NL First Round Preview: Play Ball

After an unbelievable and maybe the most exciting finish to an 162 game regular season in baseball history, October is upon us, setting the stage for an what could be an unforgettable postseason.

St. Louis Cardinals at Philadelphia Phillies:
Much like the Tampa Bay Rays, the St. Louis Cardinals soar into the postseason with a clubhouse full of confidence and charisma. This was a team doomed by many before the season even started with the injury to ace Adam Wainwright and contract situation of slugger Albert Pujols only to overcome a 8.5 game deficit to win the NL wild card. Philadelphia has only one thing in mind after coming up short in 2010.

If healthy, Furcal brings a Gold Glove caliber
glove as well as energy atop the batting
order.

In their nine meetings this season the Cardinals were able to win six of those games including a road swept in September. The Cardinal pitching stifled the Fightin' Phils' offense with a .233 average against. Game 1 starter Kyle Loshe will need to be on top of his game as he will be opposed by two-time Cy Young winner Roy Halladay while St. Louis will have to wait until Game 3 send their ace to the mound.

Pujols has rebounded from a slow start, just missing his 11th straight season of 30 home runs and 100 RBIs with 37 and 99. It has been the surprise cast of characters that have carried this St. Louis offense all season long. Led by the reemergence of All-Star Lance Berkman the Cardinals found an offensive spark.

Much of the series will depend on the health of Matt Holliday and Rafael Furcal, also needing the continued contributions of role players such as Nick Punto, David Freese, and Skip Schumaker. Let's not forget about manager Tony La Russa, who is managing yet another playoff team.

Philadelphia has been here and done that, it's just a matter of doing it again. The Phillies set a franchise record with a 102 regular season wins this year and look to build on their success. With three of the top pitchers in baseball taking the ball every fifth day, it could be a daunting task for this St. Louis team. The Phillies pitching staff posted a 2.98 ERA against the rest of Major League Baseball, but saw it increase to 3.81 when facing the Cards.

Unlike the rest of his staff,
Hamels has a ring.

In recent years it has been the juggernaut offense of Philadelphia that opponents feared. With that no longer the case this order is not something to sleep on. When going right this is still one of the most potent offenses in the game today and if they get a healthy Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins swinging the bat, watch out. Ryan Howard posted yet another fantastic year with his sixth straight 100 RBI season.

Reliever Ryan Madson has solidified the ninth inning converting 32 save opportunities in 34 chances, but there are plenty of question marks surrounding Charlie Manuel's bullpen. That is in fact if he needs to use it.

STL X-Factor: Rafael Furcal


PHI X-Factor: Cole Hamels


St. Louis in Five


Arizona Diamondbacks at Milwaukee Brewers:
The Arizona Diamondbacks are back in the postseason and once did the improbable. They might just be ready to stun baseball once again. The last time the Milwaukee Brewers were in the postseason it was 2008 and they were on the back of then-ace C.C. Sabathia. Unforunately for Brewer fans, Sabathia wore down and they fell to the eventual World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.

The surprise of the National League, the Diamondbacks surged into the NL West lead back in July never surrendering it. Led by first year manager Kirk Gibson, Arizona was able to dethrone the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants, never giving them the opportunity to defend their title.

With the injury to Buster Posey, Montero
became the best offensive catcher in the NL.

Their young pitching staff, headed by 21-game winner Ian Kennedy, will be the key to controlling the potent Milwaukee offense. Kennedy played his college ball at USC and made his major league debut with the New York Yankees. Those credentials indicate he is ready for the October spotlight. Like most teams in the postseason, Arizona's bullpen is a concern. After having one of the worst pens in the game a year ago, closer J.J. Putz has mentored a young group, but will that be enough?

Perennial All-Star and NL MVP candidate Justin Upton is the key to the D-Backs offense. Upton posted career-highs in almost every offensive category this season including, runs (105), hits (171), doubles (39), home runs (31), RBIs (88) and stolen bases (21). The 24-year-old right fielder has the potential to carry a team all the way to the World Series. Could this be the year Gibson relives his postseason magic?

Despite Arizona winning the season series 4 games to 3, the Brewers are as confident as ever heading into this years NLDS. This year Milwaukee has something they haven't had in decades, pitching depth. Ace Yovani Gallardo is set to control Game 1 at home with former Cy Young winner Zack Grienke to follow. That is important for first year manager Ron Roenicke considering Grienke is 11-0 at Miller Park with a 3.13 ERA. Don't forget about Shawn Marcum, who spent his first 5 seasons pitching in the scary AL East.

When Roenicke decides to turn the game over to the bullpen, it's in good hands. Francisco Rodriguez was traded to Milwaukee midseason bridging the gap to closer John Axford. Rodriguez is no stranger to the postseason lime light as he burst onto the scene in 2002 as a rookie taking the baseball world by storm. As for Axford, he hasn't blown a save since the first month of the season, shorting the game to seven innings.

K-Rod is no stranger to October magic.

The offense as we know has been the strength to this Brewers club for quite some time. With Cory Hart and Rickie Weeks being the table setters with the rare combination of speed and power atop the order, it gives the dangerous tandem of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder more RBI opportunities. Braun came a couple hits shy of winning the NL batting crown this season and is thought to be the favorite to land the NL MVP honors. Fielder added 38 home runs and 120 RBIs, both good enough for second in the NL behind the Dodgers' Matt Kemp. Possessed with arguably the best top four hitters in the league, Milwaukee will need their offense to carry what looks to be their last hurrah as a core.

ARZ X-Factor: Miguel Montero


MIL X-Factor: Francisco Rodriguez


Milwaukee in Five

Cy for Cole?

Hamels could win a lot of
games in '11.

The Philadelphia Phillies have arguably the best starting rotation in Major League Baseball.

With the return of left-hander Cliff Lee in the offseason, signing a five-year $120 million, the Phillies have four potential aces on their current staff. The staff has combined for 14 All-Star appearances, three Cy Young Awards, six 20-win seasons, two National League Championship Most Valuable Player Awards and a World Series MVP.

This staff has the potential to be one of the best ever assembled.

Ace Roy Halladay is coming a year where he won the NL Cy Young Award, threw a perfect game against the Florida Marlins and no-hitter in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds. Lee is fresh off another great postseason, this time with the Texas Rangers and second consecutive World Series appearance. Roy Oswalt has pitched in the postseason three of his ten big league seasons. Then lies left-hander Cole Hamels, who might be flying radar more than ever heading into 2011.

Hamels got back onto the baseball map last season, bouncing back from an up-and-down year in 2009, where he went only 10-11 with a 4.32 earned run average. The left-hander had high expectations heading into '09 after being named the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP in Philadelphia's journey to their first World Series title since 1980.

Hamels has since battled back to being a front of the line starter for the Phillies, getting backing to his old form throwing the ball in the mid-90s last October.

This could have been attributed to less pressure with numerous brand names in the rotation along side him.

Hamels could be a sleeper for this year's NL Cy Young Award.With a staff that has four potential 20-game winners in the same season, Hamels seems to have the biggest upside. Still only 27, Hamels has yet to reach his full potential and could break out this upcoming season. The lefty will be matched up most of the season with opponents No. 4 four starters when indeed they are No. 4 starters, Hamels, however, is not a No. 4 starter on any other staff in the big leagues.

That could be a formula for a lot of wins for the season ahead and another trophy to add to his already decorated cabinet.