Los Angeles Sports

LOS ANGELES In a field full of have-nots, the Cubs have gone the longest (100 years) since winning it all. The Phillies won the World Series in 1980. The Dodgers have just one post-season win since winning the World Series in 1988. The Brewers have never won it all, and haven't played a postseason game since they lost the World Series in 1982.

National League Divisional Series - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
The Dodgers are a franchise steeped in a winning tradition...it has just been a while since they last added to it.  The Cubs are a franchise embroiled in a 100-year-old curse.  Something has to give!

The Cubs began 2008 as the favorites in the National League.  They got out of the gate fast and stayed solid throughout the season, never being bitten too hard by the injury bug.  Carlos Zambrano threw a no-hitter two weeks ago but was crushed in his next outing, leaving manager Lou Pinella with no sure idea what he will get from game to game.  But the Cubs didn't finish with the best record in the league for no reason.  They both a legitimate MVP candidate and CY Young in Derrek Lee and Ryan Dempster.  They have a fearsome bullpen, scored the most runs in the National League and gave up the second fewest (the Dodgers gave up 23 fewer).

The Dodgers have ridden a solid second half into the postseason and must feel confidant after putting the division in their rear view mirror in August and September.  Manny Ramirez proved pop in the middle of the lineup that they were sorely lacking and has woken up a lethargic offense.  However, the Dodgers only went 7-7 down the stretch and but for a stretch earlier this month where they won 12 of 13, they would have finished the season five game under .500.

Prediction: Cubs in 3.  The Cubs are loaded and the Dodgers have not played well of late and even since Ramirez has rejuvenated L.A., they have had the seventh best record of the playoff teams.

National League Divisional Series - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Neither the Phillies nor the Brewers were sure they'd be in the playoffs until games 161 and 162 respectively, and both must have breathed sighs of relief come Monday morning.  Both franchises, and indeed both cities, have been devoid of a title in decades, and their fans are hungry.  One of these two snake-bitten towns is going to the NLCS.

The Phillies won the East largely because of the bat of Ryan Howard down the stretch, but Howard is not alone.  This prolific offense features Chase Utley and the last two NL MVPs (Howard, Jimmy Rollins), and tied for the second most runs scored in the National League behind the Cubs.  But it isn't all offense with the Fightin' Phils.  They also allowed the third fewest runs in the League and feature the ageless 16-game winner Jamie Moyer and the game 1 starter Cole Hamels.  If they lead late, it's over - Brad Lidge was a perfect 41 for 41 in save opportunities this season.

The Brewers are quite a story.  Last year they came out on fire and withered late to miss the playoffs.  This year, they came out cold and little by little worked their way up the ranks past the Astros and Cardinals and Mets and into the playoffs.  They are rare in that they made the playoffs after firing their manager mid-season.  They also have the single greatest weapon in the NL - CC Sabathia who was 6-0 at home with four complete games in 10 starts.  The Brewers have five players with 20 or more homers including Prince Fielder with 37 and Ryan Braun with 34.

Prediction: Brewers in 5.  Sabathia and Ben Sheets are a brutal 1-2 combo and match up well against a potent but strike-out prone Phillies offense.  Look for a lot of balls leaving the yard in Philly.

National League Championship Series - Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs
The Brewers spent the last 150 games of the season tracking down the Cubs and ran out of games to do it in...so they will use these seven to finish the job.  The Brewers will be hard-pressed to rearrange the rotation to get Sabathia three starts in the series, but considering he is a free agent next month and they don't have the cash to keep him, they will ride him as far as they can get with him.  Fielder, Braun and Mike Cameron are a powerful combo and the Cubs' Zambrano is too erratic to rely upon.  Brewers in 6.