MLB Playoffs 2011: Each Team's Under-the-Radar Difference-Maker

October is the month in baseball where new stars are made. Playoff baseball is what takes unsung heroes and makes them household names. There are even people known for their clutch October performances that live forever for those moments, even if their careers never came to fruition. Only in the baseball playoffs can one home run, a defensive play or a pitching start mean so much more than anything in the six-month-long regular season.

Each one of the eight playoff teams has a specific identity and specific problems necessary of addressing. There are also some unproven people or people who aren't big names but have big shoes to fill if they want their team to win a world championship.

Here are the people on each team that you might not know much about, but will be essential to their team's victory.

Matt Moore, Tampa Bay Rays

I think it is safe to say after Friday that the secret is out about Matt Moore. In just his second start in the majors, Moore was the shocking Game 1 starter for Tampa Bay and pitched lights out. Moore's clutch performance in the opening game of the series has really set the tone for the Rays in the playoffs. Their journey in the last month truly makes them a Cinderella story, despite being in the World Series a few years ago. This is a very young but well-seasoned team.

Moore's great start in Game 1 not only gave the Rays a lead in the best-of-five series, but also avoided the use of James Shields, David Price and Jeremy Hellickson, the three most-feared pitchers on the staff. If Moore continues to pitch the way he is, he can save parts of Tampa Bay's bullpen, while also making its starting pitching the best in the playoffs.

If Tampa Bay wins the World Series, Matt Moore is one of the main reasons.

Mike Napoli, Texas Rangers

Mike Napoli is a well-known catcher in baseball, especially to fantasy baseball owners. However, even some baseball fans still associate him as a Los Angeles Angel and forget that he is now a catcher for the Texas Rangers. Napoli has a career-high 30 home runs in Texas this season and is one of the most beloved players on the Rangers. So, why is he on this list?

Well, in a lineup that consists of Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. His big hit in Game 2 certainly helped him stick out more in the lineup, but it will be up to a guy like Napoli to produce if the notable names don't. The Rangers can be a very explosive offense when running on all cylinders, but injuries have kept the team incomplete for a lot of the season. Napoli can ease the pain on the off-chance that the injury bug strikes once again.

Boone Logan, New York Yankees

Those who don't follow the New York Yankees may not even know who Boone Logan is, but Logan can be a huge part of the chances of the 27-time world champions. Logan is the lone lefty out of the bullpen for New York, meaning he will certainly be up in the bullpen frequently this postseason.

Logan's role is a thankless but important job for the Yankees' chances. Logan has a lot of powerful right-handed hitters on Detroit that he will need to figure out how to get out. Logan will be an important bridge from the starter to Mariano Rivera in a save situation.

Simply put, if Logan fails, the Yankees as a team may go down with him.

Phil Coke, Detroit Tigers

On the other side of the Yankees/Tigers matchup is yet another important reliever, but more so for his history with the opponent. Phil Coke was once a high Yankees prospect and a good arm to have out of the bullpen. Coke was a part of the three-team deal that brought Curtis Granderson to New York. The blockbuster gave Granderson to the Yankees, while Detroit got Coke, Austin Jackson, Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth. All four men are on Detroit's playoff roster.

None of those four has had more of a roller-coaster ride than Coke, who went from the bullpen in 2010 to a starter to begin the year. After many struggles, Coke was put back in the bullpen and has done his job well enough to stay with the club. His struggles made smiles come onto the faces of Yankees fans, who believed they had dodged a bullet by ditching Coke.

This series is all about redemption for Coke pitching against the club that seemed to give up on him. His inspired pitching can help to bolster the Tigers' bullpen after the Game 1 loss.

Michael Martinez, Philadelphia Phillies

A few weeks ago, nobody was quite sure who Michael Martinez was. Earlier this week, he became known to Atlanta Braves fans as "the guy who took Chipper Jones' wild card-winning hit away." Now, Martinez can lay claim to being known as "the guy who took Domonic Brown's playoff roster spot away."

Martinez is a 28-year-old utility guy who has called the minor leagues home until this past April. Martinez played in just 88 games and batted only .196 this season, yet still made the postseason roster. It may be his .258 on-base percentage that will keep his bat in the lineup.

Martinez has also played the outfield, second base, third base and shortstop this season. If Placido Polanco, Chase Utley or Jimmy Rollins go down for any reason in the playoffs, expect Martinez to have to step in. He is certainly a step down, but may be good enough to keep the Phillies going in their quest for another World Series title.

Allen Craig, St. Louis Cardinals

Allen Craig is yet another utility man to make this list, playing at every position this season except for pitcher, catcher and shortstop. Craig went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in Game 1. He had the daunting task of batting in front of Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman. Craig had only 200 at-bats this year, but is an integral part in the success of St. Louis.

The Cardinals may revolve around their good starting pitchers and powerful offense, but Craig's .362 on-base percentage will make any dingers from Pujols and company that much better. With powerful teams in the NL like the Phillies and Brewers, that could make or break St. Louis this year.

Taylor Green, Milwaukee Brewers

Taylor Green is a virtual unknown unless you follow the Brewers' minor league system. Green was named the Brewers' Minor League Player of the Year this season with 22 home runs and 88 runs batted in for AAA Nashville. Green was called up in September and was 10-for-37 in the month. The only real reason that the Brewers kept Green for the playoff roster was because of the opponent. Green's bat matches up well with the arms in the bullpen for Arizona. This is why Green may be thankful to the Phillies.

Had the Atlanta Braves made it into the playoffs instead of the Cardinals, Atlanta would have been the divisional-round opponent for the Brewers. Milwaukee likely would have chosen veteran Josh Wilson over Green, but this gives Green a golden opportunity. With a few chances to make an impact in this series, Green could validate his stay on the playoff roster, should Milwaukee advance, as well as his place on the main club in 2012.

Jarrod Parker, Arizona Diamondbacks

Jarrod Parker on the playoff roster for the Arizona Diamondbacks represents the season that the team has had: unexpected. Parker is the top pitching prospect for the club, being drafted ninth overall in 2007. However, Parker is very inexperienced. Parker made his Major League debut in last Tuesday.

With just under six innings of MLB experience under his belt, the 22-year-old Parker will have a seat in the bullpen for Arizona. Let's also keep in mind that Parker underwent Tommy John surgery almost two years ago and is over his designated innings limit for the year. Having Parker here, especially when he can be the future of the club, is an extremely risky move by manager Kirk Gibson.

Then again, taking risks is exactly what got the Diamondbacks into this position in the first place.