how they got to the playoffs.....

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The Oakland Athletics


JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) - Five reasons why the Oakland Athletics were able to capture the American League West Division:

1) The Big Three - What makes Oakland so tough during the regular season is the fact that it is nearly impossible for them to get in a rut. With Cy Young Award contender Barry Zito winning 23 games and Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder combining for another 34 victories, it is easy to see why the A's never had that rut where they offered either the Angels or Mariners a glimpse at a collapse. Zito's stuff is among the 10 best in the game and his presence belies his 24 years. Hudson was sluggish early but has rebounded into the righthanded stud on the staff. Mulder just wins and while he might not be as electric as Zito, he offers quality innings and loads of them. Don't discount the job Cory Lidle did in August, when the A's bolted to the forefront, but his biggest contributions in october likely will come out of the bullpen.

2) The Billy Koch Factor - The A's lost a star closer in Jason Isringhausen when they couldn't afford him. But general manager Billy Beane not only filled the position but may have improved it. Koch was coming off a shaky year with Toronto so the deal was not without its risks, but the hard-throwing veteran righthander has given Oakland a last-inning presence. He is the first pitcher ever with 10 wins and 40 saves in the same season and while he isn't automatic, he does inspire a bit more confidence in that final frame than Isringhausen did.

3) The Left Side of the Infield - Future success always has been predicted for shortstop Miguel Tejada and third baseman Eric Chavez, but no one could be sure of what to expect from each following the offseason departure of team leader Jason Giambi. Tejada is just 26 and Chavez only 25 but each has grown exponentially and filled the leadership void on the club. Tejada is an MVP candidate and amongst the most dangerous hitters in the game. He can single-handedly chance a series with his bat and has been exceptional in the clutch over the second half of the season. Chavez might not have fulfilled all the lofty expectations heaped upon him but continues to progress and posted a career-highs 34 home runs.

4) Ramon Hernandez - He really doesn't do anything exceptional and for a guy who doesn't hit, you'd think he be an even better defensive catcher but Hernandez is among the most important players on the team. He works well with "The Big Three," each of whom has very diverse stuff. He calls a very good game and is a workhorse. He throws well enough and has occasional power but his ability to guide one of the most gifted staffs in the game is why he has become one of the most respected backstops in the league.

5) One-run games - Art Howe doesn't receive nearly the credit he deserves for his in-game maneuvers but there is a reason Oakland is among the best teams of all time in tight games. Howe isn't afraid to use his closer in a very tight spot and doesn't cost his team games by overmanaging. Oakland was 32-14 in one-run affairs and Howe was a reason why.



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The Minnesota Twins
October 1, 2002

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) - Five reasons why the Minnesota Twins were able to capture the American League Central Division:

1) Eddie Guardado and Friends - Not only did Guardado complete the transformation from lefthanded specialist to All-Star closer, but the entire Twins bullpen fell into place better than anyone had the right to expect. Just as Guardado made his transition seamless, so did LaTroy Hawkins, who went from a closer to one of the game's best setup men. His runners to innings pitched ratio was phenomenal and he gave manager Ron Gardenhire the righthanded setup man he needed. J.C. Romero is virtually unhittable when throwing strikes and rookie Tony Fiore has been a pleasant surprise. Veteran Mike Jackson is solid and Gardenhire has made each player aware of his role.

2) Kyle Lohse's first half and Rick Reed's second half - Combined they could have been a Cy Young candidate but there is no question that each has proved essential as Minnesota's top three 2001 starters - Brad Radke, Eric Milton and Joe Mays - battled nagging injuries. Lohse's eight first-half wins helped the Twins gets off to the great start and Reed's post All-Star contributions were good enough to keep the Chicago White Sox at bay.

3) Next-step superstars like Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones - People in the know knew how good Hunter was but he burst to the forefront in 2002, even earning Most Valuable Player consideration. Always solid defensively and on the base paths, Hunter progressed at the plate to the point that he is among the most feared righthanded hitters in the league. Jones gets overshadowed playing alongside Hunter but his contributions at the top of the order are one of the reasons that Minnesota is able to get the jump on teams early. Jones has opened 11 games with home runs this season, one shy of Rickey Henderson's major league record.

4) Ron Gardenhire - After surviving the whole contraction mess, the Twins finally got around to naming Gardenhire the manager on January 4. Not only did Gardenhire get a late start, he had to overcome the stigma of fans wanting to see Paul Molitor take the job. But Gardenhire was the perfect fit for this team, getting them to focus on what was important and never wavering when Cleveland got off to a quick start and Chicago was rolling. He is fiery yet consistent in game situations and has his team believing they can beat anyone - especially at home.


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The New York Yankees
October 1, 2002

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) - Five reasons why the New York Yankees were able to capture the American League East Division:

1) The Soriano Factor - As recently as last spring, manager Joe Torre was trying to figure out what to do with his dynamic young player. The decision was to hand him the second base job and the move has paid off better than anyone could have imagined. After a solid 2001 season, Soriano blossomed into possibly the league's most dangerous offensive player. He may have lapses defensively at times but the pop he brings to the top of the Yankees' lineup gives them another weapon on a team loaded with them.

2) The Wells Experiment - When David Wells "talked" George Steinbrenner into giving him an opportunity this offseason, even Wells' biggest supporters had to be concerned about what the 39-year-old lefthander had left. But Wells has been one of the few constants on New York's staff in 2002, leading the club in wins and nearly finishing first in innings pitched. He remained his dominant self at Yankee Stadium and could be a very key option for Torre in October.

3) Pitching Depth - One of the knocks on the high payroll Yankees is they have greater margin for error. That likely is true but general manager Brian Cashman's moves to bolster his pitching staff, before and during the season, have proven key in 2002. The addition of the aforementioned Wells, the signing of Steve Karsay and the trade for Jeff Weaver all have paid big dividends this season. With closer Mariano Rivera's arm woes, the signing of Karsay already has proven to be one of the shrewdest moves of Cashman's tenure.

4) Jason Giambi's Comfort Level - Unless your familiar with how the local media can turn a molehill into a mountain, it is hard to comprehend just how important Giambi's relatively quick adjustment to New York was. Sure there were some rough moments in April but his extra-inning grand slam on May 17 might have been the single biggest swing of the season for New York. From the second that homer disappeared into the bleachers, the pressure eased and he was able to live up to the lofty expectations placed upon him.

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The Anaheim Angels
September 30, 2002

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) - Five reasons why the Anaheim Angels were able to capture the American League wild card:

1) The Bullpen - The closer, Troy Percival, is familiar to most fans, but the rest of the crew made a name for themselves with their performance this season. Percival might be Anaheim's most potent weapon this postseason and getting his contract status squared away early in the season was one of the keys for the Angels. The bullpen got much better with the addition of former starter Scott Schoeneweis, who gives the team a key lefthanded option. Ben Weber is solid as a setup man and Dennis Cook provides a veteran lefthanded arm in the seventh and eighth innings.

2) The Return of Tim Salmon - The Angels veteran leader looked to be on the downside after the worst year of his career in 2001. But after a slow start this season, he has rounded back into form and became the offensive weapon the team needed. He may not be as sound defensively as he once was, but he has provided a clutch bat and gives manager Mike Scioscia some versatility in the lineup. His solid season has helped ease a mediocre year from Troy Glaus.

3) A Rotation Bolstered with Veteran Arms - The Angels added Aaron Sele and Kevin Appier in the offseason and while neither move set the world on fire at the time, each has made Anaheim a better ballclub. Sele was solid until getting hurt in mid-August while Appier did what he always has done, provide solid innings. Ramon Ortiz has taken a small step forward and, at times, remains unhittable. Jarrod Washburn emerged as the ace that every staff needs and is nasty against lefthanders - a fact that should prove pivotal in October. Rookie John Lackey came up at midseason and made an immediate impact - a process made entirely easier because of the steady innings provided by the more veteran arms in the rotation.

4) Up The Middle - The Angels are amongst the soundest teams in the game and one of the reasons why is their strength up the middle. From catcher Bengie Molina to the double-play tandem of shortstop David Eckstein and second baseman Adam Kennedy to Gold Glove center fielder Darin Erstad, Anaheim is solid where it counts. Molina doesn't hit enough but is stellar defensively. Eckstein and Kennedy are the type of players that every team needs and while everyone talks about how underrated the duo is offensively, they are just as dominant defensively. Erstad has bounced back from a rough 2001 campaign and actually may be getting better defensively. He covers a lot ground and the strength of his arm is often overlooked.

5) Manager Mike Scioscia - There was early talk of this team being offered up for contraction yet Minnesota's Ron Gardenhire gets all the kudos for keeping his team focused. There was the potential for major turmoil with Erstad nearly being dealt in the offseason and playing out his walk year with the team. Mo Vaughn was gone and no suitable replacements were on the horizon. The team played in the best division in baseball and would be unable to match either the A's or Mariners. But through it all, Scioscia kept his team playing hard. They never quit and Scioscia kept them chugging along, keeping pace with the aforementioned teams. Anaheim nearly overcame the A's, despite Oakland's 20-game winning streak, and when the Mariners faltered after the All-Star break, Scioscia had his club in position to capitalize. The former Dodger catcher seems to be the perfect blend of toughness and instincts and now has a playoff appearance to show for it.

 

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The St. Louis Cardinals
October 1, 2002

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) - Five reasons why the St. Louis Cardinals were able to capture the National League Central Division:

1) Finding a Way to Regroup After the Deaths of Darryl Kile and Jack Buck - St. Louis is a baseball town where everybody feels like they are part of a family. That is what made the death of Buck so difficult, since his role as the voice of the Cardinals made him the link to the team for many fans. The fact that Mark McGwire, who makes infrequent public appearances, showed up for Buck's funeral showed how much he meant to the city and the team. Kile's situation was tougher on the team because he was such a gamer and positive influence. His loss on the field was just as tough as he averaged 18 victories in his first two seasons with the Cardinals.

2) Getting Matt Morris Back on Track - Morris might have been the most shaken of all the Cardinals following Kile's unfortunate death. It showed as the righthander had several rough outings immediately after and lost plenty of weight. Morris eventually got healthy and righted himself with a pair of victories in July against the San Francisco Giants. Morris allowed one run and 14 hits in 16 innings in those outings and beyond the victories, his success just meant a result to normalcy for the Cardinals. Although Morris' 17-9 record and 3.42 ERA are not comparable to his 22-8 record and 3.16 ERA from a year ago, he gave St. Louis the innings it needed.

3) General manager Walt Jocketty - The loss of Kile left an immediate void but there was little doubt that the St. Louis braintrust - and Jocketty in particular - would go to great lengths to attempt to fill it. The Cardinals acquired veteran lefthander Chuck Finley from Cleveland and he went 7-4 with a 3.80 ERA. St. Louis was able to engineer another great deal when they got All-Star third baseman Scott Rolen from Philadelphia in exchange for infielder Placido Polanco, Bud Smith and Mike Timlin. Rolen had 14 homers and 44 RBI with the Cards, including a monster final month, and signed a multi-year deal last week to stay in St. Louis.

4) Pujols and Renteria - After Albert Pujols' spectacular rookie season, it would have been fair to expect his numbers to drop a notch. It simply did not happen as the All-Star produced 34 homers, 127 RBI and scored 118 runs. In fact, Pujols and Edgar Renteria helped pick up the slack for a slightly less productive season from Jim Edmonds and outright disappointing seasons from J.D. Drew and Tino Martinez. Renteria provided the signature moment for St. Louis when he belted a three-run homer to cap a six-run rally in the bottom of the ninth for a dramatic 10-9 victory over the Chicago Cubs on July 28. The Cardinals did plenty of damage against the Cubs in winning 12 of 17 meetings.

5) The Work of Rookie Jason Simontacchi - St. Louis uncovered a gem in Simontacchi to round out their rotation. Simontacchi gave the Cardinals 143 1/3 innings in 24 starts and compiled an 11-5 record for St. Louis. A total of 14 pitchers made starts for St. Louis this season and that number could easily have been 20 had it not been for Simontacchi, who made his debut on May 4. Although Simontacchi was rocked in a loss to the Cubs in the first game following Kile's death, he rebounded quickly to win his next two outings and helped get the Cardinals back on track.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks
October 1, 2002

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) - Five reasons why the Arizona Diamondbacks were able to capture the National League West Division:

1) Johnson and Schilling - It doesn't take Albert Einstein to understand that when those two horses go a combined 47-12 that the rest of the staff just has to break even for Arizona to make the postseason. But the fact that neither really had any dropoff from their monster 2001 seasons is astounding. Schilling is 35 and Johnson just turned 39. The duo combined for 506 1/3 innings, allowing manager Bob Brenly to save his bullpen for the games in which his less reliable starters got the call.

2) The Emergence of Junior Spivey - Ticketed for a season in Class AAA, Spivey might be Arizona's offensive MVP. A solid defensive second baseman, Spivey does a little bit of everything at the plate. He's a .300 hitter, one of the few Diamondbacks that can run, draws a walk and has surprising extra-base power. He can bat in any of the top three spots in the lineup and his success in 2002 allowed Arizona to play Craig Counsell at third base while Matt Williams was sidelined for the first half of the season.

3) A Very Deep and Understanding Bench - Arizona had a lot of reasons not to be back in the postseason in 2002, getting hammered by more than its fair share of injuries. But guys like David Dellucci, Quinton McCracken, Jay Bell and Greg Colbrunn all understand their roles and step up when called upon. Brenly knows how to use his players and that helps a lot.

4) No Carryover for BK - The fact that Byung-Hyun Kim has been able to put his disastrous 2001 World Series performance behind him was a huge factor in Arizona's 2002 success. The fact that he was able to do it so quickly and so well early on was a miracle. Not only did Kim earn a spot on the All-Star team with a huge first half, he almost single-handedly carried the bullpen late in games through the first three months of the season.