Preparation is key to playoff success.(Closer)

During the playoffs, teams and cities dream about what could be. "Wait till next year" doesn't apply to the clubs still playing. Players are chasing their Holy Grail, and it's a time of intense prayer for fans. For fans of teams whose series begin on the West Coast, they find out just how many hours of sleep they need to function. And if their team goes to a Game 5 or a Game 7, they want to know the definition of "function."

But few people know what goes on in the weeks before the playoffs. Each team has advance scouts who follow one or two clubs for the final month of the season. Their job is to detect the smallest tendencies, from the patterns pitchers use to how outfielders set up and track fly balls. If an outfielder has a bad hamstring or can't go to his right, for example, that information can help win games.

The scouts pass along their findings to coaches, who then put together an I extremely detailed game plan. This is where matchups, particularly as they relate to bullpens and bench players, can make the difference. As I've said before, superstars don't win these games--except for Derek Jeter. Some role players will play a bigger part in the postseason than they did the entire regular season. ...