Three Seasons on the Brink

Three games on the schedule today, all with the possibility of eliminating a team from the 2006 playoffs:

• Padres at Cardinals, 10:05 a.m. PT, ESPN2 — St. Louis returns home with a 2-0 advantage over the Padres, who have lost nine straight post-season games dating back to the 1998 World Series. The Cards have been whooping the Pads with a steady diet of curveballs and Albert “I Stare at My Home Runs Because I Can” Pujols. San Diego left fielder Dave Roberts, however, isn’t ready to give up just yet.
• Yankees at Tigers, 1:05 p.m. PT, FOX — Detroit limped into the playoffs. Jim Leyland’s team was vulnerable headed into a series against the Yankees. But to this point, it is the team from New York that has done the bulk of the limping. Never count out the Yankees, but if you’re a Tigers fan, you’ve got to like today’s pitching matchup. Jaret Wright gets the start for New York, and the best that can be said about him is that he survived the season. For the third time in 10 big-league campaigns, Wright broke the 140 inning barrier. He pitches to contact but keeps the ball in the park. He also owns a career ERA of 5.07 in the regular season, and a 7.24 ERA in the post-season. On the other side, Jeremy Bonderman is an emerging young star on the mound. He isn’t battle tested (yet), but I wouldn’t want to be facing him in an elimination game. The one thing the Yankees have working in their favor is that Bonderman struggled (4.87 ERA in 94.1 IP) after the All-Star break. Also, they’re the Yankees.
• Mets at Dodgers, 4:35 p.m. PT, FOX — The other NL West representative finds itself on the wrong end of a 2-0 difference as well. Los Angeles sends out future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux to try and keep the Dodgers’ season alive. Maddux isn’t the pitcher he once was — not even close — but he did manage a 3.30 ERA in 12 starts after coming to LA. Plus, a guy with 333 career victories probably has a good idea of how to keep his club in the ballgame. Also, first baseman Nomar Garciaparra has a torn quad and won’t start today for the Dodgers. For the Mets, right-hander Steve Trachsel gets the call. It’s impressive that New York has lost two members of its starting rotation and that it really hasn’t even been an issue. Trachsel is nothing special, but the strategy is for him to keep New York in the game and let the bullpen take over late. It’s a recipe that’s been cooked to perfection in the first two games of the series and one that the Mets hope will take them to the next round of the playoffs.

There it is. Now, plant your posterior firmly on the sofa and start watching some games!