We interrupt this birth for baseball season

We'll take a very brief break from babies to re-visit the Major League baseball playoffs. The regular season wrapped up in fine form when the Twins finished out the postseason roster, beating the Tigers in 12 innings.

Now, of course, you'll remember that last season Matt swept through the playoffs, predicting every single series - up to and including the World Series - incorrectly. Honestly, that's not easy to do.

OK, so the playoffs start today. Last year, Matt was lucky enough to seven of the eight playoff teams in person. This year, he "only" saw one of the teams play in person - he caught a Dodgers game when he visited Alex this summer.

However, he has visited the stadiums of six of the eight teams playing this year. So, you can take these predictions to the bank.

Yankees vs. Twins

Comment: Is there anything to like about the Yankees? Their overpriced stadium, their overpaid and whiny players (except for Jeter and Rivera), their overhyped team - it all stinks. Is there anything not to like about the Twins? Their hustle, Joe Mauer, Joe Nathan, their grit, their smarts - it's all beautiful.
Prediction: Matt's heart wants to pick the Twins because they are so fun to watch and the Yankees are all that is evil. But: 1) the Twins had to play an extra game that went extra innings less than a day before this series starts; 2) the Yankees have C.C. Sabathia; 3) the Twins have Carl Pavano. Yankees in three.

Red Sox vs. Angels

Comment: This is probably the best match up in the first round. There's great offense everywhere - Papi, Youkilis, Bay, Vlad, Abreu, Hunter - but the pitching is the real story. Weaver, Saunders, Lackey, Santana and Kazmir against Beckett, Lester, Buchholz, Penny and Dice-K. Dynamite.
Prediction: Just a hunch, but maybe this comes down to the relivers and maybe the Angels regret letting K-Rod get away. No offense to Brian Fuentes, but Papelbon is one of the best out there. Sox is five.

Dodgers vs. Cardinals
Comment: This will be a fun series, maybe one that Matt will later tell Mark that he got to watch Manny go up against Pujols and hot dogs used to cost a nickel. Two of the greatest clutch hitters of all time, facing off. And two of the great baseball managers facing off. Besides the Twins, Matt will probably be rooting for the Dodgers to get the Series, just so ultimate good guy Jim Thome can finally get a championship at bat.
Prediction: The Dodgers don't have enough starting pitching to match up with the Cardinals. And they're slumping down the stretch. Wainwright, Carpenter, Pujols and Holliday is more than enough. Cardinals in three.

Phillies vs. Rockies

Comment: Interesting match-up here. The defending champs against the upstarts with experience. The Phillies were never really challenged this season and they have excellent starting pitching. And yet, something makes Matt wary of them. The Rockies have all the mojo heading into the playoffs and plenty of clutch hitters and pitchers. And yet, something makes Matt wary of them.
Prediction: Playing another hunch here, but Matt says Ubaldo Jiminez completes his rise to superstar pitcher against the Phils. Matt will take the upset special, with the Rockies winning in five.

So, if you're a betting man, that's: Twins, Angels, Dodgers and Phillies.