I LIVE FOR THIS.

There, I said it. Playoff baseball represents all that is holy on this earth. It is by far the best time of year, and if it were up to me, which it sadly isn’t, playoff baseball would replace Christmas as the most celebrated holiday.

We’ve all heard the stories of fathers missing their children’s birth for a prime-time sporting event, and ladies and gentlemen, that guy is me. Not literally, I’m only 23, but should the opportunity ever present itself, you can be sure I wouldn’t hesitate to miss that hospital visit for a seat behind home plate.

That’s how much I love playoff baseball. Even with my team far removed from the playoffs, I’m officially juiced for the 2008 Divisional Series to start.

Playoff baseball is so beautiful because every game holds such extreme importance. Drop Game One of a five-game Divisional Series, and there’s a great chance you’re done. Can’t maintain home-field advantage in the Championship Series? Then there’s a good chance you can kiss your World Series dreams goodbye.

Playoff baseball brings out the best in both players and managers. Sure, I love watching the best players in the world play on the biggest stage, but something inside me almost enjoys watching managers attempt to outwit their counterparts even more.

From setting their playoff rosters, to crucial in-game decisions, managers are truly put to the test come playoff time.

To think that 162 games of blood, sweat, and tears shed by your beloved team can evaporate with one hanging breaking ball is what makes playoff baseball so unbelievably excruciating, exciting, and enjoyable.

So, without further ado, I present to you my American and National League Divisional Series previews and predictions:

(All times Eastern Standard Time)

Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays

10/2 - Chicago Sox at Tampa Bay - 2:30 PM
10/3 - Chicago Sox at Tampa Bay - 6:00 PM
10/5 - Tampa Bay at Chicago Sox – TBD
10/6 - Tampa Bay at Chicago Sox -  TBD
10/8 - Chicago Sox at Tampa Bay -  TBD

This is one of the more intriguing series, in my mind. We have the feel good Rays against the veteran-laden White Sox. In the season series, Tampa Bay held a 6-4 advantage over Chicago.

The Rays turned in one of greatest single-season turnarounds in baseball history, hell, sports history. They transformed a dismal 66-96 record in 2007 into a sparkling, A.L. East winning 97-65 record in 2008.

The Rays used a combination of young starting pitching, dependable bullpen arms, speed on the basepaths, clutch contributions from rookies, and brilliant managing to execute the best story of the 2008 regular season. If anyone predicted this astonishing 180 for the Rays this year, come down to Bleacher Report, and I’ll kiss the ground where you stand.

NOBODY SAW THIS COMING.

The Rays dethroned the Red Sox and the Evil Empire to win the A.L. East with style and flair. Their starting rotation of Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Andy Sonnanstine, Matt Garza, and Edwin Jackson, all under the age of 28, went a combined 64-45. These youngsters led the Rays to the A.L.’s second best ERA, 3.82.

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