Playoff Snapshot - AL

OAK vs. MIN (reg. season head-to-head record: MIN 6-4)
Game 1: at MIN
Tue, Oct 3 - 1:05 pm EDT
B. Zito vs. J. Santana
Game 2: at MIN
Wed, Oct 4 - 1:05 pm EDT
D. Haren vs. B. Bonser
Game 3: at OAK
Fri, Oct 6 - 4:05 pm EDT
*Game 4: at OAK
Sat, Oct 7 - TBA * - If necessary
*Game 5: at MIN
Sun, Oct 8 - TBA * - If necessary

MIN is carrying its strong momentum from winning AL Central into the Divisional Series vs. OAK. Santana will be tough to beat at home for the A's in the 1st game (17GS, 12W, 119inn, 2.19ERA, .98WHIP & .216 opp. AVG). Considering Johan only has faced OAK once in the regular season, in which he won with dominance (8inn, 2H, no BB, 9K, 1ER), Athletics need to take Gm. 2 in MINvs. Bonser if they want to have a chance of winning the series.

Haren has success pitching at MIN's MetroDome this season, 2GS with a win (14inn, 12H, 7ER, 2HR, 11K, 4.50ERA, 1.00WHIP, & .222 opp AVG). He has a good enough arsenal to win a game for OAK in MIN. In 3 gms vs. MIN overall, Dan pitched 20inn, gave up only 15 hits & 4BBs with 3.15ERA & .95WHIP. Also, the fact that he's facing a rookie pitcher in Bonser gives him another edge in this critical game for OAK in the series.

OAK's bats have to come alive in this series, simply because of the style MIN plays - NL-like small ball with some steals on the base path (Castillo, the lead-off hitter, Punto, and Hunter are the Twins base-stealers). A's station-to-station base-running style will need some key-hits from Thomas, Chávez & Bradley. Patient hitters like Kendall & Swisher won't be getting the BB they have been looking for all season vs. the Twins pitching staff.

Another key factor in the series is MIN's closer, Joe Nathan. He has been literally unhittable all-season (68 1/3 inn, 38H, only 3HRs, 95K, 16BB, 12ER, 1.58ERA, .79WHIP, & .158 opp. AVG). OAK won't be likely to rally late in the games vs. this stud (even if they do, it won't happen more than one time, unless Nathan just collapsed or vanished altogether).

MIN's home-advantage in the series gives them a big edge because of the white-ceiling dome & Cy Young candidate, Johan Santana pitching the 1st & 5th game at home (if necessary) in the series. OAK will have to get hits in situations that they have an edge, whether it be the middle-relief pitchers or runners on with middle-line-up hitters up. A's could win the series, just not an easy one for them to pull out starting on the road.

COWBOY UP's PICK: MIN in 4

DET vs. NYY (reg. season head-to-head record: NYY 5-2)
Game 1: at NYY
Tue, Oct 3 - 8:05 pm EDT
N. Robertson vs. C. Wang
Game 2: at NYY
Wed, Oct 4 - 8:05 pm EDT
J. Verlander vs. M. Mussina
Game 3: at DET
Fri, Oct 6 - 8:05 pm EDT
*Game 4: at DET
Sat, Oct 7 - TBA * - If necessary
*Game 5: at NYY
Sun, Oct 8 - TBA * - If necessary

DET is going into the post-season with a 5-game losing streak that includes a sweep by Kansas City Royals at home! NYY clinched the AL East division early with the fallout of BOS, but the club hasn't been at its best late, especially in the last 2 weeks of Sep. DET just doesn't look so tough at this point and it's predicted as a underdog vs. NYY with home-field advantage.

Wang has been an All-Star all-season with his unhittable sinkers. His #'s at home are impressive & should get the attention of Tigers hitters (17GS, 118 2/3inn, 11W, 112H, 27BB, 3.03ERA, 1.17WHIP, & .253 opp. AVG) . Robertson is a solid pitcher, who is often overlooked. However, facing NYY's best starter on the road puts him at a significant disadvantage (2GS, 15 2/3inn, 20H, 8ER, 4BB, 4.60ERA, 1.53WHIP, .313 opp. AVG) for a DET team craving for a win. Wang & the "murder-row" line-up should get a W for the home crowd in the 1st game.

Verlander, the Rookie of the Year candidate has amazing stuff (98-mph fastballs & nice off-speed pitches). He hasn't done well vs. NYY this season in one chance, though (5inn, 7H, 6ER, 1HR, 4BB, 10.80ERA & 2.20WHIP). Mussina, NYY's Gm. 2 starter, has faced some minor injuries and having a better than his usual-Moose year (197 1/3inn, 172K, 35BB, 3.51ERA, 1.11WHIP, & .241 opp. AVG). Having to pitching at home should give him & NYY the edge to take two in the series.

DET's soft-playing lately & weaker pitching rotation vs. NYY just don't seem good enough to past the MLB-leading run-producing team. Mike & Mad Dog on The Fan radio has been calling for a sweep by the ~$200mil. payroll club with Tigers performing like a kitten the last few weeks. Bonderman or Rogers (both pitched in DET's last regular-season game) will start in Gm. 3 vs. Randy Johnson, if he's feeling alright. Tigers may just not embarrass themselves in front of their home crowd in Gm. 3 and get a W after an impressive run during the regular season that surprised most critics. Tigers will need their starting pitchers to hold down the NYY's hitters and use their strong relief pitchers as their edge.

COWBOY UP's PICK: NYY in 4