Pena to face Danks

This time, Rays first baseman Carlos Pena is in the lineup. Considered probable for Friday's second game against the White Sox, Pena will, in fact, be part of the starting lineup tonight. He ended us sitting out of Friday's game two Rays win after experiencing discomfort with the eye in warm ups.

It's good for the Rays to get more pop in the lineup, but they're facing John Danks tonight. Pena hits .190 against lefties. He's 2-9 against Danks with four strikeouts.

The Rays still will go right-handed heavy against Danks.

Brewers bashed

The Phillies makes easy work of the Brewers in game four and the series. Jeff Suppan gives up 3 home runs: one in the first to Jimmy Rollins, and then back-to-back homers to Pat Burrell and Jason Werth in the third. That was that.

Suppan left the game for a pinch-hitting CC Sabathia in the third. You mean Milwaukee doesn't have a bench guy who's a better hitter than Sabathia? CC struck out against Joe Blanton.

The the Brewers come back in the fourth with Yovani Gallardo, who was considered unable to start, but somehow he's capable of relieving a worthless Suppan. That makes zero sense. If Gallardo can pitch, why not start him and get things going on the right foot?

Once again, Milwaukee's in-season slump was not the managing of Ned Yost; it was the lack of talent on the Brewers. This team came out of the gates hard the last two seasons and then fell back to earth. Milwaukee gambled away a trio of good young players for a few months of Sabathia. They've mortgaged at least a part of their future for nothing. Sabathia could easily be gone. Ben Sheets is gone, and Milwaukee still lacks offense. Good luck next year, Beertown. You need it.

Weeks done

Rickie Weeks has been removed from the Brewers NLDS roster with a knee injury. Alicedes Escobar takes his spot, and considering Weeks' limitations as a hitter, Escobar might have been the better choice as a defensive addition, anyway. Escobar it .328 in Double-A, and he can steal a base.

Everybody's Bud

Only in Milwaukee can Bud Selig get a standing ovation. I guess making the postseason for the first time since 1982 has good feelings flowing in Beer City. Don't Milwaukee fans realize how soft Selig's been on policing baseball?

Bud on tickets

Bud Selig rarely reports economic problems in baseball. Things usually look sunny from his perspective, but lost in yesterday's game three matchups between the Dodgers and Phillies and Cubs and Dodgers was Selig's warning to MLB owners about ticket prices.

It's probably not easy for teams to lower prices given the salaries they're paying players, but it will be interesting to see if prices do go up from this year to next year.

Cubs collapse & future

I was going to write up the Cubs' debacle today, but Baseball Musings said close to everything that needed to be said.

There are a few more points on the Cubs, however, and it starts with starting pitching. I don't think anyone could have expected Ryan Dempster to have the kind of year he did, and maybe for one night the old Dempster reared his ugly right arm. For the first time since 2001, Dempster started over 30 games. In '01 he went 15-12 in Florida with a 4.94 ERA, almost two points higher than this year's 2.96 ERA. Despite his great season, Dempster's career ERA improved to just 4.55. I'm a firm believer in using a player's full resume in predicting his future, and to me Dempster was not a front-line starter despite his great year. At best I liked Dempster as a number three starter on this team, because I think both Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden can be more dominant.

That said, both Zambrano and Harden struggled down the stretch. 'Z' suffered through several bad outings while Harden experienced arm troubles. I think Lou Piniella was offered no other alternative than to start with Dempster, and I'm not sure that's what he would've wanted in a perfect world.

Alfonso Soriano is not a leadoff hitter. Piniella gave his player what he wanted rather than going with Piniella's gut or a statistcal analysis, which shows Soriano is a better middle-of-the-order type.

Kosuke Fukudome poses a potential problem in right field for years to come. Fukudome was figured out by MLB pitchers after just over a month of baseball. They pounded him away, realizing his bail-out style cannot catch up to heat on the outside. With a contract at four years and 48-million still on the books for the next three seasons, are the Cubs in a Barry Zito situation? A player too expensive to trade? Certainly the commitment is too strong to give up on the guy. Fukudome has his work cut out this offseason.

Jim Edmonds might retire, might go elsewhere, or might return to the Cubs. That's not a huge question mark, but given his fairly solid play in Chicago, the Cubs might have a hard time improving on his production in center field.

Henry Blanco holds a mutual option with the club on 2009. This needs to be sorted out quickly.

Red Sox mix in Kotsay

The Red Sox lineup for game two of their ALDS series with Anaheim:

Jacoby Ellsbury (CF)
Dustin Pedroia (2nd)
David Ortiz (DH)
Kevin Youkilis (3rd)
J.D. Drew (RF)
Jason Bay (LF)
Mark Kotsay (1st)
Jason Varitek (C)
Alex Cora (SS)

No Mike Lowell tonight. Mark Kotsay provides an extra lefty bat against Ervin Santana, but it's the power hitters who get to the Angels right hander, not so much the contact guys.

Economy and Baseball

Will the economic crisis hurt baseball? According to the Boston Red Sox, it won't be bothering them. Most of their players contracts must not be paid through credit lines.

Dee said there are areas where Fenway Sports Group, which also owns a minor league baseball team, and consulting and representation businesses, may look to expand.

"There's undoubtedly going to be hard times ahead over the next couple years across the world of sports and entertainment," he said. "With hard times come opportunities."

While there are no plans to increase the stake in its NASCAR team, Dee said the company is looking to do more in racing, including possible marketing or representation deals.

"We're interested in expanding our footprint in racing," he said, pointing to the company's lack of knowledge in such areas as open-wheel racing, like the IndyCar series.

Dee agreed buying another minor league baseball team makes sense, but team valuations have become "a little crazy" over the past two decades. Representing or even buying top entertainment events also would interest him.

Fenway Sports Group's sports consulting business has been its fastest growing segment, with more than 15 corporate clients, including Major League Baseball's media unit, Dunkin' Donuts, Verizon Communications Inc's (VZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) wireless business and EMC Corp (EMC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), said Dee.

To further boost that business, Fenway Sports Group recently opened an office in San Diego with hopes of picking up deals on the West Coast.

Talk about diversification!

Baseball explains the election

After a couple of 'graphs I couldn't continue reading this, but you might.

Dunc back with Redbirds

Dave Duncan will be back as Cardinals pitching coach next season. Considering the work he did with a makeshift unit like this year, 2009 is going to be a breeze.

Rays - Sox game times set

The game times for the remainder of the best-of-five Rays-White Sox series have been set. All are EST:

Game 3 will start at 4:07 p.m. Sunday in Chicago. For many Tampa Bay sports fans, that will make for some channel surfing. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play the Denver Broncos on Sunday with kickoff scheduled for 4:05 p.m.
Click here to find out more!

Game 4 of the Rays-Sox series, if necessary, is 5:07 p.m. Monday in Chicago.

If there is a Game 5 back at Tropicana Field, it will start at 6:07 p.m. Wednesday.

Are you SIRIUS?

Even after the announcement that SIRIUS customers could purchase XM channels and vice versa, there will be no MLB broadcasts on SIRIUS in the near future.

Reilly, the company spokesman, said that baseball is not part of the package because there is no agreement to have it there currently. He did say SIRIUS XM hopes to be able to add the MLB to the Best of XM package at some point.

Too bad.

Rays lineup - game 2

Two interesting notes in the Rays lineup today. First, Carlos Pena is back, as expected, from his minor eye injury on Thursday.

Also in Tampa's lineup is Rocco Baldelli. The chronic fatigue sufferer wears out Sox starter Mark Buehrle. He's hitting .500 with a home run and three RBI in 10 at bats for his career against the Chicago southpaw. Baldelli hit .292 vs. left handers this year in 48 at bats.

Update: Pena went through pregame workouts and decided he was unable to start. Willie Aybar took his place at first.

Junior sits in game 2

As predicted here in the wee hours of Friday morning, Ozzie Guillen benched Ken Griffey Junior for today's game against Tampa. It makes sense. Griffey is hitting just .202 vs. left handers while Rays starter Scott Kazmir is keeping lefties just under .200. Brian Anderson starts in his place in "centre" field. Gotta love the Canucks (hey they did post the story first!).

In a bit of a surprise, Paul Konerko, who's been hot of late at the plate including a home run in yesterday's 6-4 loss, will ride the pine in favor of Nick Swisher. Swisher, a switch hitter, is hitting just .197 against lefties. Call it Ozzie logic: one smart move, one head scratcher.

Update: Guillen came to his sense on Konerko. He started his regular first baseman as well as Swisher.

Cubs chances: not good

The Cubs will try to become just the second team in MLB history to go down 2-0 at home and rebound to win the series. The 2001 Yankees are the only team to get it done when they beat Oakland, 3-2. Here's MLB.com's list.

Rich Harden should be expected to help the Cubs win game three against Hiroki Kuroda, but Harden doesn't last very long in games.

Rivera shoulder surgery

Mariano Rivera is set to have minor shoulder surgery.

Rivera revealed late in September that he had pitched nearly the entire season in pain. Tests revealed inflammation and calcification on top of the AC joint in the 38-year-old reliever's right shoulder.

"You learn how to deal with it," Rivera said. "Obviously, there are days that you won't pitch because it hurts, because it's cranky, but I'm here to pitch. I don't come here to sit down and just see what happens."

The procedure is considered relatively minor and Rivera is expected to be ready for Spring Training, though he will likely assume his usual light workload -- skipping all road Grapefruit League games -- heading into the regular season.

That he still recorded 39 saves is impressive, even for the greatest closer in the history of the game.

Brewers boss bitching about revenue

Brewers owner Mark Attanasio thinks big market clubs need to share more revenue.

``It's always amusing to me to hear the Yankees, they can't get into the playoffs with $200 million, and they say, `well, we've done enough,''' Attanasio, the chief investment officer at money management firm TCW Group Inc., said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio's ``On the Ball'' program that will air tomorrow. ``The advantages that you're given in the bigger market teams -- if they really wanted to have a fair fight they would do more revenue sharing, but I guess the obvious battle lines are drawn on that.''

Making the playoffs, something Milwaukee finally did this year for the first time since 1982, doesn't always have to do with money. Since Attanasio's team last qualified for postseason ball the money-challenged Marlins have won two World Series with two entirely different teams.

Revenue sharing helps small market teams survive, if not stay competitive financially. Staying competitive on the field has more to do with finding good players for good bargains and hiring management with good baseball sense.

Here's wondering if Milwaukee makes a DVD about the Yankees' payroll and sends it to MLB.

Sabathia deal completed

Cleveland receives outfielder Michael Brantley from Milwaukee's farm system to complete the CC Sabathia trade. Brantley is a solid hitter for average, and he can swipe a base. I think Cleveland got the better end of this trade then, and I still think so now. The could re-sign Sabathia in the offseason.

Wall Streeters don't know baseball

Wall Street Journal readers probably paid too much attention to baseball this year. They didn't get their picks right in the MLB marketplace, either.

Longoria in short company

Evan Longoria's bust-out against the White Sox got me thinking: has anyone else homered in their first two MLB postseason at bats? The answer is yes, just one: Gary Gaetti. Here's guessing that Longoria has the better career between the two third sackers.

Friday predictions

Only two games on the docket for Friday, and I'm probably only going to see half of each. Oh well, here goes:

Chicago White Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays
Buehrle (15-12, 3.79) vs. Kazmir (12-8, 3.49)

-Mark Buehrle's really done a good job on righties the past couple of seasons, and that's helped him against Evan Longoria (0-6 vs. Buehrle). The Rays, however, have a number of players with robust numbers against the White Sox left hander, including Carlos Pena's .500 mark. The Rays will hope he can get back in the lineup after scratching his eye in Thursday's opener. Buehrle didn't have much success against the Rays, going 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA in three starts.

He'll meet hard-throwing lefty Scott Kazmir, who struggled in two of his last three outings. Kazmir, however, had the better year between the two pitchers, and he's dominant at home. Kazmir won eight of his 12 games at the Trop, and held opposing hitters to a .197 average. The White Sox will stack righties against him as Kazmir served up 22 of his 23 home runs to right handed hitters. Expect Nick Swisher to take one outfield spot, and perhaps Brian Anderson to start in center over Ken Griffey Junior. Expect the Rays to win, too. Kazmir is too tough at home, and the White Sox looked sloppy fielding in the dome on Thursday.

Boston Red Sox @ Los Angeles Angels
Matsuzaka (18-3, 2.90) vs. Santana (16-7, 3.49)

-Boston always beats Los Angeles, but not when Daisuke Matsuzaka's pitching. In his only meeting with the Angles this year, the BoSox ace gave up six runs in five innings to pick up the loss. Matsuzaka was cruising, however, until giving up five earned runs in the sixth inning.

Quick, who was the best pitcher in baseball named Santana this year? You might be surprised to learn that Ervin Santana matched or exceeded Johan Santana in several categories this year. The two had identical records (16-7), Ervin struck out more batters in fewer innings the Johan, and Ervin also owned the better WHIP at 1.12 to 1.15 for Johan. Then again, he wasn't better at keeping those runners from scoring, as Johan's ERA ended up almost a full point lower. The point is, the Angels young right hander came into his own in 2008, or came into conversations with the game's elite, which is incredibly good. Where he struggled, however, was in pressure situations. With runners in scoring position, Santana's ERA soared to 8.29. He's even worse in the clutch, posting an ERA of 19.68 with RISP and two out. Here's guessing that a potent Red Sox lineup is just too much. Boston takes game two, but it's a close one. Matsuzaka will enjoy his revenge.

Thursday picks revisited

Winning two of three is pretty good in baseball, so I should be happy with calling the Dodgers and Phillies wins on Thursday while misfiring on the Rays' 6-4 win over the White Sox.

After writing that Javier Vazquez would outperform a rusty Rays offense, I read in the paper that Vazquez's 16 losses were second most in baseball history for a pitcher throwing game one of a series. I should've remembered how poor his September went, but I'm of the opinion that hot streaks are abnormalities, as are cold streaks. Players typically even-out over time, and I figured a rested Vazquez against the wide-eyed Rays would do the trick. Ozzie Guillen must've thought the same thing. Nope.

Cubs crazies

This is funny. Cubs fans are some of the more irrational in sports, especially when the Cubs go belly up.

Fukudome will sit in game three

Lou Piniella responded angrily to a post game question regarding Kosuke Fukudome. Before the reporter finished, Piniella said Fukudome would not be playing any more. The Cubs right fielder, who struck out three times in four trips to the plate Wednesday night, does not yet have a hit in the series.

Piniella said "The kid's struggling." Then he walked off the podium. Piniella said Mike Fontenot or Reed Johnson would be taking Fukudome's place. Which one plays depends on the health of Mark DeRosa, who's been nursing a strained calf. DeRosa was considered unavailable to play right field because of the injury, as he started at second base instead. DeRosa made a key error in the second inning as the Dodgers scored four undearned runs.

With the Dodgers up 2-0 headed back to Los Angeles after a 10-3 win in game three, the Cubs have been outscored 17-5. They need better bats in the lineup. If DeRosa can play right, Fontenot is probably the better option at second defensively.

Minaya stays with Mets

The Mets extended GM Omar Minaya through 2012. This has to be the worst decision of the day, but the New York National League ball club is using reverse logic to explain why Minaya gets to stay.

"We failed this year, and we want to get the redemption that we need and move forward," Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said. "We obviously were not a very good team when Omar came aboard, and he's turned this thing around, and we think he deserves another chance to keep getting us to where we want to be."

Minaya understands some fans blame him for the Mets' collapses the past two seasons.

"It comes with the territory," he said during a conference call.

New York failed to make the playoffs after leading the NL East by seven games with 17 games left in 2007 and by 3½ games with 17 to go this year. Wilpon and Minaya have begun reviewing what went wrong.

"What is it that we lack? What is it that we need to get across that finish line?" Minaya said.

Wilpon said "there might be some addition by subtraction" on the roster.

"We're going to find out why we fell short the last two seasons," he said. "It's up to Omar and his staff to correct that, but we are asking those tough questions."

Deleting manager Willie Randolph this past season was subtraction by subtraction; the Mets didn't make the postseason anyway. The Mets needed to go in a new direction organizationally and missed the boat.

Cubbie blues

If you're new to understanding Chicago's Northside fragility, read this. It explains almost everything.

Obama on steroids

Swipe at John McCain or not, I totally agree with Barack Obama that steroids in baseball should not be part of Congress's daily docket. It never should have come up in Washington, and it should be even less of an issue now.

"I gotta admit that seeing a lot of congressional hearings around steroid use is not probably the best use of congressional time," Obama said.

Exactly. Lawmakers have a war waging in several countries, plus a balky (pun intended) economy to deal with.

Steroids are an important issue, especially with kids and young adults tempted to use them the way their heroes do, or did. Baseball needs to police the problem, and I still contend that it is Bud Selig's fault that the lack of policing by MLB led Congress to get into into the fray in the first place.

The Tampa Rays of St. Petersburg

This article might split hairs a bit, considering the Tampa Bay Rays aren't the only team that play in a city next door to their actual hometown (the New York Jets and Giants play in a whole other state!), but we get their point. The Tampa Bay Rays don't play in the city of Tampa; they play in St. Petersburg.

Obama gets a pass on messing up the Tampa/St. Pete deal, but broadcasters should know better.

Heave Javy, Ozzie

Chicagoland's Daily Herald published a postseason White Sox by the numbers piece. Most interesting - Javier Vazquez's horrible month of September.

3.66

White Sox pitcher Javier Vazquez's September ERA through his first 10 seasons (not including this year). It's the only month over his career in which he has posted a sub-4.00 ERA. His ERA this September: 6.25.

Vazquez still gets the nod as the Sox opening-game starter against Tampa. He lost 16 games this year, which is tough to do on a winning team.

October Reign

Which sport has the best postseason? That's what ESPN is asking, and Baseball Musings' David Pinto defends his favorite pastime quite well.

Red alert: keep an eye on this guy

Alex Buchholz has the full attention of his parent club, the Cincinnati Reds. He pounded the ball at Delaware, and now in his injury-riddled first pro season, Buchholz continued to rip.

Buchholz, whom the Reds selected out of the University of Delaware in the sixth round of June's First-Year Player Draft, hit .396 in 134 at-bats for Billings. He flirted with .400 for nearly two weeks at season's end before going "only" 1-for-4 in his final game to finish just shy of the magical mark. He also fell short of qualifying for the league batting title, which was won by Orem's Roberto Lopez (.400).

"I would call it an almost seamless transition," Cincinnati director of player development Terry Reynolds said. "A majority of guys have a problem moving from aluminum to wood bats. But he didn't seem to have that issue."

The Reds want to move him from second base to shortstop, which might make him a high riser in their organization thanks to the revolving door at that position at the big league level. Keep an eye on him through the winter and spring. He might be a minor leaguer to grab for future fantasy help.

Rays the roof

If the Rays get fans under the roof at Tropicana Field, they win. According to this ESPN.com article, however, they only put 30-thousand in the seats 23 times this year.

The Rays drew crowds of 30,000 or more on 23 occasions (winning 21 times), though eight of those were boosted by free Saturday-night postgame concerts by the likes of LL Cool J, Trace Adkins, and Kool & the Gang. As recently as Sept. 18, with the Rays closing in on a playoff berth, they drew just 17,296 against the Minnesota Twins.

In its 11th season, the team continues to suffer an identity crisis. No longer do out-of-town broadcasters use the former Devil Rays moniker, but the team's home still often is referenced as "Tampa" even though it plays 15 miles south in St. Petersburg.

An ambitious plan unveiled in November to replace the quirky, domed Tropicana Field with a $450 million ballpark on the downtown waterfront in St. Petersburg by 2012 was abandoned in June amid citizen protest and little support from city and Pinellas County officials.

Is Tampa, er, St. Pete eventually doomed? Watching Joe Maddon ask fans to show up at his Wednesday press conference, you might think so. They'll probably draw in the postseason, but in the future? That's a big question mark without a new ballpark.

Thursday predictions

Good matchups for Thursday, here's what Spitting Seeds is forecasting:

Chicago White Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays - Game 1
Vazquez (12-16, 4.67) vs. Shields (14-8, 3.56) - 2:35 p.m. EST

I'm not a big believer in "momentum" from game to game in baseball. I think you're either playing well or you're not. The Sox are playing well enough to beat three different teams in three games. Tampa hasn't played in three days, and Carl Crawford, who's been out since August, is in the starting lineup. Can you say rusty? Chicago will win game one of this series with Tampa's bats swinging through Javier Vazquez's pitches.

Milwaukee Brewers @ Philadelphia Phillies - PHI leads 1-0
Sabathia (11-2, 1.65) vs. Myers (10-13, 4.55)

All signs point to Milwaukee winning this one. CC Sabathia looked outstanding the last two times out, including a complete game win to clinch the Wild Card Sunday against the Cubs. He's working on just three days of rest, but even so, Philadelphia starter Brett Myers gave up 14 runs in his last 8 1/3 innings. Myers could easily be rusty, too, not having pitched since September 24th. But there's something about these Brewers finding ways to lose, including a three-game sweep at Philly late in the year. It's going to happen again, as Philly shakes Milwaukee badly with a surprising win in a Sabathia start.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs - LAD leads 1-0
Billingsley (16-10, 3.14) vs. Zambrano (14-6, 3.91)

This is a flip of the coin, really. Both pitchers are dominant at times, but both got beat up by their opponent this season. Billingsley, however, has been very consistent with seven quality starts the last nine times out. Zambrano, who runs hot and cold, sandwiched four clunkers around a no-hitter late in the year. He brought it for his one game in last year's postseason, but the Cubs still lost. Now they're going to lose game two of their series to the Dodgers, and panic will set in on Chicago's north side.

Sox win, other Sox tomorrow

Jonathan Papelbon earns his first save of the 2008 postseason, closing out the Angels in the ninth for a 4-1 Boston road win. I must say I expected the BoSox to start this series strong, but it could easily go the distance.

That makes two road winners in the three divisional series openers on Wednesday. Chicago visits Tampa on Thursday to get the final series started. I think Chicago must win if they're going to take that series.

Ellsbury burying Angels

Jacoby Ellsbury loves the end of the year. He shined last season in the playoffs, and after a hot streak to conclude September this year, he's looking just as strong this postseason.

Ellsbury made a diving catch in the eigth inning, then collected his third hit in five at bats in the top of the ninth, knocking home Boston's third run in the form of Jed Lowrie. Ellsbury scored Boston's fourth run a short while later off a David Ortiz single.

Jonathan Papelbon is in to close things out in the ninth, and Ellsbury is the player of this game if JP gets the job done.

Atypical, but typical, Torre

Watching Joe Torre, Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez go through the post game press conference routine I was struck with the fact that here was a former Yankees manager getting the job done for Los Angeles with Boston Red Sox spare parts.

Lowe pitched a very good game against the Cubs, giving up two early runs on a second-inning Mark DeRosa home run, then shutting out Chicago for his final four innings. Lowe worked six, struck out seven and walked one while counterpart Ryan Dempster issues seven free passes in less than five innings.

Ramirez didn't deliver the big blow, but his seventh inning solo homer padded L.A.'s lead at 5-2, and cast doubt on a Cubs comeback that never materialized.

If Torre got it done with two of his former foes, he still got his typical Texas production. Torre used to lean on native Texans Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens as staff aces on the Yankees championship teams. Tonight, Texan James Loney delivered a fourth inning grand slam off of Dempster that propelled the Dodgers.

Running out of a big inning

Vladimir Guerrero, in typical Angels fashion, tried to go from first to third on Torii Hunter's bloops single in the eighth with Anaheim trailing Boston, 2-1. Kevin Youkilis proved why he's a gold glove first baseman on the play, gathering the ball quickly in shallow right field and gunning Vlady out at third. It was an aggressive move Guerrero, and he looked to run through a stop sign from the Angels' third base coach.

Boston's Justin Masterson got out of the inning without giving up the tying run. Sometimes aggressiveness can cost you, but I still think Mike Scioscia is the best manager in the American League.

Can't pitch or catch

Yovani Gallardo certainly didn't help himself in game one of his Brewers NLDS series against Philadelphia, but he also deserved better from his teammates. Milwaukee failed to produce a run until it was too late, and the Brewers defense coughed up three unearned runs in the 3rd.

After a walk in the third, Gallardo (75 pitches in just his second start back from ACL surgery) saw Rickie Weeks drop a throw a first on Cole Hamels' attempted sacrafice bunt. The error allowed Chase Utley to come to the plate with two runners on, and the Philadelphia second baseman rifled a ball at center fielder Mike Cameron. Cameron misjudged the ball, then dove and dropped it, allowing Philadelphia's first two runs to score. Utley earned a double from the official scorekeeper, which was the correct call. He later scored in a three-run Philadelphia third.

Gallardo only lasted four innings and walked five, but none of his runs were earned. He could have used some help from his offense and defense.

Dempser can't dodge the big inning

Ryan Dempster said his problems in the NLDS opener against the Dodger (7.71 ERA in 4 2/3 innings) were due to "not executing" his pitches. Dempster didn't pitch badly, but struggled to close out at bats, especially when he got ahead. Manny Ramirez walked after going down 0-2, then James Loney swatted a grand slam after also falling behind 0-2. Dempster gave up four in the the fourth and couldn't get through the inning, going over 100 pitches on the evening as the Cubs fall, 7-2 to Los Angeles.

Homers down

Homers hit a 15-year low in MLB this year. Note to MLB: it was still entertaining. Steroid policy should've been in place years ago. If the olympics can get it right years and years ago, so should have you.

A.L. home run champ Miguel Cabrera thinks it's bigger stadiums, not 'roid testing.

"I think it's the bigger stadiums," Cabrera said.

Well, said. I think Miguel should go back and play in Forbes Field. Then he'll know what a big stadium looks like. And are stadiums really that much bigger today than they were in 1998? No.

Mirror images

By the way, the Sox and Twins not only have identical records at 88-74 heading into tonight's playoff, they also have identical home records (53-28) and road records (35-46). That's about as even as it gets.

Playoff number seven

Here are all of the one-game playoff capsules of the six previous one-off games in MLB history thanks to mlb.com. We're likely to have more and more of this with more teams making the postseason since MLB expanded its divisions.

Oct. 1, 2007, Rockies 9, Padres 8, 13 innings
The Padres lost on the final day of the regular season and the Rockies won to finish at 89-73, forcing the one-game Wild Card playoff game at Coors Field. The Rockies held the lead twice during regulation, only to see the Padres come back to tie. In the top of the 13th, Scott Hairston hit a two-run homer off Jorge Julio and San Diego took an 8-6 lead, its first of the game. In came all-time career saves leader Trevor Hoffman, who imploded. The first three batters belted two doubles and a triple, tying the score. Holliday stood on third 90 feet away with a chance to win the game. He didn't disappoint.

Oct. 4, 1999, Mets 5, Reds 0
Both teams won on the final day of the regular season to finish at 96-66, setting up a Wild Card playoff game at old Cinergy Field (Riverfront Stadium) in Cincinnati. It wasn't much of a battle. The Mets scored twice in the top of the first on Edgardo Alfonzo's two-run homer and never looked back. By the sixth inning they led, 5-0, with Al Leiter on his way to a two-hit shutout. Pokey Reese and Jeffrey Hammonds had the only hits, both singles. Steve Parris started for the Reds, didn't make it out of the third inning and took the loss.

Sept. 28, 1998, Cubs 5, Giants 3
Both teams lost on the final day of season to finish at 89-73, setting up the Wild Card playoff game at Wrigley Field. The Cubs built a 4-0 lead off Giants starter Mark Gardner. And when they scored a single run in the eighth to make it 5-0, their first postseason berth since 1989 seemed secure. But wait. These are the Cubs. This is the curse. In the ninth, the Giants started picking away, scoring a run and setting up a bases-loaded, no-out situation for Barry Bonds. With the crowd standing and in clear angst, Bonds lined a sacrifice fly to center, scoring the second run against left-hander Terry Mulholland. Rod Beck came in to get the final two outs: a Jeff Kent run-producing grounder and a Joe Carter pop fly to end the game. It was his 51st save of the season.

Oct. 2, 1995, Mariners 9, Angels 1
The Angels had an 11-game lead in the AL West as late as Aug. 9. By Sept. 20, the Mariners had caught them, but the Halos won six of their final seven games, including the finale at Oakland, to keep the two knotted on the final day of the season. Meanwhile, the Mariners lost three of their last five, including their finale at Texas, to set up the one-game playoff for the division title at the old Kingdome in Seattle. The first six innings matched left-handers Mark Langston of the Angels and Randy Johnson of the Mariners in a pitching duel. With the Mariners leading 1-0 heading into the seventh, the game got out of hand as they scored four times each in the seventh and eighth to win the first playoff berth in franchise history.

Oct. 6, 1980, Astros 7, Dodgers 1
The game at Dodger Stadium wasn't much, but the last weekend of the season certainly was. The Dodgers trailed the Astros by three games in the NL West with three games at Dodger Stadium between the two teams. The Dodgers had to win out and they did, swiping three one-run games in front of frenzied sellout crowds that Steve Garvey dubbed "the 10th man," setting up the one-game playoff as the teams finished at 92-70. Manager Tommy Lasorda had the option of using a 19-year-old left-hander named Fernando Valenzuela in the playoff game, but he chose the more experienced Dave Goltz. Bad choice. The Astros jumped all over Goltz, knocking him out after three innings. Meanwhile, Joe Niekro tossed a complete-game six-hitter for his 20th win of the season, giving the Astros their first postseason berth in franchise history.

Oct. 2, 1978, Yankees 5, Red Sox 4
It had been another year of turmoil in the Bronx. Manager Billy Martin was fired, replaced by Bob Lemon, and rehired effective for the 1980 season five days later. On July 16, the Yanks trailed the Red Sox by a full 13 games in the AL East. Under the calm hand of "Lem," they caught them on Sept 10 after the famous four-game sweep at Fenway forever known as the "Boston Massacre." It was then nip and tuck, with the Yanks holding a one-game lead from Sept. 13 until the final day of the season, when they lost and the Red Sox won, setting up the one-game division title playoff game between the two 99-63 teams at the Fens. The game was as good as the regular season.

The Sox took a 2-0 lead into the seventh off Yanks ace Ron Guidry when the tables turned. Dent took former teammate Mike Torrez just enough into the netting above the Green Monster for a three-run homer that gave the Yanks a 3-2 lead. Thurman Munson added an RBI double in the inning. And when Reggie Jackson homered to dead center in the eighth, the Yankees' 5-2 lead looked pretty complete. But it wasn't. Rich "Goose" Gossage bailed out Guidry in the bottom of the seventh. He pitched out of that jam, pitched out of his own self-generated jam as the Sox came back with a pair in the eighth, and induced Carl Yastrzemski to pop out in the ninth with runners on the corners to end one of the most thrilling games and races in baseball history.

Postseason Predictions

I got slammed somewhere for my picks to win divisions. I got 7 of 8 right with the Dodgers catching the Diamondbacks for my lone hiccup. Here goes for today's game and beyond:

AL one game playoff:
White Sox over Twins, 6-4; Sox advance to play Tampa in ALDS.

Divisional Series:
White Sox over Tampa, 3-1; Layoff hurts young Rays while Sox homer way to divisional win.

Red Sox over Angels, 3-2; A lack of meaningful games down the stretch hurts the Angels.

Cubs over Dodgers, 3-0; Chicago's pitching too much for the Dodgers to compete with.

Phillies over Brewers, 3-0; Milwaukee limped into the postseason and stands no chance.

Championship Series:
Red Sox over White Sox, 4-1; ChiSox don't stand a chance in this one.

Cubs over Phillies, 4-2; The Cubs are just a little bit better in most categories.

World Series:
Red Sox over Cubs, 4-2; I like how Boston's built. I don't see it in the Cubs' cards.

Numbers game

Game 163 between the Twins and White Sox tonight will have the stats count toward the regular season. I've never understood that, but that's how it works. Imagine if someone hit home run number 74 in game 163. Yikes.

That said, John Danks is happy that stats count. He's starting for the Sox tonight, and would love to improve his numbers against the Twins. Minnesota is hitting .349 against Danks this year, tagging him for a 7.91 ERA.

The again, the Twins stand just 2-7 in Chicago, so don't right off the Southsiders, who won just one game themselves in Minneapolis.

Alexei the hero

Alexei Ramirez's fourth grand slam, which sent the White Sox past Detroit, 8-2, set a rookie record for four-run homers in a season. He's hit 21 this year, and with his average well over .290, Ramirez is a solid rookie of the year candidate.

Carlos Quentin would have to be the front runner for the Sox team MVP, but Ramirez is near the top of that list as well. We called him Alfonso Soriano light earlier this year. He's living up to that billing.

Freddy in a tight spot

Watching Freddy Garcia pitch for the Tigers against the White Sox on Monday, I remembered the big starts he made for the Sox in 2005's run to a World Series title. Garcia almost finished off his former team except for shoulder tightness which ended his day early.

Here's hoping Garcia is OK. When he's right, he's still one of the better pitchers in the game.

Brewing up pure fiction

Ken Rosenthal says the Brewers' move to fire Ned Yost got them into the postseson. He says it was a "bold" move. Seriously? That's weak.

Last I checked, Milwaukee went just 7-5 over the last 12 games managed by interim manager Dale Sveum. The Brewers beat lowly Cincinnati once and pathetic Pittsburgh three times. They took two of three from the Cubs over the final weekend to clinch the Wild Card, but Chicago was preoccupied with setting its postseason pitching staff and resting its every day players as often as possible. The Cubs threw an all-staffer on Sunday and almost beat Brewers ace CC Sabathia.

The firing of Yost was a desperate move. It was the pushing of the proverbial "panic button." That it worked out is far less a bold stroke of genius and much more a shaky step turned miracle by an inept organization. Milwaukee hasn't been to the postseason since 1982, but buoyed by a midseason trade for Sabathia, whom Rosenthal says is destined (along with Ben Sheets) to seek a new home in the offseason, they somehow weathered another free-fall in September.

Milwaukee is made up of underachieving players like Rickie Weeks, Bill Hall, Mike Cameron and Eric Gagne. The bullpen almost has enough spare parts to build a clunker. Forget a postseason force; after Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, an occasionally helpful Corey Hart, Sabathia and Sheets, Milwaukee is a mess. The Brewers stumbled into the postseason only because the Mets stumbled more.

The one bold move we'll see from the Brew Crew the rest of the way is that they'll actually show up for their Philadelphia farewell. Milwaukee is the top candidate to be swept in the divisional series. Their 10-16 record in September should shake even die-hard Brewers fans enough to see the tunnel through Rosenthal's red herring of a light. The firing of Yost was shock therapy? Please. The Brewers proved nothing other than they can beat the league's worst.

You knew it was coming

How long will were hear this story during the MLB postseason? If there's any time that the history of seasons past matters less, it is right now. We just witnessed 162 games of baseball, giving us a recent history of one full season to determine which are the best four teams in each league. We don't need to know that the Cubs haven't won in 100 years, that the Brewers haven't been here since 1982, that the Phillies are the losing team you'll ever know, or that the Dodgers haven't done a thing since 1988.

The reason they're all here is they're better than everyone else right now (although Milwaukee's merits are debatable). Save the loser stories until each one is about to get eliminated or finally win.

Deal with it

What does a deal really mean? Well, CC Sabathia certainly worked out for the Brewers. Sabathia kept Milwaukee in the pennant race with a 10-2 record in the second half and then won his 11th game against the Cubs on the final day of the regular season, helping the Brewers clinch the National League Wild Card.

Tomorrow, the White Sox send Gavin Floyd to the hill in a makeup game with Detroit where they'll face the guy they traded for Floyd, Freddy Garcia. The Garcia for Floyd deal originally sent Garcia to Philadelphia less than two years ago, but he was scooped up from the free agent scrap heap late in the year by the Tigers. Floyd is certainly the better pitcher at this point of the two players' careers, but all that matters is the one game tomorrow. If the White Sox beat the Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field, they get Minnesota in Chicago one day later for a one-off division title playoff.

Beckett bumped to game three

Josh Beckett will be pushed back to game three of the ALDS with an oblique strain. Jon Lester gets to start game one, and that might play right into Anaheim's righty-heavy lineup.

Angeles ALDS roster

Here's the Angels' division series roster. They took rookie relielver Kevin Jepsen over Justin Speier, which many expected.

Fox wants Cubs-Sox fall classic

Fox wants an all-Chicago World Series? No. They just want lovable losers.

Angels = God's number

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune says the Angels are the seventh best team in baseball. Last I checked, the Angels are the only team that won 100 games. I understand they're in arguably the weakest division in baseball, but they're not worse than the Brewers, Phillies or the Dodgers.

What might have been

It looks like the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (99 wins) will be the only team to win 100 games this season. You know, we forget how much more fun this final week of baseball would be if the Cubs (96 wins) and Angels both had home-field advantage on the line for the World Series.

All you need to know about tiebreakers

A major tiebreaker logjam is the potential result of this weekend's games. Here are the details from MLB.com. Somehow, I don't see it all happening.

Another Bud dud on drugs

Everything MLB does regarding drug policing, etc. is just baffling. Always too little, too late.

The latest case-in-point comes with the announcement of an HGH summit this fall in Beverly Hills, CA. You can read the details here. It seems baseball might have been a bit more timely with this particular summit after the 2006 season when this story and this story came to light.

Maybe baseball could have looked into HGH after the 2004 season, when this story popped up. There have been many chances. What took so long?

Dempster is Cubs' ace

The Cubs have selected Ryan Dempster as their game one starter for the postseason, regardless of the opponent. I'm not surprised by this, but I don't think Dempster is the Cubs' best or second best starter. I think the pecking order goes Harden, Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly.

Truly Twin billing

ESPN writes a nice enough piece on Giants' owner Peter Magowan stepping down. This quote from Magowan struck me most in the article:

"I've always had the philosophy that a ballpark belongs to the community, not to the owner or set of owners. I think the community wants the team to be run in a way that if they were in charge, how would they want it to be run?" Magowan said. "They want to see a good product on the field and they want to have a good environment at the ballpark where everything works -- clean ballpark, courteous employees, good food, take care of children, all of these things. And they want the team to behave in a way they would be proud of."

While the Giants haven't had a very good product on the field in recent years, their park isn't really the community's, either. It's the first park since Dodger Stadium in 1962 to be built without public funds. That's quiet a feat, considering the Twins new park is getting built with 2/3 public funding. No wonder that thing took so long to get done.

You must rally

Did you know that these playoff rallies are mandatory per Major League Baseball? As if they needed any more buzz.

Wet weekend

With big storm systems threatening the Northeast, an interesting scenario can occur with the Mets and Phillies trying to win the NL East/Wild Card while making up games through double headers.

I can't remember the last time weather was such a culprit on the final weekend of the regular season.

If the Cubs are smart...

...they'll continue to rest players in earnest against the Mets. If New York and Philadelphia make the postseason, the two NL East rivals cannot play each other in the first round of the playoffs. The division winner, which would more likely be Philadelphia, gets the Dodgers in the division series. The Cubs would get the Wild Card.

Playing the Mets in the first round is a much better situation for Chicago than playing the red hot Dodgers. If Chicago gets its way, Philly and LA will beat up on each other for the right to go to the Windy City.

Then again, the Cubs have to watch what the Phillies are doing tonight. If Philadelphia loses, the Cubs might want to go ahead and win. I don't think they want New York to catch them and force the Phils to visit Chicago.

Yankees on elimination, MLB playoff fairness

The Yankees elimination from the postseason race was met with general disappointment from the players. Disappointment, according to Mike Mussina, that goes back further than this year.

"We've been disappointed for a little longer than just today," Mussina said. "Yeah, mathematically [the team was alive], but realistically ... for us to win them all and [the Red Sox] to lose them all ..."

Hank Steinbrenner, however, was not willing to blame the Yankees, but instead the system that governs postseason selection. This is an excerpt from The Sporting News

"The biggest problem is the divisional setup in Major League Baseball. I didn't like it in the 1970s, and I hate it now. Baseball went to a multidivision setup to create more races, rivalries and excitement. But it isn't fair."

I actually understand what he's saying. In the past, the winner of the National League played the winner of the American League. The best teams made the world series, regardless of geography. Now there's a team selected from the East, the Midwest and the West, plus one Wild Card. It makes no sense for an average team from a weak division to make the postseason. It makes sense for a good team from a strong division, whether than finish second or third, to make the postseason. The NFL has similar problems with its structure. There's no way that a team like the Dodgers had as difficult a time making the playoffs as the Yankees did.

If baseball were smart, they'd end the divisional format and make a single division in the AL and the NL. A balance schedule would make this very possible. The top four teams make the postseason. First place would play fourth place in the first divisional series. Second place would play third place. It makes more sense to open the race up to everybody, especially when you have a division as tough as the AL East.

Cabrera helps the BoSox?

Asdrubal Cabrera began serving his suspension Tuesday. He'll miss the entire Indians-Red Sox series, which can't hurt Boston's chase for Tampa.

Piniella to play starters

If you were wondering about the Cubs cashing it in for the final week of the season after clinching the NL Central, think again. Lou Piniella will be resting players, but it looks like he's got his team's best interests in mind by getting the regulars their at bats.

"I can't let these guys all sit," Piniella said. "We have to use them to keep them as sharp as possible. We'll play our regular lineup in these games [against New York]. The worst thing that can happen is Major League Baseball calls us and tells us, 'Hey, you people have a responsibility,' and we're going to honor that.

"At the same time, if I need to rest a player here or a player there, that we can do," Piniella said. "I can't play a lineup like we're playing [Sunday] the rest of the week. It wouldn't be fair to the rest of the teams."

The article talks about players like Micah Hoffpauir, Chad Gaudin, Jeff Samardzija, Randy Wells and Bob Howry as potential bubble players for the playoff roster.

Everyone's a Yankees fan

Just a note on my only experience at Yankee Stadium. It was in the late 90's. 1999, I think. I cannot remember. I don't recall the final score of that lone Yankees game I had the opportunity to travel to with my college buddy Adam, but I know they won. We drove down from Syracuse through tiny upstate New York towns, taking 3 1/2 hours to reach the Bronx. It was worth every minute of a 15-hour day.

In the deepest recesses of my mind, I remember looping through the final portion of the interstate alongside the biggest baseball park I'd ever seen. Some parks may be bigger, but in sure stature with those concrete walls, Yankee Stadium seems the biggest.

Once inside we didn't tour monument park. There was a 45-minute line, and we wanted to take in batting practice, instead. I wasn't into nostalgia, and I'm not into it in general, but Yankee Stadium overtakes you. It is big, heavy, homey and magical. It is old and dark. It is still beautiful.

I cannot recall for you a single play from that lone game I attended in the Bronx. I think Juan Encarnacion was patrolling left for the visiting Tigers. We might have visited a souvenir shop on the way out. It's not in my memory banks. It was deleted due to the overwhelming nature of what was around me. I only remember the dark hallways underneath the park, the eyehole passageways to the grandstand and the incredible view from right behind home plate in the upper deck. It was spellbinding, and seeing it for the final time tonight was altogether a disappointment and a thrill. What a way to go out. Thanks for the vague memories, as well.

I sent Adam a text tonight thanking him for taking me to my one Yankee game at Yankee Stadium. "Glad you could make it there," he said in reply. Me too. Anyone who's ever been to that ballpark and seen what a testimonial it is to baseball would instantly find a place in their heart for the Yankees. Even if you denied it you'd know it was true. Yankee Stadium was magic, is magic and forever will be a magical place where baseball really lived. If the new stadium is only half as successful as a monument to the world's greatest game, it will still be a great success.

Dodger blues? No.

A Rich Aurillia RBI single in the 11th was all that separated the Giants from the Dodgers in a 1-0 triumph in Los Angeles.

LA needs to be careful. With the loss and the Diamondbacks 13-4 pounding of the Rockies, the Dodgers NL West lead is down to 2 1/2 games. Then again, the D'backs have the tougher schedule over the final week of the regular season. They're at St. Louis and home to Colorado while the Dodgers have home games with San Diego before paying a visit to San Francisco. This is certainly the Dodgers' division to lose.

Phillies Phirst

With a 5-2 win over the Marlins, the Phillies pull ahead of the Mets to 1 1/2 games. With their remaining schedule consisting of visits from the Braves and Nationals, forget New York catching them.

Bye-bye from the Bronx

The Yankees certainly know how to send their ballpark out in style. Derek Jeter's speech to the fans can be read here. If you didn't have goosebumps, you're a Red Sox fan.

Red Machine fueling up

The young Reds claim they're learning to win, and if they carry over a nice win binge from this September into the spring, watch out. With an 11-5 record over their last 16 games against all winning teams, Cincinnati holds some competitive cards for next year.

Players like Jay Bruce and Joey Votto are pacing the late surge offensively. Edinson Volquez pitched in this year's All-Star game, and Johnny Cueto should be that much better after one year of experience. Even Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo showed some flashes late in the year.

We can't forecast Cincinnati as a playoff team next year, but the Reds should make some waves in 2009.

Saito to close this week

Takashi Saito is close to working back-to-back days for the Dodgers, which means he could return to the closer role by the middle of the coming week. That's what Joe Torre wants, even if Jonathan Broxton has filled in with remarkable ability.

"I think [Saito's] more emotionally equipped for that because he's done it," Torre said. "That's been his primarily role. I'm comfortable with Brox, but again, once Saito gets there, we have a little more length. Brox, I think, has done a fine job in the closer's spot."

Unless Saito gives them false confidence and then relapses after his right elbow problem, the Dodgers really can't go wrong here. Two closers cannot be a bad thing, especially with the consistency these two have shown.

Fantasy Impact: For Broxton owners, this couldn't happen at a worse time. It's championship week, and Saito might take a few saves away from a guy that's closed 14 of 16 opportunities. Hopefully you own them both and pick the right guy on the right day.

Mets mess one up

The Mets 7-6 loss at Atlanta leaves them a full game behind Philadelphia with the Phillies still playing and now just 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee in the NL Wild Card. David Wright did hit his 32nd home run while Carlos Delgado hit number 37. Those two can't do this alone.

The bullpen really killed them in this one, giving up four runs in three combined innings. Scott Schoeneweis picks up the blown save as he gives up two of the runs.

AL Central showdown

The White Sox-Twins series this week likely decides whether the last regular season series means anything. With a 2 1/2 game lead going in, the White Sox need a sweep to clinch, while a Twins sweep steals first away from Chicago.

Both teams won on Sunday, and both will treat this like a mini playoff series. Buckle up! The first meeting comes Tuesday night.

It's not in the Cards

The Chicago Cubs' "B" team beat St. Louis handily at Wrigley Field, 5-1. Only one regular starter, Kosuke Fukudome (who recently lost his spot in right field), was in the lineup. The Cubs did throw Ryan Dempster, but he only worked five innings in picking up his 17th win.

The hapless Cardinals produced just one run on seven hits. They can be eliminated from the postseason as early as Tuesday.

One more note: I understand Tony La Russa likes to tinker with lineup ideas, but Ryan Ludwick batting second and Jose Lopez hitting cleanup makes no sense to me.

Lewis wins third start

Cleveland's 10-5 win over Detroit is a study of pitchers headed in opposite directions. On Cleveland's side, the young Scott Lewis finally gets touched up, yielding three runs in five innings after two scoreless starts to start his career. Lewis only went five, meaning this is his first non-quality start, but thanks to a shaky outing from Dontrelle Willis, he's a perfect 3-0.

Willis, making his first start since September 9th, when he, too, threw five innings and gave up three runs, never had a chance. He gives up three in the first and three more in the third, never finishing the inning as his ERA balloons to 10.61.

Fantasy Impact: Keep an eye on Lewis. He's young enough with enough pedigree for a good future at the major league level. Willis is on the forgotten heap, but could always be comeback player of the year with what he's offered in the past. Don't lose sight of him in spring training 2009.

Brewers holding hope

Desperately needing wins after falling 2 1/2 games back in the National League Wild Card race, Milwaukee finally rights the ship against Cincinnati. Prince Fielder opened the game with a home run off of Bronson Arroyo, and the Brewers cruise, 8-1. They've won just five times in 20 times in the month of September.

Now they wait to see if they can earn another half game with a Mets loss. The Mets's magic number is six.

Rays of nope

A day after they partied over a playoff berth, the Tampa Bay Rays come right back with a loss to Minnesota, 4-1. Meanwhile, the second place Red Sox were busy beating Toronto, 3-0. That leaves Boston 1 1/2 games back with a magic number of seven.

Boston's got a great chance to catch the Rays, and winning the East is huge. The winner likely faces the White Sox in the first round of the playoffs. The loser gets the Angels. Nobody wants to see them.

Moores wants more

Padres owner John Moores says he's not going anywhere anytime soon. He'll retain the Padres for the foreseeable future.

“The goal has always been to play meaningful games in September,” Moores said. “We clearly have not met that target this year, but I want to do it again next year. That's the priority. Last year, we got within an out of postseason play. And I thought potentially we had at least as good a team coming back. Everybody thought the West was going to be whole lot stronger than it has been. I don't really understand why it hasn't. We're going to try and take it apart and figure it all out.”

I'm surprised the West wasn't better myself. It's been a big disappointment as a division.

Marcum out for next year

Shaun Marcum is out for the rest of the year and will require Tommy John surgery, meaning he'll likely miss all of 2009. Tough blow for Toronto, as Marcum was really looking to come into his own in 2008.

Fantasy Impact: While the website says franchise leagues should consider keeping him, we suggest to drop him in all leagues. Even if you can stash Marcum away there's no guarantee he returns to form in 2010. You can find something comparable as a mid-level starter.

Minnesota feeling the Pena

Carlos Pena became the first beneficiary of replay as his three-run sixth-inning shot was only award after a four-minute, ten second delay for umpires to review a hit that was originally ruled a double for fan interference.

Tampa toppled Minnesota, 11-1, leaving the twins two games behind the White Sox before the Sox result Friday night in Kansas City.

Cubs can clinch Saturday

Milwaukee's 11-1 loss at Cincinnati leaves the Cubs' magic number at one heading into Saturday play. Both Chicago and Milwaukee play at 3:55 p.m. EST, meaning the Cubs can clinch before they even finish their game with St. Louis. Here are the pitchign matchups.

Milwaukee - Sabathia (15-9, 2.88)
vs. Cincinnati - Cueto (8-13, 4.68)

St. Louis - Pineiro (6-6, 5.24)
vs. Chicago Cubs - (15-9, 4.13)

The Brewers have to be heavy favorites against Cincinnati, but the Cubs have a very favorable pitching matchup at Wrigley. While most of St. Louis' power comes from the right side, the left-handed Lilly is actually tougher on righties than lefties.

Big Zzzzzzzzz...

Carlos Zambrano rocked the Astros to sleep his last time out, no-hitting them in Milwaukee's Hurricane Ike makeup game. Zambrano's return to the mound did not go anywhere near as well. Zambrano gives up eight runs in 1 2/3 innings, including a first-inning grand slam to Adam Kennedy as the Cubs fall, 12-6.

Fanasy Impact: Zambrano raced home midweek to his native Venezuela to visit his dying grandmother. He looked like a tired pitcher on Friday. Expect him to bounce back.

Sacramento dynasty

Sacramento wins the Triple-A title, again. According to the article, it's tough to build a dynasty at the minor league level, but if anyone can do it, it's the Oakland A's organization. They're always in the process of building the farm teams.

I'm not sure if I'm surprised that the Yankees Triple-A team made it to the finals. On one hand, New York is not known for growing its own. On the other hand, Triple-A is often times where minor leaguers go to die, meaning a championship-caliber team at this level is not necessarily indicative of an organization's talent-level.

Hand it to Hill

Koyie Hill is one amazing story. If you haven't heard his yet, check this out. He's already succeeded in his career just making it back to the big leagues after the accident.

Makes me remember why I hated the jigsaw in shop class.

MLB postseason schedule

I've noticed a lot of people have been looking for the postseason schedule. Here it is again, so you don't have to search the whole blog.

Oct. 1 (on TBS): Game 1 of both NL series; game 1 of Al series between two division champions
Oct. 2 (on TBS): Game 2 of both NL series; game 1 of Al series between division champion and wild-card team
Oct. 3 (on TBS): Game 2 of both AL series
Oct. 4 (on TBS): Game 3 of both NL series
Oct. 5 (on TBS/TNT): Game 4 of both NL series; Game 3 of both AL series
Oct. 6 (on TBS): Game 4 of both AL series
Oct. 7 (on TBS): Game 5 of both NL series
Oct 8 (on TBS): Game 5 of both AL series

Oct. 9: NLCS game 1 (on Fox)
Oct. 10: NLCS game 2 (on Fox); ALCS Game 1 (on TBS)
Oct. 11: ALCS Game 2 (on TBS)
Oct. 12: NLCS game 3 (on Fox)
Oct. 13: NLCS game 4 (on Fox); ALCS Game 3 (on TBS)
Oct. 14: ALCS Game 4 (on TBS)
Oct. 15: NLCS game 5 (on Fox)
Oct. 16: ALCS Game 5 (on TBS)
Oct. 17: NLCS game 6 (on Fox)
Oct. 18: NLCS game 7 (on Fox); ALCS Game 6 (on TBS)
Oct. 19: ALCS Game 7 (on TBS)

Oct. 22: World Series Game 1 (on Fox)
Oct. 23: World Series Game 2 (on Fox)
Oct. 25: World Series Game 3 (on Fox)
Oct. 26: World Series Game 4 (on Fox)
Oct. 27: World Series Game 5 (on Fox)
Oct. 29: World Series Game 6 (on Fox)
Oct. 30: World Series Game 7 (on Fox)

Phils in first, Dodgers roll

With a one-run win in Atlanta and the Mets losing, 1-0 in DC, Philadelphia is all alone in first by a half-game in the NL East. The Phillies own five straight wins while New York appears to be choking down the stretch again, losers of three in a row.

Out West, the Dodgers appear poised to run away with the division. Behind a strong performance from Derek Lowe, Los Angeles beats the Pirates, 6-2 and clutches to a 4.5 game lead on the Diamondbacks with 11 to play.

Cubs sneak past Brew-Crew

Kerry Wood certainly has a flair for the dramatic. Wood gave up a run on Ray Durham's RBI double in the 9th that cut Chicago's lead over the visiting Brewers to 5-4. Wood then allowed Ryan Braun to reach on an infield single before striking out Prince Fielder to end it. Fielder had hit two home runs earlier in the game.

Chicago sure played well in the clutch. Reed Johnson's diving catch in the 6th kept a narrow 3-2 lead in tact for starter Ryan Dempster, and Alfonso Soriano's late solo homer coupled by an 8th-inning RBI single from Henry Blanco provided the difference.

The Cubs magic number over Milwaukee is four, and they can clinch the NL Central with a series sweep in three games. Chicago stands nine games ahead of the fading Brewers. Milwaukee falls behind the Mets for the NL Wild Card.

AL shaping up

A wild night in the American League as the Rays bounce back to beat the Red Sox, 2-1, and the Cleveland Indians enjoy a three-run homer from Victor Martinez in the 11th to best the Twins, 12-9. Tampa stands atop the AL East again, while the White Sox own a 2.5 game lead on the Twins in the AL Central with a dozen to play.

Departures

A slew of players were headed down the wrong path Monday night in terms of playing positive roles down the stretch.

Washington's Dmitri Young and Jesus Flores are likely out for the year after respective MRI exams on a bad hip and bad ankle.

Rangers injury-plagued pitcher Brandon McCarthy appears to be done thanks to a flexor tendon problem in his pitching hand.

Kenny Rogers is done with the Tigers. Don't ask why.

Jeremy Guthrie is on the DL, retroactive to September 6th. He could pitch again this season, but with nothing on the line, why wouldn't the O's just bench him for the remainder of the year?

That leaves us with Robinson Cano. Joe Girardi benched Cano for not hustling, but he did get in the game against the White Sox Monday night. That said, Cano never really got started this season, hitting .260 with modest run and RBI production for a starter with the Yankees. Don't expect a sudden resurgence from one of the bigger disappointments this season.

Arrivals

Lots of news to jam into one night of posting, so we'll pop a couple of positives in one.

First, a newcomer dazzled in his second straight start. Scott Lewis, Cleveland's 25-year-old left hander, making his first appearance since an eight-inning, three-hit gem, went six innings, giving up just three hits again, striking out five in another strong effort for his second win.

Then there's Paul Konerko. The White Sox veteran first baseman hit four home runs in four days, showing some late life in an injury-plagued season. Then he sprained his MCL in a rundown last week. Konerko is finally ready to get back into the lineup Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

No-hit, one-hit

Ted Lilly took a no-hitter into the 7th inning this afternoon as the Chicago Cubs tried to make it back-to-back no-hitters, something that's only been done once in the history of the game. Instead, Lilly gave up a single to Mark Loretta, the second batter he faced in the 7th, and the no-hit bid came to an abrupt halt.

The Cubs' combined one-hitter marked the first time in MLB history that club tossed a one-hitter the day after a no-hitter. Back in 1917 two St. Louis Browns pitchers, Erine Koob and Bob Groom, fired no-hitters on May 5th and 6th. Oddly enough, the Browns were no-hit twice earlier that same season.

Daisuke reaches milestone

Can you name the record Daisuke Matsuzaka established Monday night? In what's fairly big news on the Asian side of the Pacific rim, Matsuzaka became the first Japanese-born pitcher to win 17 games in a MLB regular season.

I love Malay news.

Fantasy Impact: Matsuzaka pitched well enough to be an impact in fantasy last year. This season he's the Red Sox ace, and likely one of yours as well. He's got a ton of talent, and he's blossoming into something special for the next handful of years.

Yost fired

The AP reports Ned Yost has been fired. Dale Sveum takes over for the rest of the year in Milwaukee.

Big Z puts Astros to sleep

Carlos Zambrano completes the first Cubs no-hitter since Milt Pappas in 1972 as the Cubs go to Milwaukee and beat the Astros in front of 23-thousand screaming Chicagoans.

The Cubs win in Miller Park is actually help for the Brewers, who dropped a day-night double header to the Phillies, leaving those two teams tied for the Wild Card. Houston's loss leaves the Astros 1.5 games back in that race, while the Cubs move 7.5 games ahead of the Brewers. Chicago is a virtual lock for the NL Central crown.

Major players?

Three guys who spent extended periods in the minors this year helped the Royals rip the Indians, 13-3.

Kansas City shortstop Mike Aviles continues to hit for a high average, improving to .322 with a 3-5 effort. He scored three runs. Second baseman Alberto Callaspo went 2-3 with three runs scored and two RBI while first baseman Ryan Shealy powered out two home runs and knocked in five.

Fantasy Impact: Hard to say any of the three should make you salivate over their long term futures (Aviles and Shealy are not youngsters, and Callaspo owns little pop), but they got the job done today.

Maddux mad good, but Dodgers lose

Talk about efficiency; Greg Maddux threw just 68 pitches over seven innings of two-hit baseball. He allowed just two hits and no runs, leaving with his Dodgers in a 0-0 tie at Colorado.

Counterpart Aaron Cook threw 102 pitches over eight innings and also gave up no runs, as the Rockies required 10 innings to finally prevail, 1-0. Troy Tulowitzki knocked in the game's only run.

Fantasy Impact: Maddux mixes in the occasional gem and the occasional clunker. He's been remarkably efficient for his advanced age of 42 years old. Without much strikeout potential, however, he's no better than a fringe starter in fantasy, especially if the Dodgers aren't giving him run support.

Heavenly

Everything is setting up for the Angels to earn home-field advantage in the postseason and set their team up for a run to the World Series, where again the AL has home-field.

If Kevin Jepsen, a minor league flamethrower is called up, Anaheim's bullpen gets that much stronger.

One thing to watch closely is how Scioscia sets up his bullpen behind Rodriguez. There is growing speculation that call-up Kevin Jepsen, an Olympian who throws in the upper 90s, might make the playoff roster. Scioscia likes that Jepsen thrived in the pressure of the Olympics, and had to have been impressed when Jepsen made his major league debut against the Yankees last week and retired Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez. And then did it again two days later, striking out A-Rod with a 95 mph heater.

Jepsen's debut brings to mind the saga of K-Rod in 2002, when Rodriguez made his major league debut on Sept. 18 and struck out 13 in his first 5 2/3 innings. The Angels put the rookie on their postseason roster, and he was a huge factor in their run to a World Series title.

Another K-Rod? Home-field advantage? Who doesn't like the Angels?

Price looks money in relief

The Rays debuted David Price, and the minor league player of the year looked strong in his relief role. He gave up just two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings and struck out four.

Fantasy Impact: Price would appear to be an injury away from stepping in for a spot start down the stretch. He's good enough to dominate, so consider stashing him. He's also worth picking up for long relief dominance that can help your pitching numbers. At the very least, consider grabbing him in keeper leagues as he should make an impact in 2009.

Qualls gets the call

With both Brandon Lyon and Jon Rauch struggling, the Arizona Diamondbacks will go with Chad Qualls at closer the rest of the way. This makes the trade for Rauch seem less of an impact than originally considered, and it makes sense. Qualls outperformed Lyon in stretches this year, and his numbers are generally very good. Why he's never gotten a shot to close in the past is a head-scratcher.

Fantasy Impact: Get Qualls. He may never give up this gig.

Dodgers on a run

The Dodgers, winners of 12 of 13 games, look poised for the postseason. Not only has Los Angeles sprinted past Arizona to the top of the NL Central, making them one of the hottest teams in baseball.

The other three teams that are red hot, Houston and Toronto, are still on the outside looking in. The Blue Jays don't stand much of a chance, but if the Astros continue to win, they're just two behind Milwaukee for the wild card. Watch out, Ned Yost.

K-Rod sets record

Francisco Rodriguez is baseball's single-season saves record holder, notching his 58th save of the year. Bobby Thigpen previously held the record with 57. Spitting Seeds wondered if K-Rod could reach 60 earlier this year. It looks like he'll get it done.