Each and every divisional series stretching to the maximum five games, the addition of the one-game-playoff, a controversial infield fly call, a total of eleven extra innings played, and a stunning come-from-behind series win.  While baseball has since been uprooted as the national pastime, this MLB postseason has been just what the sport has needed.  Excitement, controversy, headlines, and a plethora of stories.

Never before have teams been this evenly matched heading into the postseason.  Teams like the Washington Nationals, the Baltimore Orioles, or the Oakland A’s- teams who were seeing little to no coverage (and rightfully so) prior to this season, were catapulted into the spotlight.  To begin, the officiating crew of the Cardinals and Braves game put the “Wild” in wild card when a special infield fly rule was called, much to the Atlanta crowd’s dismay, as they quickly transformed Turner Field into a city dump.  It wasn’t exactly the way baseball legend Chipper Jones wanted to leave his career, and his quotes condemning the use of the one-game-playoff were brought to the forefront.

It definitely wasn’t the way the MLB wanted to start off the playoffs, but soon thereafter, the remaining teams put on quite the show.

The San Francisco Giants, featuring Niles West graduate George Kontos, stunned the winningest team of the season, the Nationals, in their five game series, yet the Giant’s heroics took a seat to the story of Stephen Strasburg, the National’s ace who was sidelined earlier this season due to concerns over an injury.  National’s management says they have “no regrets,” but they’d be foolish to say that Strasburg wouldn’t have given them a better chance to win the series in the long run.

In the American League side of the postseason, the Oakland A’s (who, mind you, are ranked last in payroll) nearly eliminated the Miguel Cabrera led Detroit Tigers.  Cabrera, who will undoubtedly be named AL MVP this year, as he was the first Triple Crown winner (leader in home runs, batting average, and runs batted in) since 1967, Prince Field, and Justin Verlander were able to will the Tigers to a series win after a scare from the hot A’s.

The evil empire of baseball, the New York Yankees, barely escaped the Orioles on the back of Derek Jeter, Raúl Ibañez, and CC Sabathia, and moved on to face the Tigers in the ALCS, only to lose their captain, Jeter, to a broken ankle.  While hating the Yankees is as American as eating at McDonalds, Jeter’s pain on the diamond was hard to watch.

With that, I’m locking in my 2012 World Series pick.  The Tigers will win it all for the first time since 1984, a desperate win for a desperate city.

Yes, baseball has been on this country’s backburner for the last few years, as football has stolen the show.  Long gone are the days when baseball was avidly watched by the younger generation.  For me, excitement was particularly lacking this season due to the Cub’s futility.  Still, baseball has definitely tugged on my heart once again this October, and with the Bear’s having a bye this week, well, I bet you can guess what I’ll be watching.