October brings playoff baseball

National League

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies come in benefiting from another choke job by the Mets, but they certainly have the experience edge over the Brewers, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 1982.

The Phillies made the playoffs last year, but were swept by the Rockies in the first round. Still, the Phillies do have the past two NL MVP's in Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins. The Brewers come in riding the big arm of C.C. Sabathia. With Ben Sheets out for remainder of the season, Sabathia will need to pitch every chance he gets to keep the Brew Crew going. In a short series, that may be enough.

With both lineups finding it difficult to score runs in recent weeks, pitching may just decide the series. Once you get through Sabathia, the Brewers may find it hard just to find a live arm to put out on the mound. Look for the Phillies to ride their superior depth in their rotation and bullpen to the series win, but it will take five games, with Sabathia winning both of his starts. Pick: Phillies

LA Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are on cloud nine as they enter the playoffs with the best record in the NL and the favorites to win the pennant. The Dodgers are limping in with a mere 84 wins coming out of the worst division in baseball.

This looks to be the biggest mismatch in the playoffs, and it should play out that way on the field. While the cubs will trot out Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden in the first three games, the Dodgers will give the ball to Derek Lowe, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda, advantage Cubbies. You can also give the Cubs an edge in defense, offense and the bullpen. But, there is the matter of the Billy Goat. Still the Cubs should have no trouble winning three in a row against the overmatched Dodgers. Cubs will sweep and have the opportunity to rest their aces for the NLCS. Pick: Cubs

AL

Boston Red Sox vs. LA Angels of Anaheim

The defending champion Red Sox come in to the series a little nicked up. Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew are returning from the disabled list, and Josh Beckett missed his last start. All are expected to play, but the Sox will need all three at 100 percent to edge out the well-managed Angels.

The Angels win with defense and pitching, the Sox with overwhelming offense … and pitching. But, if Beckett can't get back the magic that has made him unbeatable in the playoffs throughout his career, then the Sox don't have a chance.

This will also be the first playoff series the Sox enter without Manny Ramirez since 1999. Boston has lived off he and David Ortiz's timely hitting in recent years, but will it continue without ManRam? The Sox will have to find out-and quick-because late-inning heroics will be hard to come by against Angels ace closer Francisco Rodriguez. Expect some close games in what should be the best series of the opening round, but the Angels should win in five, with K-Rod slamming the door on close leads for the Angels. Pick: Angels

Rays vs. White Sox

This is the most intriguing match up of the divisional round. The Rays were the surprise team of the year. They are a young team that relies on a great defense and pitching to out-work other teams. They were front-runners most of the season in the best division in baseball and didn't crack under the pressure of having the two most successful teams of the past 15 years breathing down their necks. The White Sox come in two years removed from a World Series title but sneaked into the playoffs by virtue of a one game playoff with the Twins for the Central Division crown.

The feeling is that this is the last chance for most of the Chicago players in White Sox uniforms. The aging team is due for some changes and that could help their mentality in this series. It is the age-old question of youth verses experience, and youth will win this one. The Rays are just too strong in the field for the mistake-prone White Sox, and Tampa's young, powerful arms will keep the veteran Sox line-up in check. Get to know these young Rays, people, because they are for real. Rays win in four and Ozzie Guillen has a meltdown in front of the press ... again. Pick: Rays

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.