For the first time in recent memory, the Major League Baseball playoffs will not feature the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox or Texas Rangers.

Also watching from home this year will be the Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks.

However, a myriad of young talent will attempt to breath a collective breath of fresh air into this year’s playoff race. Among the cast of characters will be the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Fransisco Giants.

In tribute, here is a list of some up and coming players to watch, and the respective American League and National League matchups.

Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals:

Atlanta: The Braves continue to be the Braves no matter who takes the field for them these days. Offensively, look for Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and Andres Galarraga to produce in a major way. On the defensive side, 19-year old rookie shortstop Rafael Furcal will be key in Atlanta’s National League title defense, along with Chipper at third and Andruw in center. Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux highlight the Braves starting rotation. Mike Remlinger will be the setup man, and flamboyant closer John Rocker is back on track and throwing well again.

St. Louis: No Mark McGwire? No problem say the Cardinals. Stepping in for McGwire all year has been centerfielder Jim Edmonds. Edmonds had a career year offensively, and was also aided by the offensive punch of J.D. Drew.

Up the middle, the Cardinals are among the league’s best, boasting shortstop Edgar Renteria and second baseman Fernando Vina. Edmonds is also a virtual lock for Gold Glove honors this year in center field. 20-win starter Darryl Kile, rookie phenom Rick Ankiel and righthander Garret Stephenson headline the Cards starting staff. Mike James will be featured in middle relief with Dave Veres (2.85 era) having saved 39 games, handling the closing duties.

San Fransisco Giants vs. New York Mets:

San Fransisco: Future Hall of Famer Barry Bonds finally gets another shot at the only accolade to elude him his entire career; a World Series ring. Bonds is the Giants best hitter, but San Fran will need continued output from Jeff Kent and Ellis Burks. First baseman J.T. Snow is a shoe-in for Gold Glove honors and Bonds still has one of the league’s best arms in rightfield. Taking the mound in game one is 1997 World Series MVP Livan Hernandez. The only other marquee name on the Giants’ staff is closer Rob Nen.

New York: The Mets return for another postseason, once again boasting one of baseball’s best catchers ever in Mike Piazza. Piazza does it all, offensively and defensively. Robin Ventura put together another solid season offensively and the mid-season acquisition of shortstop Mike Bordick has been intregal in the Mets’ success lately. Mike Hampton and Al Leiter are New York’s aces and they also have the postseason’s best bullpen. Armando Benitez and Turk Wendell, amongst others, will look to shut down any rallies by the Giants in the late innings of this series.

Seattle Mariners vs. Chicago White Sox:

Seattle: Shortstop Alex Rodriguez has really come into his own this year. He has let his bat and glove do the talking for a Mariners team that is a mixture of talent both young and old. Edgar Martinez is the player to watch on offense, along with slugger Jay Buhner.

Mark McLemore and Rodriguez will solidify things up the middle for the M’s, and Mike Cameron is also very solid in centerfield. The big question for Seattle is its pitching staff. Youngster Freddy Garcia is Seattle’s best starter and closer Kazuhiro Sasaki may be one of the league’s most underrated closers, having saved 37 games this season.

Chicago:- The league’s biggest surprise this year. They got off to a fast start and never looked back in compiling baseball’s best record this season. Veteran Frank Thomas had a career year, and a host of young faces round out the lineup. Offensively, look for Thomas, Carlos Lee, Paul Konerko and Magglio Ordonez to continue their tear, as they show no signs of slowing down.

Behind the plate is where the Sox have seen the biggest difference on defense since last season, as catcher Charles Johnson has taken Chicago’s average pitching staff to unforeseen heights. James Baldwin, Cal Eldred, Mike Sirotka and Jim Parque make up this transformed group of pitchers, along with outstanding middle reliever Bobby Howry, and young-gun closer Keith Foulke who has saved 34 of 39 games this season.

Oakland Athletics vs. New York Yankees:

Oakland: Baseball’s hottest team looks to unseat the World Champion Yankees in the playoff’s most intriguing matchup. Jason Giambi, Matt Stairs, Miguel Tejada and Ben Grieve are all players to watch for offensively. Tejada, the shortstop, is touted as the A’s best defensive player. Starting pitchers Gil Heredia, Kevin Appier and Tim Hudson will have their hands full with the Yankees lineup. Converted starter Jason Isringhausen will look to build on his success in his new role as closer.

New York: Back-to-back championships the previous two seasons leaves little else for the Yankees to prove. Skeptics believe this postseason could be the one that sees the Yankees dethroned. But not if Derek Jeter and company have anything to say about it. Jeter, Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, Bernie Williams and Scott Brosius have all been there and done that. The biggest problem for the Yanks will be their pitching. At the tail-end of the season their experienced staff sputtered and burned-out. Starters Roger Clemens, Andy Pettite and Orlando Hernandez will all have to step it up if New York has any hope of defending their title. The Yanks’ middle relief is solid with Jeff Nelson and Mike Stanton having thrown in the postseason before, and Mariano Rivera is baseball’s most prolific postseason closer of all-time. Don’t count out the Yankees.

So which team do Iowa Staters think will be the eventual champion? Surprisingly to this writer, the consensus opinion was San Fransisco.

“San Fransisco has a great offense and a huge home field advantage. Obviously, pitching will be the key, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say San Fran over the Yankees in 6,” said Jason Wiegman, senior in transportation and logistics.

“Barry Bonds will dominate the postseason like never before,” said Jeremy Vardaman, senior in liberal arts and sciences “and I say Giants over Mariners in 6.”