NLCS: Paternity is Not a Question

Did anyone notice that there is a National League Championship Series going on in the Midwest?

I know. I know. You're too busy listening to the Yankee faithful chanting, "Who's Your Daddy?" or "Manny Sucks!" I love rivalries, but I also happen to like baseball. I know it's hard, but you must remind yourselves that there is a series going on in the National League.

I'm not surprised that the St. Louis Cardinals are leading the Houston Astros 2-0, as I am not surprised that the Yankees are in the same position. But neither series is over as the 2-0 leaders now travel to enemy territory for three games. This is a problem for both the Yankees and the Cardinals.

I will very quickly give a short synopsis of the ALCS. Why is Boston getting owned? It has nothing to do with New York fans playing mind games. It is the Bambino Curse that still plagues the Carmines in Boston. Why else would Curt Schilling just happen to have a bum ankle and not be able to pitch, at home, in Game 5?

Yankees lose Game 3, lose Game 4 and steal Game 5 because there is no Schilling, then win in it all in New York, as perfectly scripted by FOX and the MLB.

The subplots and extended games in the ALCS mean more ratings and more money.

Now, let's get to the NLCS Series that isn't worth fixing and has it's own story.

Houston, we have a problem.

This time it isn't a blown fuelsalage in a NASA rocket ... it's the fact that The Rocket can't pitch every game. Roger Clemens will get a chance to get a win in Game 3, followed by 20-game winner Roy Oswalt in Game 4. If Houston has any chance of salvation, it is now.

The problem is compounded with Houston Astros Manager, Phil Garner. His decision-making has been utterly horrible, with the most controversial (not to mention, stupid) decision, made in Game 2 of the NLCS.

Let me put the situation in perspective.

The score is tied, 4-4, bottom of the eighth, with Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, and Jim Edmonds coming to bat, Garner makes a decision to put Dan Miceli on the mound instead of stud closer Brad Lidge.

What happened?

To quote the Scorpions, Miceli got "rocked like a hurricane."

Is this to say that Lidge wouldn't have given up a run? Not at all, but Garner was thinking that he brought Lidge in too early against the Braves and didn't want to make the same mistake twice.

The mistake was bringing in Miceli, Phil, my boy. With the heart of the order up, game tied, put in Lidge next time and don't think twice.

Inning, be damned.

As much as the decision to put in Miceli over Lidge still burns the butts of Astro fans, Houston first baseman Jeff Bagwell made a very good point.

"It's tough," Bagwell said, "but it happens -- especially against that lineup. There's just no breathing room for a pitcher. Every time you've got to make a big pitch, you look up and another all-star is walking to home plate."

I can't say it any better than that.

It's not guaranteed, but odds are that the Cardinals will face the Yankees in the World Series. I feel sorry for the Yankees. The Cardinals seem to have a lineup that has a designated hitter in it, even when the pitchers are up to bat. Just think what can happen when they play in Yankee stadium and actually do have a DH in the lineup.

Want more NLCS subplots? Well, death is always good for a series or a game where the player or players involved respond to the tragedy by playing inspired ball.

Brett Favre, playing at superhuman levels when his father died, is my favorite example. This MLB season gave us two situations. We saw Yankees closer Mariano Rivera returning back to the bullpen and getting the save in Game 1 of the ALCS, after two of his family members were electrocuted in Panama.

Former San Diego Padre, Texas Ranger, Atlanta Brave, and Houston Astro, Ken Caminiti died of an apparent drug overdose and was mourned by friends Craig Biggio and Bagwell, who may possibly use the death of the former slugger as inspiration to climb back into the NLCS.

The Cardinals and Astros are here, too, people. Whether or not you prefer to see Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez or Clemens or fancy Rivera over Jason Isringhausen, don't neglect the NLCS.

There is a series and a story going on in the National League and you don't have to be someone's daddy to enjoy it.

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