...Angels of Anaheim during the first inning of Game One of the ALDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Angel Stadium on October 8, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images...

Kiss 'Em Goodbye: Minnesota Twins

Insider and Baseball Prospectus collaborate to dissect the demise of the 2009 Minnesota Twins, who surged to make the playoffs, met a real power and folded -- and now need to start worrying about Joe Mauer's contract and other future issues.

Story | Conversation | October 13, 2009

Oddsmakers pick Yanks, Cards Series

Oddsmakers in Las Vegas have picked the Yankees and the Cardinals as favorites to meet in the World Series and think New York has an overwhelming chance to win its first title since 2000.

BP: An analysis of playoff ballparks

Baseball Prospectus looks at the 2009 MLB playoff ballparks and finds guys who are likely to shine because of the parks they'll be playing in.

Story | Conversation | October 05, 2009

Yankees to start Wednesday

The New York Yankees will start the AL playoffs Wednesday.

Four crew chiefs selected

Gerry Davis, Dana DeMuth, Tim Tschida and Joe West have been selected as the umpire crew chiefs for the first round of the playoffs.

BP: For the pen, it's also in the Cards

After a close analysis of all of MLB's playoff-bound pens, Baseball Prospectus finds that the St. Louis Cardinals stand above all others.

Story | Conversation | October 04, 2009

When 'pens succeed, playoff wins follow

Since the dawn of the division-play era in 1969, teams that have pitched well out of the bullpen have had far more success in October than teams that haven't.

The unique value of October baseball

As Buster Olney writes in the October 5 issue of ESPN The Magazine -- if you don't think playoff baseball is different, then, well, you're probably not a player, are you?

Story | Conversation | September 27, 2009

Insider's MLB Kiss 'Em Goodbye

Insider and Baseball Prospectus collaborate to dissect the rise and fall of all 30 teams.

BP: Numbers say it's in the Cards

Baseball Prospectus analyzes the starting rotations for the eight teams expected to participate in postseason 2009 -- and the Minnesota Twins. The numbers say it might be the National League's year.

Story | Conversation | September 24, 2009

BP Daily: Sorting out the playoff odds

Baseball Prospectus uses an improved playoffs-odds system to assess winners and losers at the 2009 MLB trade deadline. The Cardinals, Marlins and Phillies won. The White Sox, even with Jake Peavy, did not.

Story | Conversation | August 03, 2009

World Series draws record-low ratings

A small-market team and a short series often are guarantees of low television ratings for sports in this age of fractured audiences. The 2008 World Series added to that double whammy the disjointing impact of a long rain delay and a suspended game.

Rays-Phils contest sets record for worst Game 5 in World Series

Monday's World Series contest received the worst TV ratings for a Game 5 in history.

Game 2 ratings lowest since Tigers-Cardinals opener in '06

The Tampa Bays Rays' 4-2 victory Thursday night received an 8.1 fast national rating and 13 share on Fox, the network said Friday. That is the second-lowest rating for a Series game.