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.