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Postseason starting out all even

Around Tampa Bay, baseball seems something of a parody. But elsewhere, they talk about parity.

By MARC TOPKIN
Published October 2, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - Around Tampa Bay, baseball seems something of a parody. But elsewhere, they talk about parity.

The postseason tournament starts Wednesday with some unexpected entrants. The Phillies will be there after a fantastic finish. So will Lou Piniella, who showed in Chicago he still can manage. An Indians team that gets no respect. A couple of local kids, Chone Figgins (Brandon High) and Casey Kotchman (Seminole), in Angels red. And, of course, the Yankees and Red Sox - with live updates of their pregame meals headed for ESPN any second.

About the only thing you know about who is going to win is that it won't be who won last year.

With the Cardinals failing to advance, baseball could have its eighth champion in eight seasons, much to the joy of everyone outside of shouting distance of George Steinbrenner.

Better yet, the Phillies are the 24th different team to make a postseason appearance since the advent of the wild-card, eight-team format in 1995.

That means in 13 seasons, only six teams haven't made it to October: the NL's Brewers (who just missed), Pirates and Nationals/Expos; and from the AL, the Blue Jays, Royals and your Tampa Bay (for a few more weeks) Devil Rays.

Actually, the Rays are part of the parity equation - as the best worst team. At 66-96, their .407 winning percentage, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, is the best for the team with the worst record since the 1900 Giants at 60-78, .435. (It's the second time since that no team played better than .600 or less than .400, the other being 2000.)

ALDS

Angels vs. Red SoxGame 1: at Boston, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, TBS

Yankeesvs. IndiansGame 1: at Cleveland, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, TBS

NLDS

Cubs vs.DiamondbacksGame 1: at Arizona, 10 p.m. Wednesday, TBS

TBD vs. PhilliesGame 1: at Philadelphia, 3 p.m. Wednesday, TBS

[Last modified October 2, 2007, 00:41:34]