When the temperatures drop, the baseball action starts to heat up. This year, as baseball takes center stage in the postseason, fans are looking forward to seeing these players and managers do their thing as they battle their way to the World Series.
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
The Tigers infielder who won the Triple Crown in 2012 is going to be a joy to watch in the playoffs. He’s going to be a handful for opposing pitchers and a headache for opposing managers.
Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers
Cabrera’s partner in crime is an imposing sight at the plate both physically and mentally. The Tigers first baseman makes opposing managers think twice about pitching around Cabrera too.
Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds
Not all fans are in love with Reds second baseman’s bold and brash personality but he is an eyeball magnet in the field and at the plate. If a player was made for baseball’s brightest spotlight it’s this guy.
Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds
There are rumors that some of the fastest deer can almost keep up with the Reds speedster. Even if he doesn’t get to play in the outfield or take any swings he can change the atmosphere of a game and a ballpark just by being a pinch runner. His first stolen base was against one of the game’s best catchers and our next player.
Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
The catcher and field commander for the Cardinals is a student of the game, a threat at the plate and one of the best game callers in the business. Though hard to quantify, he has more than a little positive effect on his teammates.
Yasiel Puig, Los Angeles Dodgers
Young and extremely talented, the Dodgers rookie outfielder has sometimes been a headache for manager Don Mattingly. If he eventually grasps the concept that baseball is a team sport he’s going to be even more fun to watch and even more effective as a player.
Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox second baseman would like to make amends for his teams awful showing in 2012. This is another one of those guys who live and breathe baseball and manages to get everything out of his smaller than average frame. This little guy plays big all the time and that includes the post season.
David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
Toward the other end of the size spectrum, Boston’s Big Papi tends to play even bigger in big games. He recently passed the 2000 hits milestone and would enjoy adding another World Series to his team’s accomplishments.
Dusty Baker, Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati manager has come close but he’s never won the World Series. The Reds would love to bring down the big one for him but first they have to get in the post season.
Jim Leyland, Detroit Tigers
The Detroit manager has been around the block a time or two and has to figure his 2013 team has all the tools to deliver when it matters the most.
John Farrell, Boston Red Sox
In his first year as manager of the Red Sox, Farrell managed to diffuse the soap opera that plagued the franchise in 2011 and 2012 and put the Red Sox back on track to the playoffs. Farrell hopes all the dram stays on the field and out of the clubhouse.
Mike Matheny, St Louis Cardinals
The Cards manager has kept the St. Louis faithful happy since the departure of the beloved Tony La Russa and he wouldn’t mind making them even happier with another World Series title for the storied franchise.
Don Mattingly, Los Angeles Dodgers
Mattingly was close to losing his job when the Dodgers had a horrific start to the season. Now that the team is hitting on all cylinders, he could have a World Series ring as a manager in his future.