sabathia had his third complete game for Milwaukee as he held St Louis to just 3 hits as the Brewers beat the Cardinals 3-0. Rich Harden has had some great pitched games, but the Cubs have not been able to score runs when he's on the mound.

The Brewers have homered in 18 straight games, and they have won six in a row. They're on Fire!

The Cubs had better watch their back. Milwaukee's hot on their trail for the NL Central lead!

Baseball Wrap: Harden's Debut, 'A-Rod's Homer

Here's Saturday's AP Baseball Wrap!

The NL Central Is An Arms Race!

Click On The Video Below to See an "Imacculate Inning" (striking out three batters on nine pitches) By Rich Harden! Harden did this June 8,2008 against the Los Angeles Angels.


Click On The Video Below to See C.C Sabathia's first Press Conference After getting traded!


It's official: The Cubs and Brewers quest for Baseball World Supremacy is now an arms race! The Milwaukee Brewers landed Ace Pitcher C.C Sabathia in exchange for outfielder Matt LaPorta, pitchers Zach Jackson, Rob Bryson, and a player to be named later. The Cubs countered the next day, acquiring right-handed pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Oakland Athletics for right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, infielder Eric Patterson and catcher Josh Donaldson.

If you look at this long term: which side has the "Star Wars" advantage?
BREWERS: The Brewers traded away Matt La Porta and some young pitchers for the chance at winning now. From Milwaukee's standpoint, they may as well trade away the future of the Brewers because there may not be a next year for them to contend, especially if both Ben Sheets and C.C Sabathia become Free Agents this offseason.

CUBS: The Cubs offer didn't hurt them as much. They were able to get Chad Gaudin and Rich Harden in exchange for Matt Murton and Eric Patterson, two young players who the Cubs couldn't really find playing time for. Sean Gallagher was aleady optioned to the bullpen when the Cubs brought up Sean Marshall, so that also didn't hurt them that much. Also, Harden won't become a Free Agent until next season. He is more than just a "second half rental", if you will.

When These two forces collide, there will be Assured Destruction upon the rest of the NL Central!

Cubs Acquire Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin From Athletics

Chad Gaudin and Rich Harden are both heading to the North Side of the Windy City.
The Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Rich Harden from the Oakland Athletics in a six-player trade on Tuesday, a day after the rival Milwaukee Brewers landed CC Sabathia.

The Cubs received the right-handed Harden and righty Chad Gaudin for pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielders Matt Murton and Eric Patterson, and minor leaguer Josh Donaldson.

“We’ve been working on Mr. Harden for a few weeks now,” Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said.

Harden, eligible to be a free agent after the 2009 season, is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts this season. He’s scheduled to $4.75 million this season.

The oft-injured righty missed a month earlier this season because of a right shoulder strain. It was his sixth trip to the disabled list in his six-year career.

The Cubs said they expected Harden would join the team Wednesday and that he’ll pitch either Friday or Saturday night at Wrigley against the San Francisco Giants.

Just Like the Milwaukee Brewer trade for C.C Sabathia, the Cubs have sacraficed some of their good future talent (Murton, Patterson, Gallagher) for the shot at ending their Century Long Chamionship Drought.

Good move by the Cubbies. It's not as Earth Shattering as the Brewers trade for C.C Sabathia, but it a good move nonetheless. The Cubs get help in their starting rotation in Harden and Bullpen help in Gaudin.