Closing time

A few nights ago, Christine asked if we should officially kill this blog. I didn't answer.

Last night, I was glad I didn't when I saw that the Phillies agreed on a four-year $50 million contract with Jonathan Papelbon who, pending a physical, will be the biggest SoxandPhil since Curt Schilling.

I don't understand why the Phillies didn't stand pat with Ryan Madson - I'd welcome him to Boston. Christine's not happy with her early Christmas present. She has always been particularly irritated by Papelbon. Trent wasn't impressed when we told him over his Cheerios this morning.

I just can't wait to see what happens when Carl Crawford steps in against Pap in the bottom of the 9th of Game 7 of the 2012 World Series. I'd wager that night ends for Papelbon like his last night as a Red Sox.

Hotcakes to go and other bullpen matters

I didn't think that my favorite newly acquired SoxandPhil would be Cliff Lee, Adrian Gonzalez or Carl Crawford.

Nope, I thought it would be Dennys Reyes. But a funny thing happened on his way to becoming the next El Guapo in my eyes - his deal with the Phillies fell through:

"We hit a snag," said Oscar Suarez, who is Reyes' agent. "So we just decided to push back."

Asked if it was health related, Suarez said, "It just didn't work out. We're back on the market. I don't want to get into details why."

Oh well, I guess it's up to Bobby Jenks to fill the role of beloved rotund reliever this year.

Speaking of whom, Christine wondered if Jenks means the end of Jonathan Papelbon. I guessed no. I even suggested that Papelbon, Daniel Bard and Jenks would be the kinds of arms Theo Epstein wanted for a closer by committee. I hadn't seen Peter Abraham's piece that said Papelbon would have been gone if Mariano Rivera joined the good guys, but that our incumbent closer will remain for now:

Fast forward to yesterday when the Red Sox signed Bobby Jenks to a two-year deal worth $12 million. That's big money for a guy who might pitch a lot in the seventh inning. But it's reasonable money for a guy who could be the closer in July.

Happy holidays, Pap. The Red Sox are sending shots across your bow faster than any of your fastballs.

Team sources said yesterday and again this morning that the Red Sox plan to start the season with Papelbon, Jenks and Daniel Bard in the bullpen. The Phillies have four aces, the Sox will have three closers.

Sounds like an interesting World Series matchup to me.

Quick observation

Christine and I always observe that Joe Blanton works quickly and that Red Sox pitchers, especially Jonathan Papelbon, work as if they're paid by the hour.

Beyond the Box Score did the math and proved it.

Awards: Roy Halladay made quick work of the National League in his first year as a Phillie. He won the Cy Young today. Tomorrow, Cooperstown.

Brad Lidge, the mentor

Brad Lidge has had an interesting career, toggling between dominant and punching bag.

SoxandPhils beat writer Scott Lauber says his story can be a lesson for both of the guys at the back of the Red Sox bullpen, Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon, which is odd because you get the feeling that both the rising star and the declining veteran can't coexist much longer in the Red Sox bullpen.

But Lidge can relate to where each is in his career:

Lidge, now the Philadelphia Phillies' closer, knows the feeling. He took a back seat to Billy Wagner in 2003 and Octavio Dotel for the first half of the 2004 season. When the Astros traded Dotel in a three-team deal for outfielder Carlos Beltran, Lidge finally got his chance.

"You just have to be patient," Lidge said before Game 2 last night of the National League Championship Series, "and you really have to put in your mind that the team comes first. You have to sell yourself to that idea, and you'll get your chance."

*****

And if Lidge can recapture his dominance, he's certain that Papelbon can, too, as long as the Sox closer doesn't lose faith in his ability.

"For any closer, I think confidence is huge," Lidge said before last night's game. "Last year, I didn't get the results I wanted, and it definitely hurt my confidence. For me, you've got to go through a couple games where you feel like you're making (hitters) look silly again, and then, all of a sudden, you're like, 'Wait a minute, I don't even remember why this was so hard.'"

Series update: Lidge wasn't needed last night as the Phillies turned a game that was a tense duel for most of the night into a comfortable 6-1 win over the Giants. It's all tied heading to San Francisco. That was a real Phillies-type "no more fooling around" win, so I wouldn't be surprised if the next game in Philly is against an American League team.

Do or die

Trent was on the changing table tonight with a particularly ripe diaper. He looked at me and froze. We both knew what had to be done. There was no sense stalling, thinking or worrying. I ripped off the tape and took care of business.

I mention this because the Red Sox, who entered today trailing the Yankees and Rays by 5.5 games, started a three-game set in Tampa that many consider to be their last chance to stay relevant in 2010.

After a season of surviving a spate of injuries, it's amazing they're still alive. But this isn't a time to think about that. It's do or die.

Tonight, they did. Jon Lester held his own in a marquee matchup against David Price, just an unearned run on two hits and five walks with 10 strikeouts over seven innings. Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon shut the door in the 3-1 win. With the White Sox winning big over the Yankees, perhaps there's still a chance for the Red Sox to win this whole thing.

Of course, there is a big difference between changing a diaper and performing a big comeback: Trent's diaper didn't just learn that it would be without Dustin Pedroia for the rest of the year.

Phillies: They're playing late in San Diego. In the 5th, it's 1-1.

D-Brown kills the phenom

We were busy today visiting with grandparents and then trying to find the perfect Halloween costume for Trent.

(We know it's early, but Christine's Mom may handcraft it. We have an idea for something. Non-baseball.)

Anyway, we were still able to follow the first ever major league matchup of the phenoms Domonic Brown and Stephen Strasburg. D-Brown grounded out in the 2nd inning, but Jesus did not survive their faceoff in the 5th inning. He left the game, shaking his arm and grimacing in pain. Nationals Nation, including Joe Wolf's Vertical Jump, who was at the game, may be wondering whether all the hype was worth it.

The Nationals did win the game, 8-1, although I'm sure they would have preferred a loss if it meant their prized prospect's arm were still in tact.

The Red Sox and Blue Jays are tied at 4 in the 11th, but Jonathan Papelbon just came in, so this one should be over shortly. Yup, Paps held 'em, and Jed Lowrie homered in the bottom of the inning to win 5-4. Dustin who?

Do they have to report everything?

Just as the media was starting to report that the Red Sox bullpen is turning things around, Jonathan Papelbon gave up four runs in the 9th inning today, blowing an important game against the Blue Jays. Things were so bad that the closer was yanked before the game ended. Closer-in-waiting Daniel Bard gave up a sacrifice fly to end the game.

The Yankees have a cakewalk against the Royals, and the Rays are off, so this would have been a good one to have in pocket.

Joe Blanton made sure Brad Lidge wouldn't have the opportunity to duplicate Papelbon's poor performance. J.B. gave up three runs in the 1st inning. In the 8th inning, the Phillies are attempting a comeback, but the Dodgers still lead 9-4.

7th inning stretch

We're approaching the final stretch, and I hope today's 7th inning turns out to be a metaphor for the season.

Clinging to a 2-0 lead against the Empire, Jon Lester loaded the bases with no outs. You had the sense that this would be the moment the 2010 Red Sox would finally succumb after battling through so many injuries and facing very tough Rays and Yankees opponents.

But Lester struck out Curtis Granderson. Daniel Bard came in from the pen, and six pitches later, Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher also struck out. Bard gave up a run in the 8th, but Jonathan Papelbon nailed down the save.

The Sox are still kicking. Don't count out a SoxandPhils series, Trent says.

The Phillies are off today.

Social day, surprise endings

We spent the day introducing Trent to some of our friends, including his first buddy, the other Gregory James in his life. It was a nice day sharing our little guy with some good friends, and we think he's becoming a people person, even though he just sleeps through his social visits.

There were some exciting SoxandPhils finishes today. After Jonathan Papelbon couldn't erase Clay Buchholz's two-on, no-out jam in the 9th, the Red Sox beat the Tigers in the bottom on the 9th on a Marco Scutaro bunt.

All our guests left before the Phillies and Nationals' 11-inning game ended. Christine tried to get a high-five from Trent when the Phillies took the lead in the 11th. He just shot her a look that said, "Yeah, they're just setting up another Brad Lidge special."

Lidge did pitch the 11th. He ended it, like our day, perfectly. So we took Trent to the park for the first time to celebrate. A little girl said he was cute and told her siblings to be quiet near the sleeping baby.

Unexpected

When we posted last night, the Phillies were losing to the Indians and the Red Sox were getting shut down by Ubaldo Jimenez. But then, the Phillies won a dramatic game, keyed by Jimmy Rollins' first career walkoff home run, and then the Red Sox beat around Cy Jimenez but lost the game when Jonathan Papelbon blew it in the 9th, giving up three runs on two home runs.

Baseball's like life - you never know what's going to happen until it happens.

Today, Joe Blanton pitched 7 2/3 strong innings as the Phillies routed the Indians 12-3. {The rain delay probably kept him from pitching a complete game. By the way, Greg and I are watching the game replay right now. Given our luck over the past few years with bad weather at Phillies games, we're shocked we didn't have tickets to today's matchup.} With the sweep, the Phillies are now 8-7 this year in interleague play with just one series left - the "road" games in Philly against the Blue Jays. Nelson Figueroa's back on the roster, replacing the injured Chad Durbin.

The Red Sox and Rockies just started. Daisuke Matsuzaka, whose return to the roster meant a trip to the DL for Mike Lowell, put them in a hole already. It's 2-0 in the 3rd. Dice threw 37 pitches in the 1st inning.

Kicking a dog when he's down

It's been a ruff week for Pat and Elvis Burrell. They were designated for assignment by the Rays, which might end their baseball career. And the following day Ronnie James Dio - whose Holy Diver served as their intro music during some of their Philly days - died. Just when you thought they couldn't sink any lower, they had to endure this insult:

[Sports collectible expert Ted] Taylor says the plethora of bobbleheads available is exactly the problem. "Every team has just been cranking them out," Taylor says. "In the catalog there are 13 pages of bobbleheads in small type."

Taylor pauses and adds with a chuckle, "I have a Pat Burrell one you can have."

That was in a pretty interesting story the Daily News did on the Phillies' history with bobblehead promotions. They also compiled a complete list of Phillies bobbleheads. Christine has long been a fan of the trinkets that we just learned are also called nodders. She predicted they'd be popular when they started to make a resurgence in the late '90s.

Chase Utley is one of the rare Phillies to have two bobbleheads in his career. I guess he deserves it because, if you consider fielding and base running, he's been called the best player in baseball.

Tonight's games: Tonight's bobblehead honoree, Roy Halladay, pitched a complete game but lost to the Pirates 2-1.

Coming off last night's debacle - Jonathan Papelbon's gave up his first-ever walk-off home run. to Alex Rodriguez, no less - the Red Sox are trailing the Yankees in the 5th inning in a 3-0 rain-delayed game.

Tonight's starting pitchers, Halladay and Josh Beckett, are scheduled to face each other on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.

Red Sox vs. Phillies history: I hope Papelbon doesn't give up a walk-off homer against the Phillies this weekend; he has pitched well against the Phightins' in the past. In 7.2 innings over six games, he has given up a run on four hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts. He has given up a home run. He's 1-0 with three saves and at least one blown save because of that home run hit by the best player in baseball. The Red Sox won it in 12 innings, though. That was June 2006.

Things that made me say hmm ...

I learned a lot of interesting little nuggets this morning. Actually, the first I learned last night, but not until after deadline.

Other than the occasional political comment or plug for his wife's book, SoxandPhil Curt Schilling has been sort of quiet lately. Judging by how he ended a recent interview with Dan Patrick in this week's Sports Illustrated, the 2004 hero seems to be out of practice when it comes to speaking to the media. {Out of practice? Please. That interview was pure Curt Schilling. He knew exactly what he was doing and how he was saying it.}

He tried to make it clear that he does not think he is bigger than the game and just fortunate to have played for some great teams at some great times, but he failed and came out with this:

"I was part of some of the greatest moments in the sport. I can remember sitting on the bench in 1993 with John Vukovich watching Joe Carter hit that home run. I was obviously devastated, but not initially. My first thought was 'Oh, my God! I just witnessed one of the greatest moments in the history of the game. How cool? Oh, my God, we just lost!' I love the game."

I'm sure 2008 erased a lot of the Joe Carter-induced pain for Phillies fans, but I can't imagine them liking that attitude. Can you picture David Ortiz saying how cool it was to watch Aaron Boone end the 2003 ALCS? I can't.

I cannot believe that quote has not caused an uproar around here yet. Maybe, as the Inquirer points out in today's series, it's because Citizens Bank Park has ushered in a new era for the Phillies.

The last time Christine and I went to Camden Yards, we were disappointed. It has not aged well and does not compare with Citizens Bank. We should be grateful:

The Phillies' timing was fortunate. By waiting eight years before jumping onto the retro bandwagon launched by 1992's opening of Baltimore's Camden Yards, they were better able to tailor the ballpark to a vision that was far more fan-focused than when the Vet debuted in 1971.

Things might have turned out differently. In the late 1980s, the Phillies wanted to remodel the Vet, which would have meant no shiny ballpark today:

Right about then, team president Bill Giles visited Camden Yards.

"Once we saw that," Montgomery said, "we said, 'Uh-uh. We need to change the focus here. We have to look for a new facility.'"

The rest is history and the Phillies have filled their new park with stars like Jim Thome, Ryan Howard and Joe Mauer. Joe Mauer?

The other night, we were playfully discussing the Twins star's new contract, and Christine, out of sheer loyalty for Carlos Ruiz, said she would rather keep Chooch than add Mauer.

Charlie Manuel has my back on this one:

Manuel raved about Mauer after watching the Twins catcher go 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

"We might be able to find a place in our lineup for him," Manuel said. "A couple of years ago, we were at the winter meetings and I was sitting with some [Minnesota] guys, and we got in an argument. I said I'd like to see him pull some balls. Last year, when he started hitting some bombs to right field, I got a message from one of the guys and he said, 'Hey, Charlie, is Mauer pulling the ball enough for you now?' He's special."

Today's post is all over the place. This blog is going to the (bull)dogs. No, Elvis Burrell has not returned, but Jonathan Papelbon's pooch, Boss, is accompanying the reliever to work today:

Never have been much of a morning person, which is a function of my [the Globe's Peter Abraham] job. But some things you can't help but notice no matter how
tired you are.

Such as Jonathan Papelbon walking into the clubhouse at 8:44 a.m. wearing wraparound black sunglasses with a three-legged bulldog on a leash. Now that got everybody's attention.

Boss is the dog that supposedly ate the 2007 World Series ball. Papelbon went back to his truck to get the dog's bed, so apparently Boss is here for the day.

Hmm, the Red Sox are playing the Rays on Tuesday. I don't know whether Papelbon is scheduled to pitch then, but if he faces off against Pat Burrell, can we please have temporary replacements? Boss vs. Elvis. Bulldog-a-bulldog. Bring it on.

More homegrown follies

When I wrote about the Phillies MLB Network-selected all-time homegrown team, I predicted what the Red Sox lineup would look like, but forgot to mention the results.

There wasn't any example as bad as Ryne Sandberg over Chase Utley on the Phillies team, but it was not a perfect selection.

My prediction:

Off the top of my head, and without verifying who is homegrown, here's my prediction for the Red Sox team: C-Carlton Fisk, 1B-Mo Vaughn, 2B-Bobby Doerr,
3B-Wade Boggs, SS-Nomar Garciaparra, OF-Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice, SP-Roger Clemens, RP-Papelbon. We'll see how close I am on March 11.

Well, they put Yaz at first. That's kind of weak but understandable, I guess, because I didn't realize they were picking a position-specific outfield instead of just three outfielders. Accompanying Williams in the outfield were center fielder Tris Speaker and right fielder Babe Ruth.

The biggest outrage for me came at closer, where they went with SoxandPhil Sparky Lyle over Jonathan Papelbon. How many friggin' Yankees can there be on an all-time Red Sox team?

Entering 2010, each had played five seasons for the Red Sox. Papelbon - in a more offensive era - has a 1.84 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 in 298 innings. Lyle had a 2.85 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 5.5 K/9 over 331.1 innings.

Each was a fine pitcher, and I'm sure somebody could make a legitimate case for Lyle, but again, on selections like this, extra credit should be awarded to the player more associated with the franchise. Demerits should be awarded for those more closely associated with the enemy.

Oh, and I hadn't even considered Lyle homegrown because he was selected by the Orioles. I only learned recently of MLB Network's criteria that a player had to play at least one game for the major league club to be counted, and he didn't play any games for the Orioles.

Of course, it's entirely possible that the folks at the network were on heavy narcotics when coming up with these teams. Actually, I'm getting them confused with Rangers manager Ron Washington and his positive cocaine test.

Superstitious SoxandPhils closers

Both of our closers are using unusual methods to overcome their disappointing 2009 seasons.

It's been known for a while that Jonathan Papelbon used footage of his blown save that ended the ALDS to motivate him through his winter workouts:

"I've got it on tape and I watched it 100 times in my weight room," Papelbon said yesterday, in his first meeting with the media since allowing three runs to the Angels and taking the blown save and the loss in the game that concluded 2009 for the Red Sox. "I used it as motivation when I was feeling tired and weak. I'd pop it on, and kind of go over and say, 'There's still work to be done.'"

What's new, however, is that Brad Lidge is planning an even more drastic gesture to put his awful 2009 season behind him:

"I'm going to burn my '09 shirts and we'll get this over with and move forward from there."

Awesome.

They should have a bonfire at the park and make a day of it. They should even roast marshmallows and turkey legs.

Or, perhaps, we can forget about the whole arson thing and just have Lidge stop tipping his pitches.

Spring is on its way

We still have to get through the Super Bowl and some more cold weather, but there are some signs of spring today - 67 days before opening day.

Most notably is the fact that several of the SoxandPhils media have features on young players poised for a bigger role in 2010 or prospects who are a bit further away.

The Daily News took the first in-depth look at Phillippe Aumont, who will be compared with Cliff Lee and Kyle Drabek for the rest of his career. Also acquired with Aumont was Tyson Gillies - how did we not know before that he was deaf? Good human interest story. But Gillies isn't the top outfield prospect on the Phillies - it's still Domonic Brown, who told CSNPhilly.com that this will be the biggest year of his career.

For the Red Sox, Daniel Bard also has big aspirations, but he's glad to serve another year of apprenticeship under Jonathan Papelbon. And he knows the way to a Red Sox fan's heart is by a subtle-but-gratuitous shot at the Yankees:

Papelbon's crazed alter ego is known as "Cinco Ocho." Bard has one, too, but he's not sharing the name. Besides, his mound demeanor probably trends more toward the Mariano Rivera, keep-it-cool end of the spectrum.

"I don't show a ton of emotion," Bard said. "It's more of a focused intensity; not so much Joba Chamberlain-esque. Whatever works for you."

I bet Christine points out that he's also taking a shot at Papelbon.

A legendary pitcher signs deal

And I'm not talking about Jonathan Papelbon surprisingly signing a one-year $9.35 million contract without a protracted or acrimonious delay. No, I'm talking about the return of a Philadelphia legend: Brandon Duckworth, who signed a minor league deal with the Phillies.

In his initial stint as a Phillie, which lasted from 2001 until he was traded for Billy Wagner after the 2003 season, Christine and I called him Mr. Stinkypants just because he usually stunk up the joint. But we said it with affection and look forward to reliving those days - without the stinking up the joint part - even though he signed a minor league deal without an invitation to spring training.

That doesn't bode well for anyone hoping for a Duck Pond reunion this summer.

Relieving characters

It's almost arbitration time, and since Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels were all locked up last year, we turn to Jonathan Papelbon to provide the annual SoxandPhils whining. He's not there yet, but he seems to be warming up in this entertaining interview with Gordon Edes, who thinks the closer will earn about $10 million this year:

Seven big league closers have contracts for $10 million or more. It's reasonable to expect that Papelbon will join them.

"Heck yeah, as far as what me and my brain are thinking," Papelbon said, "but I haven't even sat down with my agents [Seth and Sam Levinson] yet. We don't even have a number in place. There haven't been any discussions between me and the Red Sox and my agents at all."

As Papelbon's salary climbs ever higher, he understands that negotiations might turn more contentious.

I think Pap's days in Boston are numbered. He'll be gone when he hits free agency in 2011, if he's not traded next winter. He wants to break the bank, and the Red Sox are grooming a capable replacement in Josh Bard.

I'll miss him. He's the kind of player whose talent overshadows the dumb comments he makes. And at least he's true to his character, such as the fact that he watches more Mickey Mouse Club than MLB Network:

The TV in his house is always turned to Nick Jr., the Disney Channel or Sprout, he says, so he hasn't been keeping track of the Red Sox's offseason moves.

"I had no idea we got [John] Lackey until [trainer Mike] Reinold came down to see me, just a few days ago," he said. "I swear to you. I don't know anything about the ballclub, but I know the words to the 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse' song."

Adrian Beltre deal? He hadn't heard. Casey Kotchman about to be traded to the Mariners? Nope. Mike Cameron? "Cameron, Mike Cameron?" he said. "We got him? I swear to you, I didn't know."

Papelbon is not the only quirky SoxandPhil reliever in the news today. Clay Condrey signed with the Twins, and Scott Eyre retired. Christine will miss them both.

The Pen just got a whole lot less interesting.

Red Sox writers state the obvious

The Red Sox beat writers must be out of their mind with boredom. They're so bored that they decided to vote on awarding the obvious: Jonathan Papelbon is the 2009 Red Sox Fireman of the Year, as voted by the Boston Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. (I guess, like the national awards, the postseason doesn't count.)

Daniel Bard was selected top Red Sox rookie, beating out stiff competition such as Junichi Tazawa, Josh Reddick and Michael Bowden.

I heard about some winners that haven't officially been announced yet: Santa Claus will be named the jolliest big man at the North Pole, Fenway will be named best 90-year-old major league ballpark in Boston and the Phillie Phanatic, in a close contest against Smiley, the Hatfield pig, was named best mascot at Citizens Bank Park.

Man is this offseason slow.

So slow, in fact, the Phillies beat writers are playing a game of chicken to see who can go the longest without an editor demanding they update their blogs. Through Monday evening, Andy Martino leads, having last posted on Tuesday (but he did do a chat on Wednesday); Todd Zolecki's last post was Wednesday, while David Murphy and Scott Lauber each posted Thursday.

Let's go Angels (until the PhilsandAngels Series begins)

When Jonathan Papelbon trotted out in the 8th to clean up Billy Wagner's mess, I asked out loud whether this was when Pap's perfect playoff ERA would come to an end.

Christine was sitting next to me, but I was really talking to myself.

Juan Rivera, hitless in eight at-bats against Papelbon, singled in two runs, but the 0.00 ERA, and more importantly, the lead were still in tact.

The Red Sox tacked on a run in the bottom of the 8th, extending their lead to two runs, but Papelbon failed. Unbelievable. The fans booed. Papelbon was removed mid-inning. He was upset ... at himself:

These fans don't expect any more out of me than I do out of myself. You know, I think they get so accustomed to seeing me do what I do. And when I don't do what I do, I think it's kind of like, "Well, why didn't he do that?"

In the bottom of the 9th, Christine kept reminding me that I predicted the Red Sox season would not end today. I stood by that prediction through the inning - until the season ended with a 7-6 loss to the Angels and a first-round sweep.

{Sorry, Greg, for being so right on that prediction.}

Despite being eliminated before the Yankees for the first time since 2006, it was a decent season. Our expectations were higher, but being sour about a 95-win season is something only a Yankees fan would do. This wasn't our year, but we'll reload and be ready to compete in 2010.

Meanwhile, I congratulate and support (assuming the Yankees finish off the Twins) the Angels. They dominated us, and if they play the Empire, I hope they beat them just as soundly. But after that, they'll be the enemy again should they lock horns with the Phillies in the World Series.

Speaking of which ... SoxandPhils World Series in 2010!

I can't believe that I'm finishing this post, and it's still one hour until game time. I'm not going to make it - especially considering I dozed off when the Angels made a pitching change in the 8th inning of a game that started at noon.

At least Monday's game will be at a decent time - 4:07 p.m. or 6:07 p.m., depending on whether there is a Yankees-Twins game tomorrow. I'm hoping for the double header.

[Photo credit: Associated Press]

Ready to ride

Christine and I have followed our teams for 324 games, and now it could all be over in three games each, or we could have a long, intense month that ends with one of us not talking to the other.

Nothing is better than winning in the playoffs, and nothing is worse. The long marathon comes down to minutiae right now. Just ask the Twins and Tigers, whose season ended in game No. 163 before the Twins pushed across a run in the 12th inning to win 6-5. You have to love that they needed extra innings in an extra game to complete one of the biggest comebacks in baseball history. And, yes, we're quite familiar with how the NL East was won in 2007.

Before we make our predictions for the first round, here's a quick recap of today's SoxandPhils playoff notes: Cliff Lee starts game 1; Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ join the reality TV stars in The Pen; and Eric Bruntlett, Clay Condrey and Tyler Walker aren't on the roster for this round.

Christine is upset about the last one because Walker has been arguably the second best reliever on the Phillies this year. And he's been prominently featured as the Phillie most looking forward to his playoff debut.

No real surprises today for the Red Sox (although they're not announcing their roster until tomorrow), except for the fact that Manny Delcarmen was in a car crash on Saturday. That's odd they managed to kept that quiet for so long. And I forgot how good Jonathan Papelbon has been in the playoffs, so he's probably going to get rocked in his first appearance now.

Our picks: Of the SoxandPhils' preseason predictions, only Christine and I have our World Series in tact. She has the Phillies over the Angels; I have the Red Sox over the Phillies. We each stand by our picks, but mine was more precise {thanks for rubbing it in}:

World Series: Red Sox over Phillies. Jason Bay hits a walkoff home run in Game 7 - the first blown save in three years for Brad Lidge.

Here are my picks for the first round: I'm not as confident in the Sox as I have been in the past two years, and I am nervous that their dominance over the Angels in the playoffs is bound to even out eventually, but I think the Sox will pull it out in five.

I'll go with my heart over my head and take the Twins over the Yankees in four. But if the Twins lose Game 1, they'll be swept.

Despite the Phillies bullpen issues, I think they have enough to beat the Rockies in four. I'll take the Cardinals in four.

Christine's picks:

Rockies vs. Phillies: Phillies, no doubt.

Cardinals vs. Dodgers: Cardinals. I want an easy road to the World Series, and the Cardinals would definitely provide that.

Twins vs. Yankees: Yankees. Blah. But don't worry, they won't win it all.

Red Sox vs. Angels: Angels. If you'll recall my preseason pick, I wanted to say the Red Sox for the Wild Card, but Greg was kind of pissy over that. So I elevated them to AL East champs over the Rays (my division pick). Should have stuck with my Wild Card instinct. Anyway, this part of the prediction will stand. This is the year the Angels finally beat the Red Sox in a round of the playoffs, setting up an Angels-Phillies finale.