Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt hit 548 home runs and was a 12-time All-Star before retiring in 1989. A three-time NL MVP, the third baseman was MVP of the 1980 World Series when the Phillies won their only championship.

It's that time again. Every night a game worth watching, every morning a game worth discussing. Every game has a moment that provides 24 hours of discussion, from water coolers to radio talk shows to ESPN.

So let's get it started.

There are four clear-cut favorites to win it all — the Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay, Boston, and the Chicago Cubs.

The best pitching, on both ends, hitters who understand close-game situational hitting, great defense and leadership from managers and tested players.

Tampa brings a scary element: Youthful, never-say-die, yes-we-can, young confidence and exuberance. "Go ahead and try to beat us," they say. Watch out for them with the home-field advantage.

Philly and Milwaukee, both on a high. They live by the home run, are not great at doing the little things that breed consistency, but can heat up in a short series if their hitters are hot.

Think about what wins a postseason series. The Angels are the template, with the Red Sox and Cubs a close second. Heck, Josh Beckett is pitching Game 3.

Pitching, pitching and more pitching. Forget hitting, it's unpredictable. Few, if any, World Series champions hit their way to the title.

It's guys like Catfish Hunter, Jack Morris, Roger Clemens, John Smoltz, Josh Beckett and the Mariano Riveras. Stud starters and automatic closers, and who has both? The Angels, Red Sox and Cubs.

The Rays, Phils, Dodgers all have decent starters with a good No. 1 and 2 and good bullpens, but not in the elite class. I'm talking four guys who can throw a shutout for seven innings and a closer who is automatic.

Philly has an automatic closer in Brad Lidge and one guy who can throw zeros for nine. The Dodgers could make some noise with the best bullpen ERA in the NL, and a closer that has the stuff, but no experience.

The Rays and Brewers and the AL Central champ are good, not stellar. Pitching is king in the postseason. You cannot win in today's postseason, due to the number of games, without dominant pitching.

Book it!

There's another reason dominant pitching wins in the postseason — it keeps the hitters in the right frame of mind.

Close-game hitting is so much different than come-from-behind hitting. In close-game hitting, you are thinking small: move a runner, draw a walk, drop a bunt, make contact, hit a single. Something small can lead to a win. Hitters with that mind-set are dangerous and tough to pitch to.

Hitters trying to do it all with every swing get overanxious, failure multiplies and becomes magnified on the big stage and frustration sets in.

You've seen it — I went 1-for-20 in the 1983 World Series, I've experienced it.

Another crucial element of postseason play is leadership. Teams with guys that have been there, especially guys that have won, have an enormous advantage. I call it the "Rose-ian" theory.

We were there for three years with great young teams, without him. Then Pete Rose arrived, we won.

This is an underrated aspect of the postseason. Look around at the teams, who has that guy? It can be a manager or a coach, but it's best if it's a player.

Yes, there's power, defense, speed, and home-field advantage to consider, other aspects than pitching and leadership. When that's all put into the computer, it would spit out an American League champion, most likely the Angels.

The same computer would think longer to spit out the NL champ, most likely Philly because of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Lidge and team speed.

Hey, the computer picked the Yankees or Tigers to finish at the top of the AL this year, so what good is it? Maybe they need to play the games.

You know I love the Phillies. Heck, they have my ring size on file, so I'm looking for an Angels-Phillies Series. Small ball against large" ball, pitching and defense against power and speed, laid back vs. rowdy fans.

Let's get it on! Beat LA! Whoa! Sorry, got ahead of myself. Much has to go right for that, but it would be cool.

That's what is so great about it. It must be decided on the field. Strange things happen and guys like me look stupid.

At least I'll admit it!