By Jose M. Romero 

The two wild card games are history – one that will go down in history after that horrendous infield fly rule call on a shallow pop-up into left field that went against the Atlanta Braves – and it’s time to start the baseball postseason for real.

It’s Baltimore vs. New York and Detroit vs. Oakland in the American League, and St. Louis vs. Washington and Cincinnati vs. San Francisco in the National League.

In baseball, of course, Latinos are a big part of teams’ success. Let’s first look at those in the American League who could have a major impact for their respective teams over the next few days and possibly weeks.

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By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

A couple of weeks ago, a committee of notable Latino sports media professionals at ESPN came up with 30 nominees for the top 10 best Hispanic athletes of all time, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

The names on the list were intriguing. The list included baseball stars Albert Pujols, Juan Marichal, Roberto Clemente and Fernando Valenzuela. Boxing giants included Julio Cesar Chavez, Roberto Duran, Oscar de la Hoya and Teofilo Stevenson of Cuba, who won multiple Olympic gold medals as a heavyweight.

There was Mary Jo Fernandez and Rafael Nadal in tennis, and Lee Trevino and Nancy Lopez in golf.  Plus Anthony Munoz in football, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi in soccer and Manu Ginobili in basketball.

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By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For FOX Deportes

I’ve had the good fortune of covering two Major League Baseball All-Star Games.

I was there last summer when, to my good fortune, the game was held in the city where I live, Phoenix. My auxiliary press box seats were somewhat obstructed, nevertheless I can’t complain. I was there both Monday and Tuesday for home run derby and game.

As a journalist, I watch the games and follow the league news closely and go to as many Arizona Diamondbacks games as I can. As a fan, well, I go to one Dodgers game in L.A. per year, and I also cast a ballot for my All-Star team.

Fan voting is fine, but truth be told it’s a popularity contest and teams in bigger markets with more fans can stuff the ballot inbox with their team’s players. I like to think that voters are smart enough to pick the most deserving starting lineup, but it doesn’t work that way sometimes.

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By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For Fox Deportes

 Rod Barajas has put together a long career in Major League Baseball, and the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher has at least two accomplishments that not many others in the game can claim.

He has a World Series ring with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2001, and he got to play a full season and part of another for his hometown team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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By Jose M. Romero / @RomeroJoseM

For Fox Deportes

PHOENIX – Brian Fuentes doesn’t have a dyed-black beard. He doesn’t sprint into games from the bullpen or scream and gesture after striking out a batter. There’s nothing out of the ordinary about his persona when on the mound, like other closers in major league baseball.

Whatever works. And it’s been working for 11-plus seasons, the length of Fuentes’ major-league career.

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By Jose M. Romero/@RomeroJoseM

For Fox Deportes

 Fernando Salas saved 24 games for the St. Louis Cardinals last season, helping his team make it to the postseason.

The right-handed reliever from Huatabampo, Mexico was solid in the NL Division and Championship series, but struggled in the World Series. The Cardinals won it all, but perhaps Salas’ control issues were a sign of things to come in 2012.

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By Jose M. Romero

For Fox Deportes

Rafael Furcal went 2-for-12 this past weekend as his St. Louis Cardinals were swept in a three-game series by his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The series was highly atypical of the kind of season Furcal has had hitting. His batting average after Sunday’s game was a scorching .352, and Furcal has been a big reason for the Cardinals’ early season success as the table-setter, the leadoff man.

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By Jose M. Romero

For Fox Deportes

Watching the highlight of Albert Pujols deliver his first Albert-Bomb (WWE reference!) of the season, the first thought I had wasn’t that Pujols had finally hit his first home run as a Los Angeles Angel.

It was this: Is Pujols really only 32 years old?

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