The sudden death tournament starts today.

The Angels venture into New York, into the House that Ruth built, the House that has the ghosts of the Babe and the Iron Horse.

Jarrod Washburn is a very capable pitcher. The best argument made on behalf of the Angels is the loss of Paul O’Neil, Tino Martinez, and Scott Brosius will weaken the Bronx Bombers.

Will the replacements be as clutch as the three departed Yankees? Will Roger Clemens continue his mediocre season?

The Angels need game one to have any chance to beat the Yankees.

I think they can get it tonight despite the ghosts and everything else. They can hit Clemens, their bull pen is rested, and Troy Percival can seal the deal, but mainly I think after seeing Washburn and Mark Mulder hook up in a double shut out, that Washburn is good enough to get the job done in the Stadium.

click below for the other games.Tim Hudson is the A’s most emotional pitcher. This is the first time he is starting the playoffs for his team. Gil Heredia opened in 2000 and Mark Mulder opened last year. Hudson better not be too amped today. When he gets too excited he overthrows the ball, he loses his sinker, and gives up hits.

Brad Radke would win a dart throwing contest in your local bar. He has great control, throws a mean changeup in fast ball hitting counts, and presents a challenge to the A’s hitters.

The A’s will need to take him the other way, hit to the opposite field. The weather is clear, slightly crisp, and windy, good for home runs. Radke has been known to give up some home runs. I have a feeling we will see some runs today and the relievers will decide the outcome. I don’t mean the closers, but the middle relievers.

The A’s will see Johan Santana and Kyle Lohse if Radke falters, two pitchers who gave them fits during the season. The Twins will see Cory Lidle and Ted Lilly in the seventh inning. Makes for some exciting baseball.

The A’s don’t hit lefties very well, neither do the Twins. Both managers will go to lefties in the bull pen throughout this series.

The Twins knock righties around at a pretty good clip.

The A’s are in an unaccustomed role as a favorite after being an underdog in virtually every big game they have ever played.

The Twins have a good chance today to put the A’s in their more familiar role of coming from behind to win.

It won’t be the end of the world if the A’s lose the opener because Mulder and Zito are next on the horizon for the Twins, Minnesota better win today if they want to play on Saturday.

Arizona has a rested Randy Johnson facing Matt Morris in Phoenix. This series promises to have many twists and turns.

Johnson seems more on his game than Curt Schilling does right now.

Arizona wins one for their fallen hero Luis Gonzalez in a series St. Louis is dedicating to their departed comrade Daryl Kile.

This one will go the full five, but tonight goes according to form and the Big Unit.

All the teams are capable, play good defense, and hit the ball. If you hand the ball to your opponent, they will take it, so playing good baseball is paramount to winning. You can’t get away with mistakes like you could in the regular season against the 22 clubs who will be watching today on television.

Baseball will be exciting today and for the whole month of October.

Who do you think will be standing alone when it is all said and done?