I’m not sure if I’m a hundred percent on board with this years post season advertising. Having Dane Cook is a step up from having David Wells basically saying “Hey, remember when I pitched a perfect game? I was drunk!”

Anyways that magical time of the year is finally upon us. As tradition of the last three years, we had a one game playoff for the AL Central and it was a dandy with Minnesota going tit for tat with a Detroit team that was playing hard for it’s fans back home. The sad thing about that game is whoever won it was going to be at a significant disadvantage in the next series against a juggernaut Yankee team.

I’ll do one of these posts after each series has ended adjusting my predictions for the next round.

ALDS: Twins Vs. Yankees
As much as I want to be wrong, I’m gonna have to say Yankees win the series 3-1. I’ll give Mauer and company one last playoff win in the Metrodome, but its hard to argue with that Yankee line up. I remember a few years ago I saw their lineup in the post season and was like “man that’s probably the best line up 1-9 I’ve ever seen.” Well this one’s better.

ALDS: Boston Vs. Angels
In the midst of my in-season Boston loathing I didn’t really pay attention to them much. I kind of felt that Texas more or less lost the wild card more than Boston won it, but I could be wrong. They are still a strong team and I’ll be rooting for them to oust the Angels, who will have lost in the first round of the playoffs for 3 straight years. I’m Picking Boston to win the series 3-2.

NLDS: Rockies Vs. Phillies
This series is going to be pretty dependent on two things: can the Rockies starting pitching hold up against a prolific Philadelphia lineup, and can the back of the once great Phillies bullpen close it out against a Colorado team that always seems to find a way to win. I’m gonna take the Phillies 3–2.

NLDS: Cardinals Vs. Dodgers
I’ve heard a lot of hoopla about this Dodger team but it really doesn’t excite me that much. Joe Torre is still running out the vastly inferior Ronnie Belliard over Orlando Hudson which could be a problem. I like the Cardinals front three pitchers, Carpenter, Wainright, and Pinero and it doesn’t hurt to have that Pujols guy. Cardinals 3-2.

The thing about post season baseball is anything can happen. They play 162 games for a reason. That reason being there are so many random occurrences that can go on in any one particular baseball game. The law of large numbers evens these variables out so we can decide the rightful owners of the division crowns. But for logical reasons they throw that out the window and make these teams fight it out for a month. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing at all. It’s the magic of October and that’s why we love it.

Just to spite Colin I’m going to try my best to get back in the habit of posting bi-yearly.

First off, what a game. With the pitching and defense dominating providing for a quick pace I seriously had to pinch myself and make myself realize I wasn’t watching a Mariners game. That was some of the most exciting, edge of my seat all star game I have ever seen. Here are some of my thoughts throughout the game.

• I’m a sucker for all of the pagentry. I love when they announce the players and the managers. It was so cool to see Ozzie Smith and Bob Gipson, two of my favorite HOF’ers, and especially Stan ‘The Man’ Musial give the ball to Obama. While by his own admission, Obama has a pretty weak arm and you can tell he had never played organized baseball, but I hella respect him going with his White Sox Jacket. If only Bush had worn a Texas jacket throwing out the first pitch in NY after 9/11. I guess that was a little different situation.

• My heart is always pounding when a Mariner is making their appearance in an All Star game because I know in the back of my mind that their opportunities are limited. Thankfully Ichiro got his hit out of the gate and Felix threw a brilliant scoreless inning and we didn’t have to go through that Putz debacle of a few years back.

• I LOATHE Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. The only reason Joe Buck is in a radio booth is because his dad is Jack Buck and he’s got a nice voice. He’s often distracted and has little tangible enthusiasm. Tim McCarver on the other hand is even worse. He should be in a home rather than being paid to be heard aloud for humans to hear. He says the most obvioius things like, “This switch hitter hit a home run from both sides on Sunday. That means he hit one batting right handed AND left handed.” No shit. The thing that really pissed me off is when Felix came into pitch they did not even mention his name until there was two outs. It’s like what the hell! Stop talking about how great a guy Ryan Howard is and focus on the game! He’s not even up yet!

• People will probably say that Albert Pujol’s All Star performance was disapointing. I beg to differ. He made some plays at first that I’ve never seen made. He is one hell of a first basemen. Sure he made an error but that guy was standing right in front of him. I knew he was good but his defensive play tonight solidified that he is the best player in the Major Leagues in all facets of the game right now.

• Speaking of defense, Carl Crawford is a beast. A natural center fielder, I had little doubt that once he jumped he had it. Once Hamilton was out of the game, I felt like Joe Maddon knew what kind of game was going to be played with the caliber of pitching on the mound. He ran out Carl Crawford, Curtis Granderson, and Adam Jones. Thats basically the Mariners outfield in terms of defensive ability. Its a new approach dubbed the “3 CF” approach and catches like Crawfords hopefully solidify what people like Adam Dunn shouldn’t be able to own a baseball glove, let alone play the OF.

• I love Curtis Granderson. Ever since my failed attempt to play fantasy baseball, I’ve always followed his career and really admired the way he plays. He is a triple hitting machine and let out as loud of a little ‘woo’ as I could tonight when he hit that triple.

• If I was an Indian’s fan I would be SO pissed. I understand Charlie Manuel’s got a pretty good shot to get back to the World Series and he was managing the game to win, but still. I would be so mad that my only representative in the game got intentionally walked.

• I’m pretty much over the whole Adam Jones situation to the point where I really like just rooting for him. I’m glad he got the winning sac fly and wish him the very best. Besides we got GOOT!

• I’m glad Heath Bell got the loss because he is a hated rival Padre and a big fat douche bag.

All in all it was a very exciting game and for as long as I live I’ll never get used to one run games. So exhilarating every time. I’m sure Comish Selig was relieved to go from that 4 hour and 50 minute debacle to a 2 hour and 30 minute thriller. Here’s to keeping the streak alive!

Wakawaka Mojo was selected by Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays manager and manager of the upcoming AL All Star team, to be a coach on the AL staff. It’ll be nice to have more than just Ichiro representing us in St. Louis.

In my first post back in a while I shouldn’t write too much, don’t want to pull anything. But here’s a sweet video I found of Wak doin’ his thing.

DonWakamatsu

Last night I watched the inaugural game of the Seattle Sounders FC. This is the first time any of us has experienced an expansion franchise first hand and I honestly did not know what to expect. Despite playing soccer for most of my life I never especially liked the game and only had a mild interest when the World Cup came around. But there is something about the word “Seattle” on a jersey that just tickles my Cat Fancy.

I’ve heard the horror stories of expansion franchises but it seemed that Drew Carey and the crew had done a good enough job. They signed the best US national team goalie who has spent most of his career in Europe. They hired Sigi Schmid, a two-time MLS cup champion coach, to head the operation.

It was exciting to see Qwest Field electric again and the boys in green scored goal after goal, undressing the New York Red Bulls in all aspects of the game. Casey Keller, our goalie, made 2 great saves on the only two shots on goal he had to worry about. Fredy Montero was the star scoring two goals and assisting the third.

With a franchise being awarded to Vancouver, BC, and Portland which was announced today, I feel like soccer is finally breaking through and I am excited for a rivalry with close proximity. It was a rough year, but with the Huskies in the tournament, the M’s having hope, and the Seahawks turning things around, everything looks like its on the way up.