MLB Playoffs

The San Francisco Giants have jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series, riding two key Cody Ross home runs as well as strong pitching from Tin Lincecum and two relievers to a 4-3 victory in Philadelphia.

The Phillies' ace Roy Halladay took a step back from his no hit performance in the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds, surrendering 4 runs in 7 innings of work.

Pat Burrell drove in a run with a two-run double, as did Juan Uribe, who chipped in an RBI single for the visiting Giants.

San Francisco will send left handed starter Jonat

Normally, a visiting team would feel pretty confident bringing a best-of-seven series back home tied 1-1.  They would have beaten one of the opponent's best pitchers, and they would have the chance to wrap up the series at home with all of their fans behind them.

 By the end of the six innings, the New York Yankees were down 5-0 to the Texas Rangers.

Yankees ace CC Sabathia had to exit after the fourth; his shortest outing of the season.

On the other end, Rangers starter CJ Wilson was shutting down the deep New York line-up. Wilson gave up a homerun to Robbie Cano to start the seventh, but retired the next three and the held the Yankees to a 5-1 score.

Both halves of the Major League Baseball championship series will be taking place today, with the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers squaring off in Game 2 of their series in Arlington, while the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies open the NLCS at Citizens Bank Park in Philly.

Well ladies and gentlemen, the 2010 Major League season has reached its very own Final Four in the form of the two League Championship Series.

The American League will pit the defending champion New York Yankees against the first-time winners Texas Rangers, while the National League will feature the back-to-back National League champion Philadelphia Phillies against the upstart San Francisco Giants.

Baseball history has been filled with famous home run shots, brilliant pitching performances, and of course, fantastic defensive plays.

In the postseason, everything is magnified and every play takes on a greater significance, so any time a player does something truly special it is not only celebrated and highlighted, in some cases it is etched in our memories forever.

I’m usurping Bud Selig on this one. I’m railroading the legislation through. I’m going to be judge, jury, and party pooper.

I’m starting the new rule, effective with the 2011 MLB playoffs.

NO champagne celebrations after winning divisional series.

That’s it—record it, stenographer. Have it ready for my signature, forthwith. If I have to fly to New York and enter it into law myself, so be it.

Commissioner Bud Selig has said that baseball is studying possibilities to expand the postseason field from the current eight team format, to a ten team field beginning as soon as next season, this according to a report in the Chicago Tribune. 

The current format, which has been in place since 1994, only allows the three division winners from the East, Central, and West to get in along with a wild card team. 

The World Series.

One of the most sacred events in the sports world. It goes without saying that getting there takes intense preparation, heart, skill and a little bit of luck.

The 162-game regular season is a grind, and it all boils down to even more baseball—October baseball, AKA: Baseball at its finest.

The Yankees have done all of this before, and this year they've completed one third of the postseason puzzle by sweeping the Minnesota Twins in the first round.

Acclaimed actor Sidney Poitier starred with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in the hit movie Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.

Guess which team will show up hungrier in this year’s American League Championship Series?

The actors in this year’s Major League Baseball saga may not win any Oscars or Golden Globes, but they have a chance to have their names etched in eternity as stars and winners nonetheless.