NLDS Wrap-Up And Update

How unexpected were the Western Division Sweeps? No one -- not a single person -- in our little game picked either series to end in 3. Only 7 of 26 picked either Western division team to win, period. And only one -- the Nostradamus like Joeski -- went with the West in both instances.

Tonight's game had it all for the frustrated Phillies fans... a sudden and relentless lack of offense, a mind-boggling blown move by embattled manager Charlie Manuel (J.C. Romero, a lefty, was left in to face right-handed batter Jeff Baker; righty closer Brett Myers got the third out of the inning, one batter too late), and bad defense (the Matsui "triple" that could only have happened with the magic of Pat Burrell). They wasted a courageous effort by the ancient but effective Jamie Moyer. But nothing was going to stop the Rocks, who now have won 17 of their last 18. Good grief.

Who gets the edge in the NLCS? Both teams now get a ridiculous amount of time off (nothing until next Thursday), so the rotations are more or less however the managers want them. The time off will also give the networks time to try to sell this to the 80% of the country that Could Not Care Less. But at least to look at the bright side... less Frank TV means less Frank TV inspired violence. (According to Yahoo News, over 3,000 people have already been killed, or have taken their own life, from viewing those ads.)

Oh, and one last bit of bad news... no third game means nothing, outside of your own sense of self-preservation, can stop you from watching John Madden give the mouth job for three-plus sloppy hours on NBC. It's go time, baby!