When the Los Angeles Dodgers first met the St. Louis Cardinals in baseball’s postseason, the Dodgers were considered the frontrunners for the 1985 National League title. Yet, these Cardinals had other plans. After six games of the NLCS, the Cardinals derailed the Dodgers. Since then, the Cards owned the Dodgers in the postseason – both times enabling a World Series berth.

The Cardinals ownage of the Dodgers ended Saturday night at Busch Stadium. The Boys in Blue swept their way into the NLCS, a return voyage for the second year in a row. This marks the second straight sweep of the NLDS by the Dodgers, last year’s victim being the Chicago Cubs.

What went right for the Dodgers? Compared to last year, this club simply gelled together. Their late season slip has almost been forgotten. The right bats came alive when they needed to and a new leader emerged aside from Manny Ramirez. If you haven’t heard the name Andre Ethier – you will hear it more now. In the tradition of Koufax, Garvey, Scioscia, Piazza and Karros – Ethier is a farm system-produced Dodger forged to become a legend in Chavez Ravine. He bleeds Dodger Blue – as Tommy Lasorda would say.

Without asking the question, mistakes killed the Cardinals. Matt Holiday’s miscue late in Game 2 was just the pivot to what came in Game 3. The Cardinals simply did not look as strong as they have all season long. Between fielding flaws and quiet bats, the Cards’ biggest weakness was regarding decisions made on pitching rotations and relievers. After Wainwright’s strong start in Game 2, Game 3 was simply pathetic on the mound. I’ll contend that starting Joel Pineiro was not the smartest idea for Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan. John Smoltz was a better choice to start Game 2 to move Wainwright into Game 3.

The Dodgers now await the winner of the Philadelphia Phillies-Colorado Rockies NLDS set Game 3 at Coors Field this evening.

Speaking of which, I’m puzzled as to why Pedro Martinez had to be swapped for J.A. Happ because of the date difference. Does Pedro have an expiration date? Sure, Happ’s younger, but what does that have to do with who starts Game 3 whether it was postponed or not? I’d still stick with Pedro unless he says he can’t go on with the delay. If that is the case, I’ll accept the pitching change by the Phils. I doubt it was that case at all.

Again with pitching, with a 0-2 deficit in the ALDS, I’m still questioning whether Clay Buchholz should be starting for the Boston Red Sox against Scott Kazmir and the Los Angeles Angels. Sure, Kazmir has a 3.05 ERA against the Sox, but Buchholz has not been on during the past several weeks. This should be interesting to watch.

Lastly, the Minnesota Twins seem to think that Carl Pavano would match up well with Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees tonight inside the Metrodome. However, the Yanks swept the Twins in the regular season inside the building and it will depend on my how many Yankee fans would be amongst the (almost) sold out crowd. Obviously, they’ll be the ones not waving Homer Hankies.

BTW, I have a bone to pick with the Twins Ticket Office…

Not to nitpick, but the umpiring has been less than stellar this postseason (putting it mildly, yes – let’s just say it downright stinks!). Guys, can we determine exact strike zones and whether a ball is actually fair or foul going forward, please?

As the last of the Game 2s of the League Division Series are in the record books, the sites are switched and any series can go any which way but loose.

There were some things that stood out amongst these four series. Some of these were outstanding – others puzzling.

LOS ANGELES (NL) vs. ST. LOUIS: I wasn’t convinced that Adam Wainwright was the right choice to start for the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium. If I were Tony LaRussa, I’d save him for Game 3 – the first game at Busch Stadium. LaRussa almost won this gamble, as Wainwright did quite well on the road. His relief, along with Matt Holiday’s faux pas, ran into a walk-off situation by Mark Loretta for the Los Angeles Dodgers to sweep the first two games at Chavez Ravine. Going back to St. Louis will put more pressure on the Dodgers to win in front of a hostile crowd. My question for LaRussa is whether we’ll see Chris Carpenter in Game 4, if the Cards win on Saturday. The reason why I ask is I cannot see anyone other than Carpenter or Wainwright giving the Cards a chance on the mound in this series. That speaks volumes on LaRussa’s leadership – a manager known for crafting rotations with his right hand man, Pitching Coach Dave Duncan.

PHILADELPHIA vs. COLORADO: Did the Colorado Rockies surprise me by winning Game 2 at Citizens Bank Park? Against Cole Hamels – yes. Still, I had to recall back to 2007 on how the Rox shocked the Philadelphia Phillies the first time around. For the Phils, the stakes were definitely high as defending World Champions. For the Rox to steal one in their house, with many thanks to the blunders the Phils made that day, was another shock to this match-up. Heading back to Denver, the question is whether Pedro Martinez can bring the Phils back into the NLDS at a mile above sea level on Saturday? Numbers would help, but instinct and strength needs to be taken in consideration for Saturday’s late Game 3. It could be one Rocky Mountain high if Pedro takes command in Game 3.

LOS ANGELES (AL) vs. BOSTON: Did anyone question how mad the Los Angeles Angels were when they drew the Boston Red Sox again? Game 1 was more a whooping than a game – with Jon Lester taking the fodder no less! At least the Sox scored in Game 2, but the Angels were clearly in control. Sunday brings the series to Fenway Park and hopes for the Red Sox to get back into contention. I’m not very confident they will. Instead of Dice-K, Terry Francona is sending Clay Buchholz to the mound in Game 3. Sorry, Terry, but I would’ve chosen someone more solid than Clay. Yet, with Tim Wakefield unavailable, Buchholz is the only card in his hand – which, again, I disagree. If Buchholz pitches on Sunday the same way he has pitched in last several outings (Inconsistent, for the most part), the Angels may make history here erasing an 0-for-Boston postseason record dating back to Dave Henderson, Donnie Moore and the 1986 ALCS.

NEW YORK (AL) vs. MINNESOTA: My biggest concern for the Minnesota Twins came in Game 1. With less than 24 hours since the end of the AL Tiebreaker, the Twins ran out of gas as the New York Yankees took command of Game 1 in the Bronx. Those two Twins runs ahead of Derek Jeter’s homer were no fluke. They were runs that surprised the Yankees – and the Twins. Those guys ran on fumes. Then, the reserve tank started emptying out with a runner on base and Jeter at bat. The rest was devastating.

Did Thursday’s rest day helped? Despite the so-called “Catcher Controversy,” it prolonged the game into extra innings. Mark Teixeira walked it off in the end. Now, the Twins will enter into the Metrodome with a disadvantage of a sweep in Yankees Stadium. Considering the Twins are 0-for-2009 with the Pinstripes, Game 3 will be a hard climb for Gardy’s team.

A local note: In regards to Games 3 and 4 of the ALDS at the Metrodome, it is officially sold out. The Twins Box Office has been directing ticket seekers to the Internet, i.e. StubHub, for individual games.

It all starts today – Octoberquest 2009. If last night’s Tiebreaker was any indication how this Postseason will go – may I suggest some seatbelts and airbags just in case.

The match-ups are strong, but this game has an unpredictability factor unsurpassed in any competition of any nature. Not even a crazy Top Gear race (On BBC America, BTW) can get as good as these League Division Series. I’ll explain this reference later – the match-ups, as follows:

LOS ANGELES (NL) vs. ST. LOUIS: The last time these two met, the Cardinals were en route to a fateful meeting with the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. That was 2004. Also note that the Cardinals never lost a NLDS match-up since 1996. The odds must be against the Dodgers, right? Both teams have their advantages and drawbacks on pitching, batting and fielding. This can be a good series as long as the Dodgers compensate without Hideki Kuroda in the lineup. Also, as long as Manny Ramirez doesn’t get into a selfish mood, the Dodgers could match the Cards through the five game series. It may have to come down to Dodger Stadium in Game 5.

PHILADELPHIA vs. COLORADO: The Rockies arrive into their third ever NLDS drawing the Phillies for the second time. They shocked the Phighting Phils in 2007 en route to a World Series match up with the Red Sox. However, the Rox are facing the defending World Series champions this time around – turnaround being fair play. However, these Phils are an improved team with edges all over the place. Therefore, I would pick the Phils starting pitching over the Rockies in this series. You put Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton together, add either Pedro Martinez or J.A. Happ to the rotation – you have a strong starting corps to augment an even stronger bullpen. Don’t expect the Rockies to roll over so easy on the Phils, though.

LOS ANGELES (AL) vs. BOSTON: This will be the third straight ALDS these two teams will meet up, the fifth time overall in postseason history. In total, the Angels have never beaten the Red Sox in any postseason match-up. This is what makes this match-up delicious for Red Sox Nation as they claim to own Gene Autry’s old ballclub since Dave Henderson’s 1986 Series-changing homer off Donnie Moore. Could history change? Maybe, but the Red Sox has gotten stronger on several counts. Tim Wakefield will sit out this series, but that leaves Daisuke Matsuzaka to follow Jon Lester up front on the mound. Also, Victor Martinez adds another dimension of balance at either catcher or first base. I can see V-Mart as an edge against the Angels. However, those guys in Anaheim are hungry – but can they figure out how to beat the Red Sox in the postseason? Scott Kazmir may be the key to the Angels, as the usual suspects know they need to step up their game. Don’t expect an outcome until they get deep into Game 5 at Anaheim. This one’s going to be as tight and hard fought as the Dodgers-Cardinals series.

NEW YORK (AL) vs. MINNESOTA: I know there are plenty of people who will say that the Yankees will advance no matter what. I wouldn’t be so sure. It will come down as to which team will be the best at bringing on the late innings drama. Game 1 may be in the Yanks court due to the short turnaround by the Twins from their 12-inning Tiebreaker stunner. From there, they both take a day off in New York. I am not sure whether there is a further advantage for either team, but I fear the Twins’ rhythm will be off through Game 4. Game 2 will be critical, if not setting the tone on how Game 3 inside the Metrodome will be. My suggestion is to check in after the eighth inning of Game 3 before we see a winner of this series.

Now, whom do I want to win? Obviously, there are some favorites amongst this lot. There’s also the Los Angeles native inside of me that wants a Freeway Series after how many decades! There’s the hoarse-voiced Twin Cities resident (again, me) that wants the Twins to keep on squatting in the Metrodome further to the ire of Zygi Wilf – all the way to the World Series. However, there’s the Red Sox fan of 34 years (oh yeah, that’s me, too!) who figures that three Commissioner’s Trophies in the lobby of Fenway Park is better than two.

No matter how you dissect the match-ups, expect an amazing and dramatic Postseason this year.