The playoffs start tomorrow! That’s an awesome thing. What makes it especially awesome is that after idling through February and March in Clearwater and six months of a regular season, we’re down to just eight teams. That’s barely a quarter of the league whereas is the other major league sports (hockey included), a high percentage of the teams get into the playoffs.
Kind of waters down the regular season doesn’t it?
More interestingly, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Phillies could be out of it by the time the Eagles play on Sunday. Or, they could be waiting on the Cardinals and Dodgers to decide the other NLDS.
That’s the beauty of baseball… we do this every day.
Nevertheless, before we dive in full force for Game 1, be warned that this site will go live for all playoff games. That’s just the way we do it for the big ones. Oh… and in the interest of self-congratulation, looks like I nailed the Phillies’ playoff roster with a perfect 25-for-25.
OK, there were two hedges, but really, there’s no sense in over thinking it. Put the best guys out there and don’t get too fancy with the fancy boy stats and let ‘em get at it.
Nevertheless, HONK! HONK!
PUNTO! I was planning on writing an epic blog post of the greatness of Twins’ infielder Nick Punto (Posnanski has Duane Kuiper, I have Punto!), because he seemed to be in the middle of a few big plays in the terrifically epic playoff game in Minnesota against the Twins, but we’ll wait for a bona fide heroic moment.
Still, who didn’t think Punto! Wasn’t the hero when he lined that ball to left in the 10th with one out?
For a stadium that everyone agrees is a dump, the Metrodome, in its last regular-season baseball game, has seen some epic ballgames. First, Game 7 of the 1991 World Series where Jack Morris went 10 innings to beat the Braves, 1-0, was one of the greatest games I’ve seen. And now the Tigers-Twins to get to the ALDS and face the Yankees.
Good stuff.