1.   But they appear confident, sure that their wealth of post-season experience and strong starting pitching will manifest themselves once the playoffs start.

2.   Denver coach Mike Shanahan, who will probably be guiding quarterback Brian Griese through his first playoff start, says it depends.

3.   For anybody wondering, American League Most Valuable Player ballots have to be mailed in before the playoffs start.

4.   He hopes to make his second playoff start more memorable.

5.   It had been six days since he last pitched, and he faces another six-day layoff before his playoff start against the Orioles Saturday in Baltimore.

6.   It was the first playoff start for Walker.

7.   Just watch him snip and clip his way through the Dodgers in a playoff start.

8.   Not when the home team wins four times in nine playoff starts at America West Arena.

9.   Once the games get started, players will be faced with an exhausting schedule until playoffs start.

10.   Pete Schourek, purchased from Houston last season, pitched ably down the stretch and brilliantly in his controversial playoff start, but he signed with Pittsburgh.