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by Digger

Playoff baseball is back again! Tampa Bay represents this year's Cinderella team by posting their first winning season and American League East Division Title. Two teams from Chicago qualified for post-season play, including one on the final day. Two New York teams are sitting this one out, includig one disqualified on the final day. Two Los Angeles named teams made it too, including one skipper who managed both New York teams. Milwaukee and Philadelphia get in on New York action too. Both need to thank New York's team from Flushing for another September blowup.

Who will win it all? Cubs? Red Sox? Rays? Angels? Phillies? Dodgers? White Sox? Brewers?

It's time! MLB Division Series Playoff Breakdown.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Boston Red Sox (95-67) vs Los Angeles Angels (100-62)

Boston sent home banged up LA in last years' playoff matchup (and '05). It's a new year as LA dominated regular season play vs a banged up Boston squad. The World Champs aren't 100%. Ace starter Josh Beckett was scratched from opening the series. He's been pushed back to Game 3. Mike Lowell and JD Drew are dinged. Manny Ramirez was a late season trade. Jason Bay makes his playoff debut. 2B Pedroia was team hero this year piling it on after Manny was dealt. Manager Francona had these guys playing aggressive baseball all season long. To win, these Wild Card winners need to capitalize on every opportunity.

Angels have been on a mission since being eliminated by Boston last year. They dominated out of the gate winning the West by 21 games. Only team posting 100 wins. These guys play small ball better than most NL teams. LA picked up slugging 1B Mark Teixeira mid-season to solidify their well balanced lineup. Speed, defense, pitching and power. Francisco Rodriguez rewrote baseball's All Time Saves record (62). LA catches a break with Beckett's Game 1 scratch. Starting pitchers must tame BoSox lineup to survive round one. This will be a great series.

This one goes the distance. Angels prevail.

Chicago White Sox (89-74) vs Tampa Bay Rays (97-65)

Chicago has won three clutch games in a row, including a 1-0 one game playoff vs Minnesota to capture the American League Central crown. They enter this series flying high. It was a long season for Manager Guillen. Chicago had their share of key injuries. Sluggers Thome and Konerko struggled most of the year. They have to turn it on for the Sox to keep rolling. Key cog Quentin (.288, 36 HR, 100 RBI) is out of the playoffs. Traded for Ken Griffey, Jr who made an instrumental game saving throw from center to home helping Chicago advance in yesterday's one game playoff. Starting pitching must step it up vs an energized Rays attack.

Not enough can be said about Tampa Bay Rays' spectacular season. They came out of nowhere to beat out heavily favored Boston and New York for AL East honors. 2008 was their first ever winning season. Will the party continue? Manager Maddon's moves have all worked out. Young starting pitchers came thru vs top teams in regular season. They'll have to stay ahead of patient White Sox hitters. Lineup gets the job done. Corner infielders Longoria and Pena supply the power. Tampa needs to stay loose to win. Bullpen injuries could be worrisome vs clutch Chicago hitters. Worst possible series matchup for Rays.

Chicago continues to roll. White Sox in 4.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Milwaukee Brewers (90-72) vs Philadelphia Phillies (92-70)

Milwaukee won game 162 to secure NL Wild Card. Brewers can slug it out with any lineup. Free swinging club packs plenty of power hitters (5 with 20+ homers). Warning, six struck out over 100 times (1203 as team). Brewers must cut down on strike outs and advance baserunners vs Phillies. Biggest factor in Milwaukee's favor is playing in hitters parks. CC Sabathia dominated NL hitters (11-2, 1.65) after being acquired from Cleveland. CC and Sheets are a tough 1-2 but the latter has been roughed up lately. Rotation matchup out of whack since CC started final game. 3-4 starters might already be quaking in their cleats thinking of Phillies lineup. Brewers need to put their bats on baseballs and capitalize on every opportunity to prevail.

Phillies hitters strike fear into pitchers. Howard (48 HR, 146 RBI), Utley (33 HR, 104 RBI), Burrell (33 HR), Rollins (38 2B, 9 3B, 47 SB) pace their attack. If these guys all get hot, nobody will stop the Keystone Kids. Phils players believe. On the hill, Hamels has great stuff and could be the difference maker. Rotation matchup favors Philadelphia since CC pitched on seasons' final day and tosses his 3rd straight game on three days rest. Lidge has been perfect out of the pen (41 Saves). Phillies staff will average 12 strikeouts per game. Good luck Milwaukee. You'll need it.

Phillies beat up strike out artists in 4.

Los Angeles Dodgers (83-78) vs Chicago Cubs (97-64)

Dodgers Manager Joe Torre must be loving life in LA. Torre led the Yankees to twelve consecutive playoffs. His personal streak now stands at 13 while NY sits home. Dodgers 84 wins represents fewest of playoff teams. They play NL's top winning Cubs (97). Manny Ramirez revitalized an enemic Blue offense. He put this team on his back and carried them to the finish line. In 53 Dodger games, Manny hit .396, smoked 17 homers, drove in 53. Sports 24 career playoff homers in 95 contests. Casey Blake (3B) was another key late season pickup (58 games, 10 HR). Furcal (.357) returns after spending most of the year DL'd. LA staff posted NL best 3.68 ERA. Only two starters with double digit victories. Middle relievers could be games best... face Chicago's heralded bullpen. Other three NL playoff team lineups outclass Torre's crew. Dodgers lineup is finally clicking. Dodgers could be sleepers.

Lou Piniella managed his Cubs to NL's best 97 wins. Ryan Dempster (14-3 @ Wrigley) has been tabbed Game 1 starter. Cubs starters will need to keep Manny and Co. off balance. Cubs lineup featured seven with double digit homers. They all seem to hit in the clutch. Defense is very strong at all positions. Dempster, Zambrano and Lilly have been in control all season (combined 48-21). A trade deadline game of chess landed star Rich Harden on an already deep staff. Bullpen features flame throwers. Cubs look unbeatable. So what's wrong with this picture? They're the "CUBS". Somehow... someway... Cubs find a way to blow it when it counts most. 99 straight years without a World Series Championship. Cubs fans say there won't be 100. Don't trust anyone who's been wrong 99 consecutive times.

Cubs NL's most powerful team. Most heavily favored to win NLCS. Most NL Wins. Most NL Runs. Most pitching K's. Most consecutive non-playoff seasons of 99........ reaches 100. Dodgers in 5.

MLB Divisional Playoffs... the first leg on the path to determining 2008 World Series Champion.

Who will win it all?

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