Reds, Tigers among teams to beat in October ball

There's nothing quite like October baseball.

Like Reggie Jackson in the 1970s, heroes can be born. Contrarily, in cases like Bill Buckner's, scapegoats are born. It's an exciting time that entices even casual fans.

Everything comes together for a team in October. Benches and pitching staffs are shortened to cater to your team's strengths and weaknesses.

This year, the MLB has implemented a two-team wildcard format for the first time. The defending champion St. Louis Cardinals utilized the new system to sneak into the playoffs.

The American League will feature the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics. The National League will feature the Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, and the previously mentioned St. Louis Cardinals.

The Detroit Tigers are playing great baseball heading into the playoffs. The AL Central champions have great team chemistry and with a pitching staff led by Justin Verlander, have the tools to go all the way to the World Series.

Don't forget that the Tigers also have the best hitter in baseball, Miguel Cabrera. He's the first Triple Crown winner the league has seen since Carl Yastrzemski did it in 1967. Having a top-end pitcher like Verlander and an elite batter like Cabrera could give the Tigers the advantage they need to win a World Series ring.

The second-half performance of both the Athletics and the Orioles were movie-esque. Early on, neither team was expected to compete with big market clubs like the Yankees. Both teams have proved time and time again this season that team chemistry and heart are important traits to possess in baseball.

The Athletics were 13 games behind the Rangers at one point this year, only to persevere and pass them on the final night of the season to win the division crown. The squad has a $50 million payroll - almost half that of the Rangers and Yankees. Like the movie "Moneyball," that's how stories are made and heroes are born - but it's not how teams win championships. Expect the Tigers to represent the AL.

The National League's story of the year is the upbeat Nationals. They are built for the World Series, not just this year, but for years to come. If GM Mike Rizzo can keep this roster together, the nation's capital could be fielding a dynasty for years to come.

The team's lineup can be as powerful as any team in the league. Even after shutting down Steven Strasburg, the Nationals pitching staff is deep and can keep scores low to win games in the late innings.

The Reds are a very strong, underrated team and could be the team to beat in the NL this year. The team possesses a great deal of veteran leadership - more so than any other NL team in the postseason.

The Reds are built like the Nationals. If they meet in the playoffs, it could be a very exciting series, but the edge should go to the Reds based on the leadership presence on the team. The Reds have what it takes to represent the NL in the World Series, and that's not to say the Nationals don't - they'll just fare better in future years when Steven Strasburg is actually allowed to pitch for them.

Detroit will face Cincinnati in the 2012 World Series. Though anything can happen, expect Detroit to win it all. The Tigers are just too talented for other teams to handle in a seven-game series and have the grit, heart and desire required to win it all.

The Reds will put up a fight but ultimately, Detroit will prevail in six games. Expect low-scoring games between the two squads.

Bill Schutt can be reached by e-mail at schutt.record@live.com.