But with Major League Baseball's playoff round rushing toward us, the need for wish-list specialization has increased. With that as our motivation, we've attempted to provide a nonpartisan roster of what delightful events the 2008 postseason can provide.

Our "We Wanna See It" list includes team, player and manager match-ups we wouldn't mind witnessing, with the particulars pulled from those franchises that have avoided elimination.

TEAM VS. TEAM

Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox: An All-Windy City World Series may not thrill the rabble outside Illinois, but it might enable an entire region to temporarily stop wondering why Kyle Orton can't complete the deep ball.

As you might expect, the feud that co-stars Cubs and White Sox fans has created a Chicago rivalry exceeded only by Michael Jordan vs. Jerry Krause.

Based on this year's inter-league dates, a Cubs-Chisox showdown would be a hoot; the home team triumphed in all six games. Cubbies fans still grind their teeth about the 2008 All-Star Game.

Even better ... a debate-to-the-death between the managers.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles: A Freeway Series would feature playoff teams with the best and worst regular-season records, respectively. This means it may only occur in a video game.

It also would include Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who was once a broadcaster for the Angels, matched against ex-Dodger catcher Mike Scioscia. There's even a potential nuclear clutch hitter vs. record-setting closer war we'll go into a bit later.

Beyond the geographical clash is a franchise vs. franchise crisis that really escalated when Angels owner Arte Moreno decided his Anaheim team should be identified as existing in L.A.

Perhaps a side, naming-related bet between owners could make this even more compelling. An Angels loss would require Moreno to refer to his club as the Anaheim Angels of Santa Ana Adjacent.

Chicago Cubs vs. Boston Red Sox: This could have been an all-timer if the snooty Red Sox hadn't gone off and won the World Series ... twice.

But the fight to demonstrate which group of fans is more loyal should be interesting, as will the automatic comparisons between the baseball shrines that will be used for the competition.

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: You really can't go wrong with the defending champions against the team that certainly has been behaving like baseball's best.

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: I wonder if the Green Monster's toilet facilities are available to the visiting team's left fielder.

Wouldn't it be bitterly ironic if the same left fielder drove in Game 7's winning run with an infield hit?

PLAYER VS. PLAYER

CC Sabathia vs. Doug Melvin: OK, we're a bit off category here. If the Brewers rally and take the NL wild-card berth, it could mean that free-agent-to-be Sabathia started each of Milwaukee's last four regular-season games and general manager Melvin will have to fistfight the pitcher's agent.

Carlos Zambrano vs. Dustin Pedroia: Let's pretend the Cubbies' Big Z is provoked into issuing some chin music and the 5-foot-8 Pedroia charges the mound. Zambrano, who once scrapped in the dugout his former catcher, might have a tougher match with the gritty Pedroia.

Boy, these Red Sox really seem irritable.

Jose Reyes vs. Torii Hunter: Reyes on third for the Mets with two outs and a sharp single to the Angels' Hunter in center field.

Evan Longoria vs. Vladimir Guerrero: Imagine Vlad out in front of something off-speed. Although this would never happen, now imagine Longoria, the Tampa Bay Rays' sweet-fielding rookie third baseman, playing Guerrero to bunt.

MANAGER VS. MANAGER

Joe Torre vs. Mike Scioscia: We'll see if the manager whose GM presented him with Andruw Jones can outthink the manager whose GM hired Hunter.

Lou Piniella vs. Ozzie Guillen: If one of these guys had been an umpire or sportswriter, we'd be all set.

Mike Scioscia vs. Joe Maddon: This match-up might explain things to a few Angels fans who've been wondering when Drew Carey quit sitting in their dugout.