MLB Postseason 2007

The Postseason begins today. Despite the Twins not being part of it, I'm fairly interested in the games. The regular season ended in a pretty exciting fashion and I think it can carry into the playoffs.

Here are some thoughts I have.

A look at last year's postseason teams compared to this year's.

AL
2006: Oakland, Minnesota, Yankees, Detroit
2007: Anaheim, Cleveland, Boston, Yankees

NL
2006: San Diego, St. Louis, Mets, Dodgers
2007: Arizona, Cubs, Philadelphia, Colorado

Only one team in the majors, the Yankees, returns from last season's postseason. They fell from a division winner to a wild card.

The AL Central sent two teams last year, Minnesota and Detroit. Neither returns this year, nor does the representative from 2005, the White Sox.

Even more interesting though, is that the National League West sent two teams last year, San Diego and the Dodgers, but send two completely different teams this year, Arizona and Colorado.


On a different note, the senior staffers had a conversation on friday about former Twins on potential playoff teams. Now that the teams are set, I wanted to give a more official list. Strangely, even though there are stories written about notable players left off the postseason rosters, the rosters themselves are harder to come by. Actually, I guess it's not that strange since the teams don't officially have to release their rosters until about 10am on gameday, but some managers have already announced them. Anyway, here's the list as best I can tell:

Yankees: Doug Mientkiewicz
Boston: David Ortiz, possibly Bobby Kielty
Indians: Casey Blake, possibly Aaron Fultz?
Anaheim: none


Philadelphia: Kyle Lohse, J.C. Romero (J.D. Durbin left off, but possibly injury replacement apparently)
Colorado: LaTroy Hawkins, (possibly Mark Redman)
Cubs: Jacque Jones (Henry Blanco left off)
Arizona: Possibly Jeff Cirillo?

There were others who played on these teams this year, but they're not likely to make the postseason roster.