MLB Playoffs 2011: Each Contender's Most Important Player for the Playoff Push

It is finally that time of year: the number of teams that are realistically in playoff contention is down to 12 with a little over a month left to play.

Teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers have already punched their playoff tickets, while other teams like the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim and the Cleveland Indians are doing everything in their power to stay in the hunt.

However, every team has that one player who could ultimately decide whether they will sink or swim come playoff time.

For the teams that are likely going to reach the postseason, I will name their player who needs to step up by the time the playoffs start.

Similarly for the teams on the bubble, I will name their most important player for the playoff push.

1. Boston Red Sox

Current situation: In the Playoffs

Most important player: Erik Bedard

We all know the Red Sox can hit. Being ranked first in MLB batting average, (.279) on-base percentage, (.349) and slugging percentage (.458) definitely drives that point home.

It pitching should have Red Sox fans a little weary. John Lester has pitched brilliantly this year and is undoubtedly the ace of that staff. Josh Beckett is also having a phenomenal bounce-back year, but the depth of starting pitching comes to a sudden halt after that. 

In order to combat that problem, the team traded for veteran starting pitcher Erik Bedard to become that third pitcher in the starting rotation.

It will be tough for any team to win the World Series with only two solid starting pitchers, so Erik Bedard must show up for the Red Sox come playoff time.

2. New York Yankees

Current situation: In the playoffs

Most important player: A.J. Burnett

Similar to the Red Sox's situation, the New York Yankees' problem is starting pitching. C.C. Sabathia is the ace of that staff, but the rotation is full of question marks outside of him.

Burnett signed a monster deal with the Yankees in 2008. They counted on him becoming one of the aces of the Yankees' staff.

However, he has done little to prove his worth to the Yankees and is currently posting a 5.31 ERA in 2011.

The Yankees need someone else to step up in the rotation besides Sabathia, and Burnett needs to be that player.

3. Detroit Tigers

Current situation: In the playoffs

Most important player: Justin Verlander

Try to name a better player—either pitcher or hitter—who is having a better season than Justin Verlander.

Don't bother looking because you won't find one.

Verlander just recently won his 20th game of the season and was dominant since opening day. Assuming that the Tigers make the playoffs and don't get blown out of the water right off the bat—no pun intended—then the Tigers will have Verlander pitching two games per series. The Tigers should win those two games.

4. Chicago White Sox

Current position: Barely in the hunt

Most important player: Alex Rios

The Chicago White Sox are currently sitting six games out of first place behind the Detroit Tigers and they need to make their move now.

With Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin acting as the only real offensive threats, this team needs someone to catch fire.

Who better than Alex Rios?

The White Sox were counting on him to have a big year in 2011 and he has done quite the opposite so far. A .214 batting average with eight home runs and 32 runs batted in just won't cut it for the highly paid outfielder.

5. Cleveland Indians

Current position: Barely in the hunt

Most important player: Travis Hafner

The Cleveland Indians need offensive help and they need it now. Asdrubal Cabrera has carried the offense for the majority of the year and can't do it alone if they have any hope of catching the Tigers in the American League Central.

Travis Hafner—who has had an injury-ridden 2011— is expected back in the lineup sooner rather than later and it couldn't come at a better time.

Hafner should certainly provide the thump in the Indians' lineup that they have been missing all year.

6. Texas Rangers

Current position: In the playoffs

Most important player(s): Matt Harrison/Colby Lewis.

With C.J. Wilson and Alexi Ogando manning the top of the rotation for the Texas Rangers, their success in the playoffs will ultimately come down to how the other two starters perform from here on out.

The Ranger's bullpen has vastly improved and their offense is one of the best in MLB; however, we have seen that great pitching trumps great hitting when it comes to the playoffs, case in point the 2010 World Series when the San Francisco Giants beat the Rangers pretty handily.

Matt Harrison and Colby Lewis will likely be the third and fourth pitchers for the Rangers come playoff time and they will be needed if the Rangers have any hope of improving on their 2010 campaign.

7. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Current position: On the bubble

Most important player: Ervin Santana

When a team has Jered Weaver and Dan Haren at the top of the rotation, things are looking good. However, Ervin Santana has pitched brilliantly as of late and deserves to have his name mentioned in the same sentence with both Weaver and Haren.

If Santana can continue to pitch the way he has for the past month or so, the Angels will be a very tough team to beat.

8. Philadelphia Phillies: Shane Victorino

Current position: In the playoffs

Most important player: Shane Victorino

With an offense stuffed with players like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Hunter Pence, one may wonder why Shane Victorino is the Phillies' most important player.

Surprisingly, Victorino is arguably having the best offensive season on the Phillies' roster and plays an outstanding center field.

9. Atlanta Braves

Current position: In the playoffs

Most important player(s): Johnny Venters and Craig Kimbrel

When talking about the best bullpens in MLB, the Atlanta Braves staff comes to mind, and that is likely due to the presence of Johnny Venters and Craig Kimbrel closing out games.

When the Braves have the lead late in the game, chances are they are going to win with Venters and Kimbrel pitching back-to-back.

Because both of these pitchers are young and threw many innings this year, it is important that they stay healthy throughout the playoffs.

10. Milwaukee Brewers

Current position: In the playoffs

Most important player: Nyjer Morgan

Love him or hate him—although chances are you hate him—the Milwaukee Brewers will need Nyjer Morgan to continue his success if they want to make some noise in the playoffs.

The Brewers rotation is already set with Yovani Gallardo, Zach Greinke, Shaun Marcum and Randy Wolf. Their middle of the order is set with Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks.

However, what the Brewers do need is someone to set the table and get on before the Brewers' sluggers, and Morgan has been doing just that.

11. Arizona Diamondbacks

Current position: In the playoffs

Most important player: Justin Upton

Throughout this article, I tried to stay away from the teams' best player.

However, I couldn't help but stray away from Justin Upton in this case because he is literally the heart and soul of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In other words, the Diamondbacks will go where Upton takes them.

12. San Francisco Giants

Current position: On the bubble

Most important player: Carlos Beltran

Things haven't quite gone according to plan since the San Francisco Giants acquired Carlos Beltran from the Mets in exchange for Zach Wheeler, the teams' top pitching prospect.

Amidst the numerous injuries the Giants have endured—including Carlos Beltran for a couple of weeks—this team is still somehow in contention.

However, they won't be for long if they continue to only score a couple runs a game, and a couple is a good night for the Giants' offense as of late...

The Giants traded for Beltran to act as a one-two punch in the middle of the lineup with Pablo Sandoval. Unless Beltran starts to hit for some power these next 28 or so games, I just don't see the Giants catching the Diamondbacks in the National League West.