Division Series Observations

• It's always interesting to monitor the "next coming" relievers in their rookie years or first season in October. Brad Lidge is getting a second chance after he destroyed the NL only to get destroyed by Albert Pujols. K-Rod came up and lead the way to the 2002 Angels' postseason and then was more or less a flop this year and against the Red Sox in general. Jonathan Papelbon has been great in his young career, but already has a tough luck blown save. It really makes you appreciate just how good Mariano Rivera has been. We're always going to remember the Alomar homer, the Gonzalez bloop and the Dave Roberts steals, but it's every situation inbetween that makes Rivera the best reliever of all time.
• More on Lidge: When he came up we thought he was going to be the same lights out guy K-Rod was and Papelbon has become, but he's more like Joe Borowski or Todd Jones. I'd be weary of a guy who lets a lot of runners on base and is yet to blow a save this season. Especially when he has struggled in big spots earlier in his career.
• Did Pat Burrell have his JD Drew moment or what? I can tell you first hand, Phillies fans HATE Burrell and it will be good riddance when he leaves at the end of this season. But just like Drew in Boston, success heals everything, and when Drew hit his game 7 Grand Slam last season, all was well with JD in Bean town. Now Burrell has his elimination multi homerun game and for the moment, all is well in Philly. If he continues to deliver en-route to a World Series, then it can get really interesting.
• Isn't having Mitch Williams throw out the first pitch bad luck? For the record, Joe Carter was my favorite player growing up until I figured out who Don Mattingly was. Also for the record, BJ Upton is my favorite non-Yankee, replacing the three year streak of Vernon Wells. Upton just seems to play the game in slow motion and nobody on that Rays team has had their "Oh crap" postseason moment yet.
• The one time it's ok to respect a mid 80's win team is in the case of this year's Dodgers. Unlike the 2006 Cardinals or this year's White Sox and Twins, the Dodgers made deals at the deadline and caught fire into an 84 win regular season. In essence, they are much better than their 84 wins, not just lucky to be in a bad division. They proved that with the sweep of the Cubs who couldn't overcome their imaginary curse.
• I'd be willing to guarantee Dustin Pedroia and JD Drew catch fire in the ALCS while Ortiz stays cool and Ellsbury cools off.
• On a non division series note: I know a Superbowl should make me more trusting and I know a 4-0 start should be telling, but I'm still not sold on the Giants being the best team in football. While I'm confident they will go 12-4 or 11-5 this season, I think the Red Skins would beat them in a rematch. Dallas doesn't scare me, the Eagles don't scare me, nothing in the AFC scares me, but the Red Skins just marched into two rivals' homes and beat them on their turf. Watch out.