Can We Finally See Some Playoff Baseball?

St. Louis Cardinals knock the San Diego Padres out of the playoffs: 6-2

I said Chris Carpenter was too good to lose to Padres, and I thought I'd be eating those words after Carp gave up 2 runs in the 1st inning. But it was just a awrm up period, as the offense would tie it up in the next half inning and then explode in the 6th for 4 more runs.

If it weren't for the Yankees post season failures of the past few years, St. Louis might be facing some serious scutiny for there own failures. But the east coast bias (and impending Joe Torre/ A-Rod-gate) will keep the spotlight outta the midwest for a little while longer.

Despite recent postseason ugliness, this year's Cards' ALDS offense was balanced, the pitching was clutch and LaRussa's didn't make any glaringly bad decisions.

And we say syonara to the year's NL West failure, the Padres, who are only in the playoffs cuz someone has to represent the the ignored left coast. Not to pile on or accentuate the White Sox misery, but former Sox Mike Cameron was 0-4 with 3 Ks and 3 LOBs yesterday.

And now it's on to the ALCS, where some real baseball might actually get played.