Here’s your handy sample ballot for the first round of the playoffs.

Please study and wait 30 minutes so that you can fully digest the information before making up your own minds about how silly Steve Lyons and Thom Brennaman sound on the Fox broadcasts.

A’s vs. Boston

Key pitching matchups: The classic Game 1 meeting of Tim Hudson and Pedro Martinez is Dave Stewart vs. Roger Clemens, circa 1989. But the scale-tipper could be Game 3 – Oakland’s Ted Lilly vs. Boston’s Derek Lowe, who was bumped back a game to make sure he pitches in Fenway Park.

Player to watch: Manny Ramirez, who hit .370 with three homers vs. the A’s in the regular season, including a shot against closer Keith Foulke.

Side note: The A’s Big Three (including currently injured Mark Mulder) are 5-5 in the postseason.

Other side note: For a few hours last November, A’s General Manager Billy Beane was the Boston GM. If he hadn’t pulled out, the A’s might have ended up with Trot Nixon, among others, as compensation.

Fearless forecast: Unless Lilly is lights out, the Red Sox in five; and it’s Oakland’s fourth consecutive one-and-done postseason.

Giants vs. Florida

Key pitching matchups: Any Marlin vs. Barry Bonds. Florida has only two left-handers, including Game 4 starter Dontrelle Willis.

Player to watch: Marlins outfielder Juan Pierre, who stole 65 bases and hit .305, was limited to .231 and scored only two runs against the Giants.

Side note: The Marlins have finished .500 or better only one other time – in 1997, when they beat the Giants, Atlanta and Cleveland to win the World Series.

Other side note: When current Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria ran the Montreal Expos, he was the man who thought Felipe Alou was too old – two years ago.

Fearless forecast: Bonds, Jason Schmidt and Sidney Ponson add up to a four-game Giants victory.

Atlanta vs. Chicago

Key pitching matchup: Cubs ace Mark Prior threw 133 pitches Saturday and won’t be available early in the series. That puts Carlos Zambrano (3.11 earned-run average) against Braves lefty Mike Hampton in Game 2.

Player to watch: Braves closer John Smoltz, recently off of the disabled list, must be in top form if, as expected, runs are hard to come by.

Side note: Chicago finished the regular season with 22 consecutive games against teams with losing records.

Other side note: A collision between Prior and Braves second baseman Marcus Giles almost ruined both of their seasons – but the time off in July left Prior fresh for his dominating late run.

Fearless forecast: Dusty Baker lifted his team from 95 losses last season, but it stops against Atlanta’s run machine. Braves in four.

New York Yankees vs. Minnesota

Key pitching matchups: New York Game 2 starter Andy Pettite vs. the Twins’ aggressive lineup.

Player to watch: Jose Contreras, the

Yankees’ hope to fill the seventh- and eighth-inning role in front of Mariano Rivera.

Side note: Twins’ Game 1 starter Johan Santana (3.07) is their only starter with an ERA lower than 4.49.

Other side note: These teams have never met in the postseason.

Fearless forecast: The Yankees, who lost to Anaheim in the first round last season, pull this one out in five.

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