Column: It's postseason baseball, not just Yanks-Sox

It's another October and yes, the Red Sox and Yankees are both in the dance. To some, this is probably getting pretty old by now. To some, the whole idea of a third straight ALCS featuring the two foes gives a bored queasy feeling, but hey this is baseball, baby!

I'd be lying if I said that I didn't think it would end up like this. Sure, there were times during the season when the Bombers looked like duds. Then again, there were times I was left speechless trying to explain the Sox's woes. But in the end, here we go again.

This year, though, let's all look beyond that phrase. This year, "here we go again" should be exciting. Those of you moaning about the Sox and Yankees should shut your mouths because there's so much more to the playoffs.

To begin with, St. Louis is hungry this fall, perhaps more than ever. They finished their year with the best record in baseball, winning 100 games. They'll take on San Diego in the playoffs this week. The Padres accomplished something this season by clinching the NL West with a record just barely over .500, winning 82 games - the fewest wins for a playoff team in MLB history. This match-up though, shouldn't be thought of as the Cardinals' 100 games versus the Padres' 82. First of all, the Padres took four of seven from the Cardinals in the season series. More importantly, these are the playoffs and the better team doesn't always necessarily win. There's something about rooting for an underdog, and besides, this series shouldn't be a total blow out.

Atlanta is looking to get back into the NLCS for the first time since 2001 and into the Series for the first time since 1999. After winning the World Series in 1995, they've made it to the playoffs every year since but just can't wrap things up - is this the year? They'll have to get past Houston, who beat them out last year. It's always a good game when these two take the field, and I can't wait to see Clemens on the mound again in what should be his final postseason appearance.

Though I'm excited to watch those games, I'm giddy for what's in the American League. Three of the four teams in the playoffs finished with 95 wins - the Yankees, Sox, and Angels. Ozzie's Sox, the White ones, won 99 games. This time around, the Red Sox and Yankees aren't the teams going into the postseason with lights-out pitching. No, the other two teams made it this far riding that bull while the perennial foes made it mostly on their offense. That's why both division series are going to be so fun to watch. For those of you dreading a New York and Boston ALCS, calm yourself, baby - those other teams are for real, for real.

It's a battle of the Sox in Chicago with the league's best offense against the third-best pitching. Believe it or not, the White ones out-hit the Red ones in terms of batting average in their season series. That's probably because pitching usually beats out offense, but then again, in the postseason, the flamethrowers on all teams are usually on top of their games. A weaker White Sox lineup might have trouble getting on the scoreboard, especially if Schilling can somehow turn his bloated ERA and lost season into a reflection of last year. This series is a toss up; it's going to be toe-to-toe.

The Angels really stepped up their play in this last month of the season. Their second-best pitching staff is going to have to continue its success against the stacked Bomber lineup. I have to say, I'm looking forward to seeing the Yanks squirm a bit because if they make an early exit, there will be a rumble in the Bronx. My only wish though with this series is that the Angels fans bring out that rally monkey - that thing captures the tradition of the posteason and besides, I think it has some weird voodoo power or something.

Lastly, we all should be drooling already after getting a mini four-team playoff this past weekend in the AL. I was in the October mood watching the Sox and Yanks and the Indians and White Sox battle it out for the right to enter the the dance - and to think that wasn't even the beginning. Baseball fans should live for this.

The bottom line is, if you're a fan of baseball, you should be watching the games this month because there'll be fireworks all around - and not just those of the red and pinstriped variety.