As the playoff story unfolds the players who will be known forever in baseball history as the ones who led their teams through “October Baseball” step up on the national stage.

In Chicago, pitcher Jose Contreras is the key to the Sox winning the ALCS. The cagey veteran finally trusts his tricky assortment of pitches. In times past, the former Cuban national star has refused to challenge the hitters. Not so anymore, Contreras says here’s the ball, go ahead and try and hit it. So far he’s been the most dominating pitcher of the postseason.

Click below for more!Great move by Ozzie Guillen demanding that El Duque be part of his playoff roster.Most in the White Sox organization wanted rookie pitcher Brandon McCarthy in the bull pen instead of the former Yankee veteran.

In the most spine tingling inning seen this fall, El Duque came in and worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth inning of game three, preserving a one run lead for the Sox, thus sealing the fate for last year’s champs.

White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko is having a dream post season. Konerko is showing the world that he is a legitimate prime time power hitter. Konerko, a free agent this winter, can write his own ticket next season.

I love watching games played in Houston’s Minute Maid Park. The A’s new ball park committee should take a long look at the inviting left field wall in Houston when making their recommendations for the team’s proposed park. With real seats above the short wall, you have an outstanding view of the action.

This year’s Braves team has youth up and down the line up just like the A’s had in 2005.

So how come the Braves made the playoffs while the A’s season came to an early close?

The key hitters in Atlanta are veterans Andruw (51 homers) Jones, Chipper Jones, Rafael Furcal, and Marcus Giles. Pure and simple, the Braves group came through when it counted, while the A’s veteran bats struggled during the crucial games in September.

Will the Red Sox try to trade Manny Ramirez again this off season? The Mets almost obtained the slugger at last summer’s July trade deadline. The Mets won’t whiff again if in fact Manny is up for grabs.

The Rangers hired little known front office assistant, Jon Daniels, a 28 year old Cornell graduate, as their new general manager. Seems the best way to become GM of a major league team these days is to go to an Ivy League school, become a baseball intern, then most importantly be a computer expert before your 30th birthday.
If Ken Macha doesn’t get a managerial job this off season, look for him to be added to the Red Sox staff. The move would put the former A’s manager in line for Terry Francona’s spot if health issues cause the popular Francona to step aside next season.

Ron Washington has interviews lined up all over the baseball map this week. If the A’s are serious about Washington succeeding Macha as Oakland’s field boss, they better act quickly.

Washington would be a great choice. The key veteran players on the team swear by “Wash” and would go to bat for him. Washington has paid his dues over his career. He is clearly the media favorite for the job. Most importantly he knows the drill in Oakland and would give the organization the loyalty it requires if things didn’t go well on the field (he’s not a finger pointer).

Angel’s catcher Bengie Molina is carrying the Angels this post season. Molina is a free agent this winter. I’m sure he’ll get some flattering offers to move from Los Angeles. Molina can’t run and visits the DL every season with muscle pulls. If I’m Molina, I’m staying in my comfort zone in Anaheim. A move anywhere else will have an unhappy ending.

On the other hand San Diego’s free agent catcher, Ramon Hernandez will sign with the Mets, reuniting the back stop with former A’s pitching coach Rick Peterson in the Big Apple.

The color commentators during ESPN’s playoff coverage have been abysmal. There is no more annoying person on the air than Rick Sutcliffe who feels compelled to make inane comments after every pitch.

Why not bring in one of the local team’s television crew not working the series to add real insight to the broadcast?

This method worked well for Hall of Famers Mel Allen, Curt Gowdy, Vin Scully, and others in years past. Of course that was before ESPN got a stranglehold on the baseball television package.

Is ESPN’s K-Zone graphic an accurate computer tool? The announcers act like it is. If it is as good as they say, why not call balls and strikes with K-Zone for real?

If the A’s are serious about adding free agent Mike Piazza as their new right handed power hitter in 2006 at least they know he’ll be in shape. Piazza, part of the ESPN crew this fall, looks like he has lost about 20 pounds. Wonder what his diet secret is?

How about former Twins catcher Matthew LeCroy as the new A’s DH? LeCroy, who will be a free agent shortly, can hit with power. The former Clemson player has a good old country hard ball approach to the game which would fit well in the A’s clubhouse.

Baseball is now a story 12 months a year. The off season will have many surprises as the teams try to fill their needs through free agent pick ups and/or trades.

As for me, I’m off to the world series in two weeks to see first hand who the October heroes will be.

Enjoy the playoffs. See you in spring training.