The baseball playoffs are only a day away with great matchups in store for the fans. In the AL Boston takes on Anaheim. This series showcases a good cast of power hitters and plenty of dynamic, young pitching. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez carry the torch for the Red Sox, leading the hit parade while the Angels represent the West featuring Vladmir Guerrero, Garret Anderson, and former Red Sox player Orlando Cabrera. There will also be good pitcher matchups in the series, John Lackey vs. Josh Beckett, Jered Weaver vs. Dice K, probably Curt Schilling vs. Kelvin Escobar.
In the other AL series the Yankees will face the Indians. This 2007 Cleveland team took the league by storm and ran up a comfortable lead in the division. They're got a talented group of young players such as C. C. Sabathia, Travis Hafner, and Casey Blake. The energetic club must contend with a yet again powerhouse Yankees club which rode a high wave towards the end of the season. A-Rod is sure to drill a couple shots into the bleachers and be the top run producer. Mariano Riveria is a reliable closer, but is shown to be shaky at times this year. Look for the Tribe to wear out the Yankees' bullpen. They'll have to string together every bit of offense they can muster in key situations.
Over in the NL it's set that the Cubs will meet the Diamondbacks starting Wednesday in Arizona. This series could get away from either team if momentum stirs solely in one direction and guys get hot. Alfonso Soriano is on a tear, smashing 14 homeruns in September. Zambrano and Lilly are the key guys in the rotation and are expected to give the Cubs leverage to gain a series lead. Brandon Webb will pitch in Game 1 vs. Zambrano as will rely on his young, versatile lineup to find way to manufacture runs. It's going to be an exciting series.
The Phillies clinched the NL East title and await their opponent as the Rockies and Padres duel it out today in a wildcard tie-breaker (I hope Colorado wins...they have waited a long time for this chance). Baseball fans check out news and notes at Phillies Insider.com. Ryan Howard will leave his mark on the series in some fashion with a veteran rotation laying in the balance. The 2007 playoffs feature new teams yet familiar faces, ready to fulfill their dreams of capturing a World Series title.
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