Tune in tonight as Bloggers Anthony of the Oriole Post and Jason of My Baseball Bias join me for our hour long baseball show called, “The Hits Keep Coming” on Blog Talk Radio and on MVN Radio. Every week at 7PM Eastern Time (6PM Central/ 5PM Mountain/ 4PM Western/Pacific) we chat, analyze and comment about the world of Major League Baseball.

This week it’s the PLAYOFF EDITION as we tell you all you need to know about the ALDS and NLDS.

If you’d like to call in, the phone number is 718-664-6564 or you can send us an instant message if you use AOL IM at hitskeepcoming20.

Please join us at either: http://blogtalkradio.com/oriolepost or http://mvn.com/radio/ – 7PM Eastern Time tonight!

Topics to be discussed this evening:

• Preview the NLDS and ALDS Match-ups
• New York Mets historic September collapse
• Trevor Hoffman’s inability to win big games for the Padres
• Andruw Jones is on the market
• Scott Schoeneweis is using? Who’s Next?

You can listen to last week’s show by going over to the sidebar on the right and looking for the Blog Talk Radio section.

See you all tonight!!!

I think everyone will remember that I sucked at this last year when I tried to do the predictions for the American League and National League Division Series Matchups. So I decided to do it again. This year you will see my predictions along with Steve’s. My predictions will be in blue and Steve’s in red.

This year the four teams playing for the right to represent the American League are the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the New York Yankees. The teams trying to represent the National League are the Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies.

American League Division Series:

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Both the Red Sox and Angels come into this series with their pitching rotations set up the way they want. Since the series provides an off-day after each game except after games 3 and 4, the advantage goes to the Red Sox. Lackey hasn’t had success at Fenway while the Sox will have Beckett and Matsuzaka going. The one thing the Sox have to be aware of is the Angels small ball ways and Vlad. If you make a mistake to Vlad, that ball will be somewhere on Lansdowne Street. Playing the small ball is what got the Angels there and the Red Sox will have to execute flawlessly to counteract that. In the end, I think it comes down to the bullpens and the Sox have the better overall bullpen. Red Sox in 4.

I think the Sox take it in four games. LA steals a game at home but with Josh Beckett going twice in four games and LA having no power threat other than Big Bad Vladdy Daddy they can’t get behind. In fact Guerrero is only expected to DH and with Gary Matthews Jr most likely out that means the outfield will be spread thin as rookies Reggie Willts and Nathan Haynes will most likely have to play. The Angels bullpen isn’t what it has been in past years sure they have Francisco Rodriguez and Scot Sheilds but other than that its weak. The Sox bullpen has been a strength all season and it will continue to be.

Also, please check out the roundtable discussion about the Angels and Red Sox series I participated in over at Red Sox Monster. Three other Red Sox bloggers and myself answered questions about the upcoming series.

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The biggest question out of this series is whether AROD can continue to do what he did in the regular season or will he have another quiet playoffs like years past. The Indians will throw their top two pitchers, Sabathia and Carmona in the first two games and they are as good as anyone out there. The Yankees will go with Wang and Pettitte so it will not be an easy task as well. The Indians lineup is built around speed and power while the Yankees lineup is probably one of the best there is. In the end, I think this comes down to the bullpens and ultimately the Yanks will come out on top in 5 games.

Ok which team shows up here. The Yankees who can’t pitch or the Indians who can’t hit? Everyone is high on Joba Chamberlain but you gotta get to him first. With the Indians having home field I think its big. C.C. Sabathia hasn’t faced the Yanks since 2004, that’s a huge advantage for him in Game 1. The Yankees have a better bullpen and everyday lineup. But they say good pitching stops good hitting so the Indians win in 5 as Sabathia gets two W’s.

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The Patriots not only survived the first four weeks of the season without safety Rodney Harrison in the defensive backfield but most people didn’t even realize he was gone. When Harrison was suspended by the NFL for HGH use just prior to opening weekend many through out the media and even Patriots fans themselves thought they could be in for it and what was promising to be a special season could start off ugly.

But the team, as always, pulled together to survive loss of Harrison plus having all-pro defensive lineman Richard Seymour put on the PUP list for the six weeks with an ankle injury. Then came camera-gate and everyone forgot about Harrison’s absence.

Well Rodney returned to the facilities today. I’m sure he’s dying to play Sunday at home against Cleveland and I’m sure Pat’s fans will give him the same treatment they gave Belichick in Week 2. Nothing but love.

Comment of the week goes to Mendoza on the Pat’s projo blog discussing the return of Harrison:

“I feel bad for the first person to get hit by him next week”.

Speaking of Richard Seymour, I haven’t heard anything about if he is going to return for Week 7. This isn’t surprising as the Patriots are very secretive to begin with regarding injuries and never make injured players available to the media. The Patriots have to either activate him or place him on the season-long injured reserve list after Week 6.

The Bengals who started Monday’s game with only four healthy linebackers played nearly 3 quarters with only two after Lemar Marshall and Landon Johnson suffered injuries, neither returned to the field. Wednesday Cincinnati placed Marshall on the IR for the year and replaced him with Corey Mays who they claimed off waivers from New England. Mays played one game for the Patriots against the Jets in Week 1. He made one tackle in limited time near the end of the game. As a rookie out of Notre Dame last season he played in 8 games for the Patriots making 9 tackles.

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162 games down. 11 more wins to the promised land. It’s playoff time in Major League Baseball. The Red Sox and Angels both spent yesterday mulling over roster decisions for the ALDS and some surprises on both. No Wakefield for the Sox and no Matthews, Jr. for the Angels. It’s going to be an exciting series as both clubs play different styles of baseball. Steve and I will have our predictions at high noon today. So while you’re eagerly awaiting those, check out the headlines from the Boston and Los Angeles area media.

Excitement for the playoffs! [Yooooouuuuukkkkk]

Deal turned up an ace [Boston Globe]

Colon out, so Moseley back on playoff roster [LA Times]

Sox buckle up [Boston Herald]

Boston should beat Angels in four [The Orange County Register]

Trying To Prevent Angels’ Playoff Run [Hartford Courant]

The start of something big? [LA Daily News]

Series business [Pro Jo]

Mom and Vlad [LA Times]

Lowell unflappable [Boston Globe]

Best and worst of Bill Stoneman [The Orange County Register]

Manny has plan [Boston Herald]

Injuries have Angels facing a depth test [LA Daily News]

Back Keeps Wakefield Off Roster [Hartford Courant]

There’s no pitcher like Beckett, and that’s just fine with the Sox [Pro Jo]

For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Providence Journal, Hartford Courant, LA Times, The Orange County Register and LA Daily News websites.

As you take a look at the 25-man roster for the Boston Red Sox in the ALDS, you will notice one player left off the roster. I will let you mull it over while looking at it.

Regulars:
Jason Varitek
Kevin Youkilis
Dustin Pedroia
Julio Lugo
Mike Lowell
J.D. Drew
Coco Crisp
Manny Ramirez
David Ortiz

Bench:
Eric Hinske
Alex Cora
Jacoby Ellsbury
Bobby Kielty
Doug Mirabelli
Kevin Cash

Pitchers:
Josh Beckett
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Curt Schilling
Jon Lester
Jonathan Papelbon
Eric Gagne
Hideki Okajima
Mike Timlin
Manny Delcarmen
Javier Lopez

To see why Terry Francona left Tim Wakefield off the roster, check out Amalie Benjamin’s post at Extra Bases.

Other than Wake being left off the roster, the other surprise to me is Kevin Cash. But due to the way the series sets up, virtually every pitcher in the bullpen would be available in each game with the exception of Jon Lester, who is probably the long man.

The Red Sox spent the off day mulling over their playoff roster and attending a rally at Boston City Hall. Today they will hold a full team workout at Fenway Park before heading home to rest up for Wednesday’s ALDS opener vs the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The game times were announced as well on Monday. You can see them by clicking here. So while there was no Red Sox game yesterday, you can bet the Boston area media was busy. So without further hesitation let’s take a look at the headlines and stories they wrote.

Once he gained edge, Pedroia looked sharp [Boston Globe]

New Spin On Rotation [Hartford Courant]

Playoffs may define Papelbon’s greatness [Boston Herald]

Sox set their rotation with eye toward maximizing Schilling [Pro Jo]

Donnelly can’t help but feel bittersweet [Boston Globe]

’Penning a solid plan [Boston Herald]

A lower-profile Manny still helped Ortiz have big year [Pro Jo]

For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Providence Journal, and Hartford Courant websites.

The Red Sox will need to slow the Angels down on the basepaths during the ALDS.

Anderson, Escobar, Lackey, Guerrero all provide leadership for the Angels.

The A’s suffered from the injury bug throughout 2007.

Despite not making the playoffs, the Blue Jays season was a success.

The Devil Rays are showing promise for a breakthrough season.

C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona will look to lead the Indians in the playoffs.

The Seattle Mariners are looking forward to a better 2008.

The Orioles took some small steps towards their organizational goals.

The Rangers will be looking to add a big bat to their lineup for 2008.

The Royals made some progress in 2007.

Detroit fell short in their quest to repeat as American League Champs.

The Twins lost focus on fundamentals in 2007.

The White Sox lived a nightmare in 2007.

Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens tested his injured hamstring down in Tampa.

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Here is a look at what happened between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as written here on SOX & Dawgs by Steve and myself.

Click on the dates to see the full article.

April 13th, 2007: Behind another strong effort from Tim Wakefield and the bats of David Ortiz and Mike Lowell, the Boston Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by the final score of 10-1. The game was 4-1 entering the 8th inning until the Red Sox put up a 6 spot in the bottom half of the inning.The knuckleball was dancing on Friday night. In seven innings of work, Wakefield gave up 5 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, walked 2 batters and struck out 3. Ortiz was 2 for 5 with 3 rbi’s and Lowell was 2 for 4 with 3 rbi’s. Doug Mirabelli added a home run and had 2 rbi’s in the contest.

The Red Sox went to closer Jonathan Papelbon in the eighth inning. It was a save situation at the time and once again, he was electric on the mound. Using the “Papelglare”, he was able to strike out Vlad Guerrero on a 97 mph fastball and got Garrett Anderson to fly out. He threw a total of 6 pitches. Because the Sox put up 6 runs in the bottom half of the inning, manager Terry Francona brought in Mike Timlin to finish off the game.

April 14th, 2007: Another solid effort by Curt Schilling helped the Red Sox defeat the Angels on Saturday afternoon by the final score of 8-0. Schilling went 8 strong innings and now has thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings. Schilling gave up 4 hits, walked 1 and struck out 6. His ERA now stands at 2.84.

Big Papi was the man again going 2 for 4 with 4 rbi’s. He clubbed a long home run to center field in the 8th inning as well. Eric Hinske, who gave Kevin Youkilis the day off, filled in nicely going 2 for 3 with 2 walks. Hinske has now hit safely in his last 13 games.

J.D. Drew’s 13 game hitting streak ended on Saturday as he was hitless in 3 at bats. He would have had one more chance to extend the streak in the bottom of the 8th but manager Terry Francona pinch hit Wily Mo Peña for him.

April 16th, 2007: After giving up a first inning home run, Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett rebounded to finish strong with help from his hitters in the bottom half of the inning, and the Red Sox swept the series from the Angels by winning today 7-2.

The Red Sox put together four consecutive hits to start the bottom of the 1st that led to the first three runs. Julio Lugo led off with a double and scored on a Kevin Youkilis’ single. David Ortiz then hit a double to move Youk over to 3rd base and Manny Ramirez knocked them both in with a single. J.D Drew then grounded into a fielder’s choice but Angels 2nd baseman, Howie Kendrick, threw the ball into the outfield which allowed Manny to score all the way from first base. The doubles machine, Mike Lowell, hit yet another one to drive in Drew.

Beckett actually gave up a home run to former Sox SS Orlando Cabrera, then hit in Vladimir Guerrero in the wrist. Vlad had to leave the game, and the x-rays were negative. Both teams were warned after this happened but it was clear that Beckett wasn’t trying to hit Vlad at all.

Beckett scattered 6 hits over 6 innings of work, allowing the 1 run, walking 1 and striking out 5 Angels batters. Lugo was 2 for 4 today and was outstanding in the field making some great over the shoulder catches. Hopefully, his defensive play continues like this. Big Papi was 2 for 3, with a home run to go along with his double. The Red Sox bullpen (Hideki “Darkman” Okajima, J.C. Romero, and Kyle Synder) pitched very well with the only blemish being a Kendrick home run in the 9th inning.

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The Result

The Patriots roll over the Bengals 34-13 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati and improve to 4-0 on the year. The Bengals are now 1-3. 

Sammy Morris, Tom Brady and Randy Moss did the primary damage offensively for New England tonight.  Morris, filling in for Laurence Maroney, had his 4th career 100 yard rushing game, Moss became the first player with 4 consecutive 100 yard games to start a season and Brady completed 78% of his throws. 

Defensively the team wasn’t as good as it has been but the expolosiveness of the Cincinnati offense led them to leave more people back than they usually do resulting in only one sack of Carson Palmer. 

Overall a good effort but not nearly as dominating as the last three games.

Scoring Plays

1^st Quarter

NE – Gostkowski 31 yard FG – 3-0 Patriots

NE – Brady 1 yard TD pass to Vrabel – kick good – 10-0 Patriots

2^nd Quarter

CIN – Palmer 1 yard TD pass to Houshmandzadeh – kick good – 10-7 Patriots

NE – Brady 7 yard TD pass to Moss – kick good – 17-7 Patriots

3^rd Quarter

NE – Morris 7 yard run – kick good – 24-7 Patriots

CIN – Graham 40 yard FG – 24-10 Patriots

4th Quarter

NE – Gostkowsi 36 yard FG – 27-10 Patriots

CIN – Graham 48 yard FG – 27-13 Patriots

NE –  Brady yard 14 TD pass to Moss – kick good – Patriots 34-13

Offensive Player of the Game

Sammy Morris, playing in place of Laurence Maroney had 21 carries, 117 yards and a TD.

Defensive Player of the Game

Asante Samuel had 4 tackles and a big interception.

Turning Point(s) of the Game

Patriots 62-yard TD drive to answer the Bengals first TD and put the lead back to 10 with about 4 minutes left in the half.

Samuel’s interception of Bengal QB Carson Palmer just shy of the goal line with Bengals driving at end of the second half.

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Nothing like kicking the New York Mets when they are down.

A source is reporting to ESPN that Mets left-handed reliever Scott Schoeneweis received steroids while he was a member of the Chicago White Sox in 2003 and 2004. Schoeneweis had testicular cancer while he was in college at Duke back in 1993.

The doctor who prescribed the steroids to Schoeneweis, Ramon Scruggs, is the same doctor who wrote the scripts for the Blue Jays’ Troy Glaus. Glaus still has not talked about his alleged receipt of the performance-enhancing drugs.

According to the source who looked at the invoices, Schoeneweis received five packages of steroids. The first three packages he received also had stanozolol.

Gary Wadler, a physician and member of the World Anti-Doping Agency, said that while it might make sense for someone with hormone deficiencies to take testosterone, he had never heard of anyone taking stanozolol to help with the affliction.

“It’s not an approved use, as far as I’m aware of,” he said.

This is just another black eye for Major League Baseball and its apparent steroid and HGH problem.