The MLB Playoffs Are Set!

The Colorado Rockies completed the job of making me look smart by winning their one-game playoff against the San Diego Padres in 13 innings to punch their ticket to the playoffs with their wild card bid.

Did Matt Holliday really touch homeplate on the winning run though? The camera angles I saw showed that Padres catcher Michael Barrett had blocked the plate and prevented Holliday from tagging the plate. But I think the atmosphere at Coors Field got the better of homeplate umpire Tim McClelland as he gave a delayed safe call to end the game.

The Rockies will now face another team on a hot streak, the Philadelphia Phillies (and the lovable Phanatic).

Series picks:

Philadelphia Phillies v. Colorado Rockies
Both teams come into the series as the hottest teams in all of baseball. The Rockies are coming off an emotional run that included a one-game playoff with the Padres to earn the wild card berth. Meanwhile, the Phillies are coming off a incredible run to catch the New York Mets, who led by seven games on September 12.

Both teams have a great batting lineup that can put numbers on the board, but I think the Phillies have a little more to work with.

I wanted the Phillies in, so I am going to stay with them: Phillies in five games.

Chicago Cubs v. Arizona Diamondbacks
Game one is going to be big for both teams, as Brandon Webb and Carlos Zambrano will be on the mound for their respective teams. I like the Cubs chances because they have the bats in their lineup that make a difference in a game. I also like the two Cubs starters following Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill, I think they will be the difference in this series.

Cubs in four games.

Cleveland Indians v. New York Yankees
The Yankees have not faced Indians ace, C.C. Sabathia since 2004, uh oh. In this shorter series I like the Indians based on their pitching. If this series goes the distance the Indians will be able to throw Sabathia twice against big bats of New York. Sabathia will be matched up against Chien-Ming Wang in game one. Pitching matchups: Fausto Carmona will face Andy Pettitte in game two; Jake Westbrook against Roger Clemens in game three; Paul Byrd and Mike Mussina in game four.

Bob Uecker, take it: "The Indians win it, the indians win it! Oh my God, the Indians win it!"
Indians in five games.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v. Boston Red Sox
Due to superstitious beliefs, I cannot and will not pick the winner of this series. Sorry.
Pitching matchups:
Game one - Beckett v. Lackey
Game two - Matsuzaka v. Escobar
Game three - Schilling v. Weaver
Game four (probables) - Beckett v. Lackey
Game five (probables) - ? v. Escobar

All I know is Josh Beckett just said "asshole" in his press conference that was aired on ESPN News, awesome! He also seemed like he was in a bad mood as well.

If you want to tailgate in Anaheim for game one, I will be there at 8 a.m., cooking morning burgers, sausages, and dogs.