Inside The Cage: MLB Pre-Game - A World Series Preview

Baseball is America's past time for a reason

Well, here it is; the World Series. This is what every team in Major League Baseball has been trying to get to. Well, maybe except for the Marlins, I think they're just trying to stay in the Show and not be sent down, designated for assignment.

The last time the two top teams from either league had met up in the World Series, was when I was a sophomore in high school and playing all of the sports my grades would let me play. The Red Sox and the Cardinals seem to be, almost mirror images of each other, at least speaking on behalf of the playoff road taken to get to the World Series.

The Red Sox had taken three games out of four in the NLDS, from the Tampa Bay Rays. For game 1, they completely lit up Rays' left-hander, Matt Moore, scoring 8 runs, 7 earned, off of 9 hits, through 6 1/3 innings. In game 2, David Price did not fare any better, giving up 7 runs -- all earned -- in 7 innings. One has to wonder if that will hurt his market value, come this winter.

The Rays seemed to be coming alive with a dramatic 9th inning win, with a walk-off home run by catcher, Jose Lobaton. But in the end, the Red Sox had proven to be too much for the young Rays, as they handed them a plane ticket each to go to their respective homes; Red Sox take the ALDS, 3-1.

Up next: Detroit in the ALCS. You just knew that this was going to be a series that would, at the very least, go to game 6. If game 1 was foreshadowing the rest of the series, you would have thought that it was going to come down to one thing: the team that scores first, wins. Well, you'd be wrong, as the Bo-Sox managed to score 20 runs in 6 games-- not too shabby.

One teams pitching performance did not overshadow the other, but I guess an argument can be made for the Red Sox pitching staff because they were able to keep the Tigers high-powered offense to a total of 17 runs throughout the series.

Now, you would figure that scoring 17 runs in 6 games would be more than enough to advance to the next round, but that only averages out to about 2.83 runs per game, so that is actually not too bad.

As I've said before, I was rooting for the Bo-Sox since I am a fan of just about anything Boston, but I had thought Detroit would pull it out in 7 games.

Now, onto the NL; the Cardinals had a little bit more of a tougher time getting through the NLDS, as they were facing the resilient Pittsburgh Pirates. Aside from game 4, this series was a slug-fest. The theme was: who can score the most runs?

There was no shortage of runs here, with the Red Birds scoring, roughly, 4.2 runs a game and the Bucs averaging 3 runs a game. However, game 4 was a completely different story; enter Michael Wacha. This 22-year-old took a no hitter into the 8th and absolutely looked like a 6-year veteran that's been pitching a game 7 every year of his pro career; in sports jargon, the kid looked like a stud.

Regardless of how many games it took, the Pirates were just over matched in the series.

The NLCS was a completely different story; this series was a perfect match up on paper. But as we all know, paper is only a distraction on the field, especially in October.

I really don't care what anyone says; Dodgers or Cardinals fan, this was a great series. Yes, Cardinal players and fans had issues with Dodger players and Dodgers players and fans had issues with Cardinal players, but it shouldn't take focus away from an incredibly played series.

For comparison, if you remove game 6 from the series, both teams played a very tight, hard-fought game and as the Red Birds scored 12 runs in 5 games, the Blue Crew had scored 13 runs. But, game 6 cannot be removed from the books and our minds, for that matter, as the Dodgers were thoroughly man-handled in said game and were sent home for the winter.

All that is left is the two BEST teams in the league, which have the records to reinforce the point, and you can bet it's going to go down to the wire. Yes, it's going to be another slug fest and anyone who doesn't watch, for at least one inning, should not call themselves a fan of the game.

It shouldn't matter which team you bleed for, it's still going to be a great series and that's all we, as baseball fans, can ask for. So go ahead, if you’re a Dodgers fan, and cheer for Boston. Or if you’re a Tigers fan, cheer for St. Louis; just as long as you're cheering for someone.

I understand you may be hurting; we all are for those whose teams have been knocked out, but we shouldn't be so scarred that it prevents us from enjoying the game we love.

Especially if it means watching the Cardinals lose. Apologies, I couldn't help myself on that last one.

First pitch is at 7:30 PM EST in Fenway Park. Taking the hill for the rubber match is Cardinals' ace, Adam Wainwright against Red Sox sort-of ace, Jon Lester.

Inside The Cage: MLB Post Game - League Championship Series

Adrian Gonzalez celebrates after a third inning solo home run Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

As the Los Angeles Dodgers look to even up the series against the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis Friday night down 3-2, one team is out to take the lead in the ALCS Thursday night, between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox with the series being tied at 2-2 apiece.

Game 4 brought you the first real offensive surge in the League Championship Series with the Tigers scoring 7 runs off of Boston Red Sox starter and former Padres ace, Jake Peavy, in which he was only able to last 3 innings.

Tiger’s starter, Doug Fister, kept the Red Sox at bay for 6 innings, while allowing 8 hits but only letting one run cross the plate and striking out 7.

Even though there were no balls leaving the yard, the Tigers were still an impressive 4-9 with runners in scoring position. Right fielder, Torii Hunter and Triple Crown winner, Miguel Cabrera both had 2 RBI’s a piece, each coming with two outs.

Both starters had tough acts to follow with veterans John Lackey and Justin Verlander pitching an impressive game 3 and really giving the fans a true pitcher’s duel, something that’s been echoed throughout the entire League Championship Series across the board.

Boston veteran, John Lackey able to conjure up some type of voodoo-magic and keep the Tigers off of the score board for 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight and allowing four hits all on 97 pitches.

Detroit ace, Justin Verlander finished his night off an 8 inning start with 120 pitches thrown, one earned run and ten K's losing-- unbelievably so. But, in that respect, it was also a tribute to the terrific performance of the entire Red Sox pitching staff.

Amazingly enough, David Ortiz has, pretty much, been a non-factor in the series leading up to Thursday night’s rubber match between Detroit’s Anibal Sanchez, and Boston’s Jon Lester.

Although, it hasn't just been him that's been largely ineffective; the entire team seems in need of a serious wake-up call as they haven’t been able to score more than 3 runs in any one game. In the end, the Red Sox were not able to mount a comeback as the Tigers took the game 3-7, and tying the series up, 2-2.

First pitch for game 5 is at 8 PM, EST.

My dream World Series would include the Dodgers against the Red Sox, but unless both teams wake up their respective bats and start scoring some runs when the chances present themselves, my dream will dissipate like water in a sauna.

Speaking of the Dodgers, they seem to always get under the skin of someone in the baseball world. After Monday's game, St. Louis Cardinal OF, Carlos Beltran was quoted as saying, "As a player, I just think he doesn't know [how to act]; that's what I think. He really doesn't know," Beltran continued.

"He must think that he's still playing somewhere else. He has a lot of passion, no doubt about that -- great ability, great talent. I think with time he'll learn that you've got to act with a little bit more calm."

With Carlos saying that he doesn't think Puig is a "bad kid," he should also bear in mind that, only a year and a half ago, Yasiel was living in a communist country. He is being paid to play a game, and Jerry Hairston Jr. had summed it perfectly when he said, "this guy is like a 16-year-old kid playing Little League."

Whether he's slamming into a wall, knocking in the go-ahead run, keeping a rally going, or even starting a rally, I'm sure Puig means no disrespect when he jumps for joy or pumps and raises his hands in triumph on even a simple slump-breaking single.

Cardinal players should not be focusing on Puig and his hip-hop-hooray’s; what they should be focusing on is the arms in the Dodgers pitching staff.

The Red Birds pitching staff have done an outstanding job shutting down the Dodgers threats, but the Cardinals are still giving the Dodgers far too many opportunities to break the game open.

Looking in from the other side of the diamond, the Cards pitching staff has successfully buckled down when the Dodgers were threatening. That is, until Wednesday afternoon, when they allowed four one-run home runs; Kelly gave up two and his bullpen gave up the other two.

In the 9th inning, Kenley Jansen jogged in from the Dodgers bullpen to the tune of "California Love" by TuPac and Dr. Dre, and had had his shakiest outing of the playoffs, thus far.

Matt Holliday greeted him immediately with a double and Matt Adams was able to drive him in with a broken-bat single that. Now, in all other instances, would've been handled routinely, had it not been for the extreme shift that had second baseman Mark Ellis playing alongside Yasiel Puig in right field.

Even with the box-score showing Jansen striking out the side in the bottom half of the 9th, it doesn't tell the complete story, and had locals wondering whether this was the second-coming of Jonathan Broxton before striking out pinch-hitter, Adron Chambers.

With a win Wednesday, it takes the series back to St. Louis, and with some in the baseball world reminiscing of last year, when the Cardinals were up 3-1 in last years' NLCS against the Giants, and were ultimately taken out of the playoffs with a game 7 loss. We'll see how the Cardinals react with the rest of the series winding down in their backyard, and whether the Dodgers can keep the Cards on their heels, forcing a game 7.

First pitch is at 5:30 PM PST, with universal ace, Clayton Kershaw taking the hill against rookie phenom, Michael Wacha.

Inside The Cage: MLB Post Game - Dodgers-Cardinals NLCS Game 2 Review

Yasiel Puig covers his eyes in the dugout during the seventh inning (David J. Phillip/AP)

There seems to be a recurring theme for the Los Angeles Dodgers, so far in the NLCS, and it's not a good one. They had six chances to score one run. Six chances they had, were squandered. One of those chances had left ace Clayton Kershaw, stranded on third.

The Dodgers struck out 10 times today, with five of those strikeouts coming with runners left in scoring position. Yes, there will be talk of Dodgers manager Don Mattingly removing Kershaw in the 7th in favor of pinch hitting veteran, Michael Young, and why he didn't use power hitting OF, Scott Van Slyke.

I found myself asking why he just didn't let Kershaw bat for himself. Yes, I know he's a pitcher and it would have been a lefty/lefty matchup against a pitcher, but Clayton is no ordinary hitting pitcher. In hindsight, it was a baseball move, and I was caught up in the moment of questioning Mattingly's decision, only for the simple reason that Mattingly does not seem to get it when it comes to making strategic, baseball-managing decisions.

In my opinion, he jus doesn't get it, period. I've come to the conclusion that most of the fans are feeling the same way and one thing is for sure: Dodger fans will continue to question any and all of Mattingly's decision because the fans do not trust him, anymore.

Regardless of whether the Dodgers win, or even make it to the World Series, there will always be a distrust between him and the majority of the fan base. It's like staying married to you wife or husband after they've cheated on you and you keep telling yourself, "it's for the children."

However, he is not the one that is standing in the batter's box or misreading fly balls. I am not trying to make it seem as if this loss was entirely his fault, but was a loss that was, just as it was yesterday, a complete team loss. The inability to hit with runners in scoring position is the number one reason; not a managerial error, not a blown call-- it was not anything but sleeping bats that will just not wake up when they need to.

Rookie sensation Michael Wacha had himself another sensational postseason outing, throwing 6 and two-third innings of 5-hit, 8-strikeout, lights-out baseball.

Overall, it was a game of good, old fashion pitching, and nothing else; seriously, nothing else. I mean, honestly, we would probably have some more free baseball today if Dodgers catcher AJ Ellis had not let a fastball get by him, which would have been called a strike.

The series at hand has actually been more than any one side can bargain for with stellar pitching performances all around, especially in Saturday's game. In fact, only difference between the two teams is one capitalizing when they've been given the chance, and the other wasting theirs away.

The biggest threat of the day belonged to the Dodgers; Kershaw led off the top of the 6th inning with a single. OF Carl Crawford followed with an infield single of his own, but with the errand throw of Cardinal second baseman, Matt Carpenter, both runners advanced ninety feet. Runners on second and third with no one out and the heart of the lineup coming up sounds like a surefire chance at, the very least, tying the game up, right?

Well, in the wonderful game of baseball, there is no such thing as "surefire." Soft-hitting second baseman, Mark Ellis, weakly popped up to Matt Carpenter for the first out. Here comes, as the legendary broadcaster Vin Scully would say, the butter and egg man, Adrian Gonzalez, up to the plate-- intentional walk.

Okay, so now, you're a hot-shot rookie playing in the NLCS for the very first time with the bases loaded trying to protect a one-run lead in the top of the 6th; what do you do? Why, strike out another hot-shot rookie and a clutch veteran to get yourself out of, up to that moment, the biggest jam of your professional life, that's what.

And that, right there, sums it up perfectly the direction in which these two teams are heading as they both try to advance to the biggest stage of their respective sport.

Will the Cardinals be able to keep up the amazing pitching, great defense and clutch hitting? Will the Dodgers be able to wake themselves up and remember how they beat another high-caliber team as they did, the Atlanta Braves? I guess we'll find out Monday, October 14th in Los Angeles, California.

First pitch is at 5PM PST. Make sure to tune in, it's probably going to be another heart-stopper, maybe.

Inside The Cage: MLB Post Game - Cardinals squeak by Dodgers In Game 1 Of NLCS; Preview Of ALCS

Carlos Beltran Photo by Chris Carlson/AP

Hitting with runners left in scoring position, that's what the entire baseball world will be looking at when they read the box score for game 1 of the NLCS between the Dodgers and the Cardinals.

People critiquing the game won't look at Zack Greinke's 8 innings of 4 hit, 10 K, 2 earned run baseball; or Joe Kelly's 2 earned runs in 6 innings outing while striking out 5 Dodgers. No, they'll be looking at this stat:

· RISP - 1-10

· LOB - 11.

You're not worthy of playing in a championship game, or even playing on a championship caliber team, if you don't produce with runners in scoring position.

The Dodgers basically shut down the Cardinals high powered offense, just as they did they Braves. Only difference is, while facing the Braves in the NLDS, they hit when they had opportunities; they hit a lot. The Cardinals gave them plenty of chances to break the game wide open, but the Dodgers just couldn't get anything going.

So, in that respect, I tip my hat to the Cards stellar defense for turning double-plays when they needed to. Through all of the walks issued by the Red Birds bullpen, they buckled down and got the grounders they needed to put a halt to any kind of rally or momentum-gaining inning.

Now, everybody will be criticizing Dodgers Manager, Don Mattingly, for opting to pinch-run for clutch first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez, therefore removing him from the game completely. But to be fair, Mattingly wasn't the one struggling at the plate with-- you guess it, runners in scoring position. It was the entire team; one player can't and won't be singled out over the other, it was a complete team loss.

Mattingly summed up the game best while talking to reporters after the game, "You've got to shoot your bullet when you get a chance."

On the other side of the diamond, never removed their best hitter in the clutch, OF Carlos Beltran. He's proven, in October, to come through when the team needed the big hit and always seems to comes through in the clutch. Some are calling him the 2000's version of "Mr. October," and while compiling career numbers like a .345 batting average, 34 RBI's and an OPS of 1.199, it's almost impossible to argue with them.

His supporting cast also brings an important question to the table: do the Dodgers have enough rounds in the chamber to take the NLCS away from the Cards? With key injuries to key players, it seems like an uphill battle.

Yes, the Dodgers have a lot of flair and money behind them, but flair and money can't prevent injuries. Should've-could've-would've-been MVP, Matt Kemp won't be seen in the playoffs, unless you count watching him to his best Bring It On cheering impression. Andre Ethier is still nursing a hurt ankle and has been scratched from tonight's line up. Also a late scratch tonight is Hanley Ramirez, after getting hit in the ribs from Cards starter, Joe Kelly, Ramirez stayed in the game, but watching him swing, you could tell there was a level of discomfort there.

The Red Birds, on the other glove, are without the services of another clutch hitter in Allen Craig, as he is listed day-to-day with a sprained left foot.

Both teams are definitely battling throughout the injuries, however the limelight seems to focus on Los Angeles a little bit more because of their high-profile owners and high-profile players.

Do you see what money does? First pitch is at 1PM PST.

As far as the ALCS, it's going to be between the Detroit Tigers against the Boston Red Sox. Honestly, did anyone think it would come out any other way?

Yes, the underdog stories of Oakland and Tampa Bay were nice and all, but really, it was always going to be these two fighting for a chance to represent the AL in the World Series. Heck, I was pulling for Oakland to make it past everybody simply for the reason of wanting a all-California World Series.

That doesn't mean that I had bet the farm on the A's, it was merely a pipe dream, as I am tired of seeing the same old faces on the same old teams playing for another championship.

Could my previous statement change if it becomes the Dodgers playing for the title every year? Probably, yeah, but that still doesn't mean I can't hope for a change in the AL scenery.

All writers almost always try to be as non-biased as they can, me included. But, since my team hasn't been in a World Series in, what, 20-plus years? I think it's okay for me to be a little biased. I mean, I know Cubs fans and writers will agree with me there. But, one thing I will never do is make excuses for bad play; that's just not who I am. I digress.

Anyway, I really can't call the Detroit or Boston sure-winners because, well, I just don't know. Both teams have clutch hitters, a stellar defense and a great pitching staff. If I am going to make a prediction for who will take the series, I'm going to go with the Tigers.

I think the combination of Verlander/Scherzer/Cabrera/Fielder is just too much for the Bo Sox-- Sorry, Boston faithful! I usually root for the Red Sox in the AL, and will still be, but I think Detroit will take it in 6 games. Don't take my word for it, what would I know, I'm just a doctor...or am I...?

First pitch is at 8PM EST. Who will you be cheering for?

Inside The Cage: MLB Post Game - NLDS And ALDS Updates

Howdy, howdy, partners! There's been a lot going on in the world of-- well, everything to be perfectly honest. The post-season for the MLB is in full swing and there has been no shortage of drama on each side of the pond.

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the first team to clinch a spot in the Championship Series with a dramatic, come-from-behind victory of their own Monday night. In the bottom of the 8th, Yasiel Puig laid off a few good pitches down and away -- AKA his kryptonite -- from Atlanta Braves lights-out set up man, David Carpenter, but was able to turn what would've been a single for mortal men, and stretch out into a double.

Then, Juan Uribe stepped up to the plate and...tried to bunt-- twice?! Yes, that actually happened, to the amazement of Dodger fans everywhere that know he is NOT a bunter; he's a hitter, plain and simple. A sellout crowd at Dodger Stadium saw that first hand, as he launched what looked like a hanging slider into the Dodgers' bullpen area.

This is the first come-from behind win for the Dodgers in the post season, so far, and the first loss to, what's just been a stellar bullpen for the Braves. Maybe it was the bold prediction of former Braves All-Star, Chipper Jones that jinxed them.

In any regards, the Dodgers move on to the NLCS and await a victor from the Pirates-Cardinals showdown, while the Braves face a difficult decision on whether to re-sign All-Star catcher and world-sports police officer, Brian McCann or not.

Photo/Paul Sancya

The Oakland A's are looking to be the first ones in the AL to lock up a spot in the ALCS, and the Detroit Tigers are trying to dig themselves out of a hole by sending right-hander Doug Fister to the mound to try and force a game 5, back in Oakland.

With last year’s Triple Crown winner in Miguel Cabrera and power hitting first baseman, Prince Fielder, along with aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, you would think the Tigers would have this series locked up and sealed, but this is baseball; anything can and WILL happen.

Taking the series lead 2-1, the A's will be sending Dan Straily to the hill today and put the Tigers down for good, at least until next year where they'll likely be the favorites to win the Central once again.

Mike Carlson/AP

Those pesky Tampa Bay Rays will just not go away, huh? They're looking to give the Boston Red Sox their money's worth with a hopeful win today to take the series back to Boston and celebrate in front of the Boston loyal. The Red Sox, however, will not let that happen, especially in Boston, as I'm sure they don't want to let Matt Damon and Ben Aflec down.

Those feisty Rays, in a span of nine days, have managed to win four-- yes, you've read right, four elimination games to keep a glimmer of hope for playing in the World Series alive. The Bo-Sox will be trotting out former All-Star, Jake Peavy, as the Rays will counter with average-Joe, Jeremy Hellickson.

AP Photo

Have you ever seen a rookie throw a no-hitter in a Division Series? Well, even if you have, I haven't-- and still haven't, as St. Louis Cardinal rookie right-hander, Michael Wacha, came within five outs of post-season history.

Every update received on my phone about the young pitchers feet was accompanied with one thought: "No, way. He's going to do it." I was legitimately bummed out when I saw that he lost it, especially on a home run by Pittsburgh Pirates big-bopper Pedro Alvarez, but the silver lining in that is; at least he didn't lose it off of a bunt or a bloop-shot, because that would've driven me insane.

I'm still thinking the Bucs will pull it out, but not without a fight from the Cards high-powered offense. Maybe it's just the root-for-the-underdog thing I have, but I think it will be the Pirates vs. the Dodgers in the NLCS (sorry, Cards fans!).

All in all, this post season has been amazing, thus far. I don't believe we, as fans, could've asked for more from the teams that have made it. It's been exciting, dramatic, heart-breaking and nail biting and as a fan of the game, I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Maybe someone can get amnesia and can be the father of their best friends', cousins, roommates' daughter; that'd be the icing on the cake.