DOCTOBER FIRES NO-HITTER

Now that is how you want to pitch in your first postseason game ever. Not only do you go out and prove you are the best pitcher in the game today but you go out and throw a Phuckin' no-hitter. Straight domination all game. Hitting corners and mixing up speeds like Maddux back in his prime. Only the second no-hitter in postseason history and the first since Don Larsen threw a perfecto way back in the 50's. No worries since Roy Halladay already threw a perfect game earlier this season.

Right now I don't see anybody beating the Phillies. Phuck!

ALDS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS: YANKEES VS TWINS

The Yankees are back in the playoffs because they have $200 million dollars. The Twins are in the playoffs again because they run a great organization that is reliant on good scouting and developing their talent. The Yankees just buy their way in every year and this year is no different.

Tonight we see a battle of lefties in Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia against comeback kid Francisco Liriano. Whoever wins tonight will win the series. The Yankees are 9-2 against the Twins in the ALDS having won all 3 series against them. This year could be different because the Yankees starting pitching is very suspect after big C.C. A.J. Burnett won't even pitch and Phil Hughes and Andy Pettitte have both struggled since the All-Star break. Unfortunately for the Twins they got Carl Pavano going in game 2 (Yanks fans remember him fondly) and then Brian Duensing going in game 3. So in other words the pitching matchups cancel each other out.

Both teams come in the series struggling of late. The Yankees have more power in their lineup with Mark Teixeira at 1B while the Twins will be without Justin Morneau. This I believe will be the big difference in the series. In a battle of wills the Yankees will get more pop out of their lineup with Alex Rodriguez producing at key times and Robinson Cano delivering as he did all season.

Prediction: Yankees in 5 (fuck em!)

CARLO CALABRESE DOES HIS LATTIMER IMPERSONATION

Notre Dame MLB Carlo Calabrese is a beast. Along with fellow MLB Manti Te'o who currently leads the nation in tackles the Notre Dame defense has two guys who could become the best inside backer group to ever wear the blue and gold.

And oh yeah, the spotting of the ball on this play was complete bullshit. Carlo completely stopped the Stanford fullback in this tracks. There was no forward progress. The stop brought back memories of Steve Lattimer in "The Program" when he rips off the helmet.

GREAT COMMERCIAL

HT: Mike

NLDS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS: RED VS PHILLIES

Roy Halladay has a Hall of Fame type resume after 13 seasons but he is still missing one important accomplishment: a postseason appearance. Today El Perfecto Roy will be making his first postseason start in what surely will be his biggest of his career. The Phillies are the two-time reigning National League Champs and are the odd's on favorite in Vegas to win the National League pennant. The Reds on the other hand are making first postseason appearance since 1995. It's been way too long for the storied franchise.

The Reds will start Edinson Volquez today. He went 4-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 12 starts this season after missing all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Going against Halladay in Philly in the series opener will be a daunting task. The Reds did win 91 games this season but they really struggled the last month of the season. They have a superstar slugger in Joey Votto and an upcoming star in Jay Bruce who will both be looking to make some noise in their playoff debuts. They will not only have to face Halladay in game 1 but then they get proven playoff pitchers Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels.

The Phillies come in playing outstanding baseball since the All-Star break. They have the best starting trio of pitchers and their hitting has come alive with Chase Utley and Placido Palonco returning from injuries. They won the season series 5-2 over the Reds during the regular season and I expect the same in this series.

Prediction: Phillies in 4

ALDS PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS: RANGERS VS RAYS

The Texas Rangers will be making their first playoff appearance since 1999. The Rays will be making their first since 2008 when they went to the World Series. On paper this looks like a mismatch. But then again games aren't played on paper. Home field will be huge in this series as the Rangers have a losing record on the road this season and were a combined 0-12 against the three playoff teams (Rays, Yankees, Twins).

In the first game at the Trop we have a battle of lefties in playoff hero Cliff Lee of the Rangers going against young stud David Price. Last year Lee went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA with the Phillies in his first postseason ever. He struggled mightily in his three starts against the Rays this season going 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA. The Rangers as a team have lost their last 9 LDS games and are the only team in the majors to have never won a playoff series. I expect the Rays to win the first game and continue their momentum throughout the playoffs.

The Rays I believe have the most complete team in the majors. They play great fundamental ball (some would say National League ball) and they have outstanding pitching and their defense is top notch. Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford are two superstars who will shine. Crawford is the best left fielder in the game defensively and will be the top free agent target this offseason. I'm not saying he is going to have a Carlos Beltran type postseason with a contract on the line but I think he will definitely have a memorable postseason before he is wearing the pinstripes next year. If the Rays do have one weakness it is their hitting which can go cold (only team to be either no-hit or 1 hit 5 times this season) but I don't think the Rangers have enough pitching or defense to beat the Rays with 3 of the 5 games in the Trop.

Prediction: Rays in 4.