Wild Card winner getting first two games at home in Divison Series

When the Marlins won the World Series in 1997 they had the same first two games at home, which gave them an added advantage. Going up against the San Francisco Giants in the Divison Series, they won the first two games at home, and then the first game back in San Fran to complete the sweep. They later went on to win the World Series. If that series started in San Fran, who knows how it would have turned out. Expect similar upsets this year.

Not having Mariano Rivera will hurt the Yankees chances

This is a given. Mariano is the greatest closer in the history of the game, and post-season play. Aside from a hiccup in the 2001 World Series, Rivera has been flawless. When the Yankees made it to the 8^th inning with a lead in previous years, it was a lock they would walk away with a win. Don’t expect similar results this year.

The Rangers will go as far as Josh Hamilton takes them

If Josh Hamilton catches fire, the Rangers will be playing in the World Series. If he continues to slump, the Rangers will make an early playoff exit. During a contract year, if Hamilton wants to really cash in, now is the time to really step up. I think he will.

Oakland’s weaknesses will be exposed

Like Billy Beane’s great moneyball teams of the early 2000s, the Athletics will ultimately be exposed in the playoffs against the Tigers, and eliminated in the ALDS. Maybe if they continue to shock everyone, and go on to win the World Series, Brad Pitt will play Beane in the Moneyball sequel. In other news, the comedic spoof of Moneyball, The Moneyball Mets, is slated for release in 2013.

Bryce Harper

Rookie Mike Trout has been all the talk of 2012, but Harper has been lurking in the shadows waiting to get his chance to steal back the rookie spotlight. This is his opportunity to show the world that he is still the best young talent in the game. Bryce Harper doesn’t sink back into the crowd, and is going to lift his play to another level with all the national attention. He will prove why Sports Illustrated dubbed him as “the chosen one.” I wonder if he will give us a few more memorable quotes along the way – That’s a clown question ‘bro.

These were just a few things that will make for a very interesting playoff season. There are a slew of other story lines that will impact this year’s playoff picture, and I’m looking forward to seeing them all unfold.

Everyone has a clean slate starting today. Team records are reset to 0-0. Everything that happened over the course of the season is in the past. Everything is on the line, and the glory is there for the taking. Who wants it more? God I love this game…

Well, as we all know, our beloved New York Mets have missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season.

I’m not sure about many of you, but even with the Mets done for the year, I still watch a ton of postseason baseball.

There have been some great games so far, and it’s looking like the postseason will be even more exciting in the championship round.

So basically, all this fluff leads me to the elephant in the room: How many of you are rooting for the Yankees to reach the World Series?

After a tough loss last night, the Yankees find themselves one game away from elimination with the erratic A.J. Burnett taking the hill tonight in Game 4.

Obviously, the Bronx Bombers are a New York team, so it’s likely that many Mets fans will cheer on the Yanks—not overly passionate of course—to advance as far as possible.

Another World Series title would be good for the city, even though it would be coming from the other side of town.

However, it’s also inevitable that many Mets fans are Yankee-haters.

For years, our team has played in the shadow of the “Evil Empire,” watching as the Yankees reap all the benefits.

They lure the best free agents, have the most fans, make the playoffs every season and seem to get all the breaks.

When A-Rod goes down with injury, not only does Eduardo Nunez fill in adequately, but Curtis Granderson also picks up the offensive slack in a huge a way.

On the flip side, if David Wright and Ike Davis get hurt, the Mets are scrounging for offense, and even when they get some, the pitching falters.

I’m on the fence as to whom I’m rooting for this postseason. As a Met fan, I thoroughly appreciate National League baseball so wouldn’t mind seeing the NL prevail, except the Phillies of course.

The Mets and Cardinals don’t have the rivalry that once existed in the 1980s, so seeing St. Louis win wouldn’t bother me either.

But still, New York is New York, even if the only other team is the Yankees. While some Yankee fans rub it in our faces concerning how much better the Yanks are than the Mets, most Yankee fans simply treat the Mets as an irrelevant entity.

Sadly, there’s not much argument against that point over the last few years, except if you include media coverage for off-the-field problems.

So I’m curious to see which way Met fans are leaning this postseason. Rather than pick a specific team, I’m rooting for exciting baseball with both clutch hitting and clutch pitching late in games.

Hopefully 2012 brings the Mets better fortune: They’ll likely need it.