The playoffs: A-Rod to Zumaya
A primer for the playoffs, from A-to-Z:
A – A-Rod. Alex Rodriguez is sure to be the most-scrutinized player in the postseason and the most booed if he starts off badly in New York. A two-time A.L. MVP and 10-time All-Star, the Yankees’ third baseman is a .305 hitter with six homers and 16 RBIs in 31 career playoff games. He is still hoping, however, for a signature hit – and his first trip to the World Series.
B – Braves. It seems strange to mark Atlanta absent from these playoffs. Its record streak of 14 straight division titles ended this year.
C – Comerica Park. Cavernous when it opened in 2000, the dimensions at the Detroit ballpark, which hosts playoff ball for the first time, have been cut down.
D – Dodgers Drought. A revamped roster gives Los Angeles another chance to win its first postseason series … since Kirk Gibson led L.A. to the 1988 championship.
E – Eckstein. Easily one of the most excitable (and at 5-foot-7, among the smallest) players in the majors, St. Louis shortstop David Eckstein is a virtual whirlybird. Watch him in the on-deck circle and at the plate, his bat moves in dizzying fashion.
F – Firemen. As in closers, the relief aces. What happens in the ninth inning can define a game, season or a franchise. San Diego’s Trevor Hoffman holds the major league record for most saves; the Yankees’ Mariano Rivera might be the best ever.
G – Grady Little. Vilified (and fired) for the way he used Boston ace Pedro Martinez during the 2003 A.L. Championship Series, Little resurfaced in L.A. and earned the N.L. wild card.
H – Hurt, the Big Hurt. Hobbled by injuries, Frank Thomas missed out last year when the White Sox won the World Series. He then left Chicago in a bitter breakup but found his old self in powering Oakland to the A.L. West title. Healthy again, he ranked among the A.L. leaders in home runs and RBIs.
I – Injuries. Almost every playoff team lost a key player this year.
J – Jeter. Whether it’s making a backhanded flip to the plate or hitting a leadoff home run, Derek Jeter has become the face of October. His postseason stats – .307, 16 homers, 47 RBIs in 115 games – are not that much better than those of Yankees teammate Alex Rodriguez – .305, 6 homers and 16 RBIs in 31 games. But those four World Series rings Jeter owns separates them.
K – K Zone. This is the time to bring the heat, and some of baseball’s best strikeout pitchers should be on display. Among ‘em: Minnesota ace Johan Santana, San Diego’s Jake Peavy and Detroit’s Jeremy Bonderman.
L – Leyland. Many thought Jim Leyland was crazy when he ended a six-year retirement – prompted by burnout – and came back to take over a Detroit team that had averaged 100 losses for five seasons. At 61, he guided the Tigers into the playoffs and is a manager of the year candidate.
M – Managers Fired. This is a dangerous week for managers whose teams had trouble this season. Frank Robinson, Dusty Baker and Felipe Alou all are without jobs now.
N – Nomar. A two-time A.L. batting champion, Nomar Garciaparra could’ve called it a career, packed it in because of injuries and enjoyed life with soccer star wife Mia Hamm. But the former shortstop signed with the Dodgers, bounced back as a first baseman, made the All-Star team and helped put Los Angeles in the playoffs.
O – Old Timers. At 48, the Mets’ Julio Franco is older than the team, which began play in 1962. He leads a cast of voyaging veterans, including San Diego’s David Wells (43), the Yankees’ Randy Johnson (43), Detroit’s Kenny Rogers (41) and the Dodgers’ Greg Maddux (40), all looking to catch lightning.
P – Playoff Newcomers. Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado and Athletics catcher Jason Kendall each have played in more than 1,500 games, but not once in the postseason.
Q – Quick. Jose Reyes led the majors with 64 stolen bases and 17 triples. See how fast this human whippet energizes Shea Stadium when he gets on base, and how much he unnerves opposing pitchers with his daring leads.
R – Rookies. Some stars such as Don Mattingly, Andre Dawson and Ernie Banks played their whole careers and never made it to the World Series. Justin Verlander, Josh Barfield, Andre Ethier and Melky Cabrera might get a chance in their rookie seasons.
S – Swaps. Greg Maddux, Bobby Abreu, Sean Casey, David Wells and Roberto Hernandez all would’ve been sitting home right now if they hadn’t been traded late in the season.
T – Torre. Pretty good mark for the Yankees’ manager – 11 seasons in the dugout, 11 times in the playoffs. Joe Torre soothes owner George Steinbrenner and keeps himself healthy by drinking up to 10 cups of green tea per game, something he started doing in 1999 after surgery for prostate cancer.
U – Unheralded. Endy Chavez, Mike Redmond and John Rodriguez might not start in the next week, but they’re the kind of utility guys who can come off the bench and show up in the boxscore, and on the highlight reels.
V – Volume. By far, the Metrodome is the loudest ballpark in baseball. Twins fans delight in raising the decibel level.
W — World Series. The Fall Classic starts Oct. 21 in the home of the A.L. champion. This will be the fifth straight year the Series opens at the A.L. park – four consecutive wins in the All-Star game brought home-field advantage each time.
X – X factor, as in the wild card. The Red Sox (2004), Marlins (2003) and Angels (2002) all won championships as a wild-card team. The Dodgers and Tigers try this year.
Y – Yankees. They’ve won a record 26 titles, yet missed out the last five years. With a record $200 million payroll and All-Stars at every position, they’re the team many fans love to cheer for – or love to root against.
Z – Zito and Zumaya. Oakland ace Barry Zito owns one of the best curveballs in the business, and Detroit rookie reliever Joel Zumaya hits 100 mph with his fastball.