Getting Started...

And so it comes back to this...

Last year my blog really kicked into high gear as I watched the MLB playoffs. Now here I sit on a new site, a year removed, with at least a hundred different things I've thought about blogging about over the past year. And what brings me back out after all this time? You guessed it...the MLB playoffs.

Over the course of the next year, I plan on bring you (the few, the proud, my readers) additional topics. My goal is a 3-4 day per week blog. Sports one day, music the next, my own writing another day, and random thoughts thrown in wherever (educational philosophy anyone?), all meticulously scheduled to allow people to find what they want when they want.

But it all starts here...the playoffs.

Having just watched the White Sox finish off the Twins in an apparently splendid pitchers' duel that I managed to miss, I am again inspired to make predicitions for the first round of the playoffs. I'd like to remind you, I was 4-0 in first round predictions last year (and 0-2 in LCS predictions, but we'll forget that for now). Let's see how they match up.

Brewers v. Phillies: The Phillies definitely have the superior lineup here. And, without a doubt, the better bullpen. And, while we're at it, the better rotation. Really, the Phillies are the better team. The Brewers are tired and emotionally drained. However, CC Sabathia gets to pitch twice in this series if it goes to 5 games. That's a big if. The X-factor here is really Yavonni Gallardo...all four starts we've seen this year. If he comes out hot, I think an all-world CC can make us forget the playoff bust he was last year. Watch the first game carefully...it will set the tone for the series. Most likely, though, is a subpar pitching performance from a player coming off an injury...My Pick: Phillies in 4.

Dodgers v. Cubs: The Cubs are the class of the NL this season. As a Reds fan, I'm still not entirely convinced I'm in my own dimension when I see Ryan Dempster pitching game one of a playoff series. Something inside me still has a sinking feeling abot him. But I'm not writing a column to hate on Ryan Dempster. The Dodgers have a little more momentum (and the Manny factor), but the Cubs have the pitching (Zambrano, Harden, and Lilly after Dempster). The Cubs have faded during a couple of stretches during the season, and I think Lowe will better Dempster in game 1. Will this be enough to get the Cubs fans doubting again? That kind of doubt can be contagious. Zambrano and ahrden win games 2 and 3. The Dodgers win one for the home crowd in 4. Back in Wrigley, the Cubs eek one out to go to the next round. My Pick: Cubs in 5.

Red Sox v. Angels: Last year the Angels crapped their collective pants against the Sox. It was like they sensed that they didn't even belong on the same field, and played as such. This year, the Angels won't have that problem. If anything, I think the Sox sense that they are the ones playing on borrowed time, the benefactors of some stellar individual performances (Pedroia, Bay). We might see a little Beckett magic, but the stars are on the Angels' side this time. My Pick: Angels in 4

White Sox v. Rays: Isn't it great to see Ken Griffey Jr. back in the postseason? I wish that he could have done it with the Reds, but it wasn't to be (rebuilding again). Over the last 3 days, the White Sox have won 3 must-win games. Shades of the 2007 Rockies are dancing through our heads. Except, the White sox aren't the 2007 Rockies. Those Rockies were largely young, eager, and greater than the sum of their parts, which sounds more like the 2008 Rays than the aging 2008 White Sox. There's something to be said for playoff experience, which is definitely in favor of the White Sox. But there's even more to be said for spectacular pitching, which is the Rays' forte. Give my ice-cold pitching anyday. My Pick: Rays in 4.

So, I'll probably catch some flack for picking all favorites. To hell with the haters...I predicted the Rockies sweep of the Phillies last year, so don't paint me a chalk prognosticator! I calls 'em like I see 'em.