Now that the playoffs are upon us, we take a look and break down the four divisional series. Seven of the eight playoff teams this year did not make it in 2006.

Only the New York Yankees return to postseason play; they took an early exit last year in the first round, losing to the eventual American League champion Detroit Tigers.

This year’s field is wide open, and even the mediocre teams have some hope. Last year, the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series after a less-than-impressive 83-79 regular season record.

Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies
If you like hitting, this is your series: The Phillies and Rockies finished first and second respectively in runs scored in the National League during the season. These teams also made two of the most remarkable comebacks in major-league history just to get into the postseason.

The Phillies were 7 ½ games behind the Mets with 17 left to play, went 12-5 down the stretch and won the division by one game. The Rockies, not to be topped, won 14 of their last 15 games, including a dramatic extra-innings comeback win against the San Diego Padres in a one-game playoff tiebreaker on Monday, to capture the wild card spot.

The way these two teams are playing, this should be a National League Championship Series.

Both lineups are stacked with power, and the Phillies feature MVP candidate Jimmy Rollins and home run slugger Ryan Howard. Howard finished the regular season with 47 home runs, third-best in the majors.

The Rockies have some hitters and an MVP candidate of their own, Matt Holliday, to lead the way.

Holliday finished fourth in batting average with .340. He also had 137 RBI and 216 hits, both second highest in the majors. Also, hot-hitting shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is making a strong push for the Rookie of the Year award.

The Phillies, though, should have just enough with their home field advantage to hold off Colorado.

Prediction: Phillies in 5

Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Contrary to the Phillies-Rockies series, this one should feature more a series of low scoring, pitchers duels.

The Diamondbacks have flown under the radar all season, quietly winning 90 games with a very young team and a shutdown closer in Jose Valverde, who led the league with 47 saves.

The dynamic closer is pretty much untouchable, so if the Diamondbacks get any lead going into the ninth inning, its lights-out on the Cubs. The Diamondbacks took four of six games against the Cubs during the regular season.

As for the Cubbies, Brewers fans would enjoy nothing more than seeing Chicago go out in the first round, but the Cubs’ bats have been scorching.

Alfonso Soriano hit 14 home runs in September and batted .320. Brewers-killer Aramis Ramirez is also hot, driving in runs and hitting eight homers in the final month.

My gut feeling is not good in this series, but because it’s the Cubs, I cannot pick them to win.

Prediction: Diamondbacks in 4

New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians
Who would have thought that the Cleveland Indians would finish the year with the best record in baseball? With a 96-66 record, the Indians very quietly finished 30 games above .500 with few big names on the roster.

Their success this season is due in large part to their two shutdown starting pitchers, C.C. Sabathia and little-known Fausto Carmona.

Each finished with 19 wins on the season, tying for second-best records among pitchers in the majors.

But the question is: Will it be enough to quiet the Yankees bats?

The “Bronx Bombers” are making their 13th consecutive appearance in the postseason. New York went 20-8 in September and nearly caught the first-place Red Sox in the American League East Division, but settled for the AL wild card spot. Alex Rodriguez had a career year, hitting .314 and led the league with 54 home runs.

As much as I like the Indians’ pitching, I think the Yankees are too hot right now to be knocked out in the first round. The Yankees went 6-0 against the “Tribe” this season and outscored them 49-17.

Prediction: Yankees in 5

Los Angeles Angels vs. Boston Red Sox
The Angels are another team no one seems to talk about. Maybe it’s because they’re on the West Coast, or maybe it’s because they’re never on TV. Either way, this team has hardly gotten any publicity this season, but they’re definitely a force to be reckoned with. They have one of the toughest hitters in the league in Vladimir Guerrero.

Guerrero led the team in doubles (45), home runs (27), and RBIs (125). He is nearly impossible to strike out and seems to always get the big hits.

They also have two veterans in Garrett Anderson and Orlando Cabrera, who have been in the postseason before, and are very good hitters.

The Red Sox held on to their AL East title but have leveled off a little, going just 59-50 since June 1st. But now that they have Manny Ramirez back in the lineup, it could give them a big boost.

Also, anytime you talk playoffs with the Red Sox, you have to talk David Ortiz. “Big Papi” always seems to have a way of getting the big hit.

Ortiz is a .301 career postseason hitter with eight homers and 32 RBI. The Red Sox’s Achilles’ heel lately, though, has been the failure of their bullpen.

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