Three More Games Today!

Major League Baseball is the anti-NBA when it comes to playoffs...and refs cheating. So the after an opening day of the playoffs that featured three games, we have three more today.

1:30 PM Chicago (Vazquez) at Tampa Bay (Shields)

Of all the playoff teams, these are the only two most are surprised made it. The White Sox had their run at the end, becoming the first team to end the season on a three game streak against three different teams. The Rays? Well they've just always sucked. So how do they react to their first playoff game? The Rays took the season series 6-4, but that was the regular season. I really want to pick the Sox based on the momentum, but it's indoors and on turf today, which thankfully the tiebreaker game was not. I'll go Tampa Bay 5-3. Take heart Sox fans, I'm bad at predictions.

5:00 PM Milwaukee (Sabathia) at Philadelphia (Myers)

The Brewers almost pulled off the win in Game 1, which probably would have meant the series was over. Brad Lidge was able to get out of the jam, giving the Phils a big win. Today though, it's the workhorse, or ox, CC Sabathia. CC wasn't great in the postseason last year, but he wasn't pitching complete games every three days then either. Myers has been pretty good this year and the Phillies are always dangerous on offense, but CC continues his path of destruction. Brewers 5-1.

8:30 PM Los Angeles (Billingsley) at Chicago (Zambrano)

I'm so lost about this game I don't even know what to say. I think we know what we're going to see from the Dodgers. Runs will be hard to come by on Billingsley who has gone 4-0 over his past five starts. As I stated last night, I have faith in Zambrano. This quote gives me more hope: "It's in the past. This is a new age, new stage for the Cubs, new ballgame, new team. And I just have to go out there and try to do my job and have fun." New age. New stage. Z's dropping rhymes before the game. Cubs win. Please? 6-4.

Playoffs Start Today!

Playoffs?!!

Yep, the playoffs. Here are your games today:

2 PM Milwaukee (Gallardo) at Philadelphia (Hamels)

The Brewers are riding some serious momentum into the playoffs this season. After a few years of frustration they are finally in. However, the Phillies will be too good today with Hamels on the mound. Gallardo is an X factor (Y factor?) today in just his second start since missing five months hibernating...er, with an injury. He was good in his first start, but that was against the Pirates. Big deal. Phillies win today 6-2.

5:30 PM Los Angeles (Lowe) at Chicago (Dempster)

The first game in a five game series is the most important. No, it's not. I don't know why people say that in series. They're all important. Don't lose them. After this game, game two will be the most important. I like the Cubs here because of Dempster. I like the Dodgers because of Lowe. That makes for a nail-biting pitching duel and I think at home in the first game of the playoffs, day will turn to night and the magic will take over as the Cubbies win 4-1.

9:00 PM Boston (Lester) at Los Angeles (Lackey)

The Angels have lost nine straight postseason games to the Red Sox. Will the streak end tonight? One streak will end, that much is certain. The other streak in jeopardy is the Angels' eight game run beating the Red Sox this season. The Angels go with the experience of John Lackey tonight and he'll need it, because he is coming off his worst start of the year giving up 10 runs in two and a third against Texas last Friday. Still, I like the Angels to win this one 10-6.

Comedy/Tragedy of Errors...Depends Who You Ask

The Cubs swept a four game-set in Milwaukee this week. Honestly, the Brewers looked like a team that could hang with the Cubs going into this series, and I still believe they have the talent. Unfortunately for them, they did not rise to the challenge this week. As an amateur sabremetrician, I want to say that it was a small sample size, but it's hard to ignore the amount of errors and miscues the Brew Crew committed all week long. I think we can chalk this sweep up to some sort of psychological problem. Did their hands get sweaty and their knees lock up at the thought of a big time series? Its July, this team does not seem ready for the big stage. The Cubs on the other hand, finally looked like they could win on the road. I know there are two months left of the season, but damn do their chances look good right now.