The Boys of Summer Get Ready for the Fall Classic

Today is the first day of the baseball postseason. Yes, my beloved Yankees are not in it this year. But Joe Torre is, so I've got that going for me. The Yankees tried valiantly to make the playoffs, but it was not in the Cards. As a result, the hallowed halls of Yankee Stadium will go silent and the team will move across the street to its new stadium next season. I will get to predictions in a moment (because I'm so good at it), but first I wanted to share a few things about baseball. First, the boys over at YanksFan vs. SoxFan took note of the "Worst Seat in the House" that Home Run Derby put out in August. If you click on the link you can get some pictures, but here's the list in no particular order:

• Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs - I've been there, sure there are metal girders in your view at time, but hey, you're at Wrigley, suck it up.
• Petco Park, San Diego Padres - OK, that's a pretty bad seat.
• Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox - again, it's an old stadium, but it's Fenway.
• Minute Maid Park, Houston Astros - um, I have to pay for this seat?
• Shea Stadium, New York Mets - well they are tearing that stadium down, too.
• AT&T Park, San Francisco Giants - The views of the bay sort of make up for having to look at the camerman's melon for nine innings.

With both New York teams moving into new stadiums next year (not that either of them deserve it, especially those choker boys from the purple stadium - again this year, really?), it begs the question what do you do with the old stuff? I'm glad you asked. New York magazine posed the question as to how much stuff is worth at an old stadium, and the Village Voice also chimed in. Bleacher seats from Shea, evidently can be had for $869 a pair. Some of the items being contemplated for sale at Yankee Stadium actually might be worth owning. Feel free to pick up anything on the list for your favorite Brave Astronaut. However, no determination has yet been made as to what will be made available. An online auction may take place in November, in plenty of time for anyone you know of with a December birthday.

• "I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee" - Joe DiMaggio - the sign that hangs in the hallway from the dugout to the locker room is expected to fetch nearly $10,000.
• Old style Ticket booth - $25,000
• Press box lineup board - $500
• Outfield wall panel with distance marker - $10,000
• Urinal - $200
• Seat - $1000 (Penny Marshall owns one of the original seats from the old Yankee Stadium, when contacted by New York magazine for the article, commented, "that seems high, since they're f***ing plastic.")
• Facade lettering $50,000

Predictions So how will the teams fare in the postseason this year? Let's see. ALDS #1 - Tampa Bay vs. Chicago White Sox

• Tampa Bay, really? The Yankees have to sit out for friggin' Tampa Bay?! Whatever. I gotta go with the AL Easters. I was really rooting for the Twins, though, the Cinderella Story of the playoffs. Oh, and sorry there, White Sox. Better luck next time, but I was rooting for an all-Chicago World Series, it would have been interesting to see Chicago implode.

ALDS #2 - Los Angeles Angels vs. Boston Red Sox

• Hey, this is mostly a family blog so I will restrain myself from talking about the Beantown Bozos. But nobody's getting past the Angels this year. Sorry there, NJM.

NLDS #1 - Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies

• Possibly one of the best matchups. Both teams sort of back doored their way into the playoffs. A series of mediocrity. I like the Brewers over the Phils. Sorry, Philly Girl.

NLDS #2 - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the Chicago Cubs

• As much as the lovable Cubs deserve a break, I gotta go with Torre, even if he is wearing Dodger blue.