The hope for baseball fans is what opening day is all about, being optimistic about this being the year for their team. The 162 game schedule takes the fan on a journey of highs and lows and this year there were many unexpected results.

Great stories like the Oakland A's winning their division on the last day of the regular season after being 13 games behind the Texas Rangers. The Baltimore Orioles making the playoffs and challenging the mighty Yankees for the division title. Then there are also the unexpected results that go the other way. Like what was the soap opera of a season for the Boston Red Sox, from the manager Bobby Valentine to the injuries and under performing stars on the team. There was also the Angels, a team many thought would be in the World Series, with the addition of Albert Pujols and pitchers C.J.Wilson and Zack Greinke. They had a winning season but missed the playoffs.

Now it's time for the playoffs, with a nice mix of familiar teams and new teams. In the American League, the one-game wild card will feature the Texas Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles. Division winners include, the New York Yankees, Detriot Tigers and the Oakland A's. In the National League, the one-game wild card features the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves. Division winners include the Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants.

As a Red Sox fan, I am rooting for the Oakland A's, who have several former Red Sox players and I love an underdog. As a baseball fan, I am looking forward to the playoffs. Who are you rooting for to win and who do you think will be in this years World Series?

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