Pirates v. Reds in a a series that will tell us alot about how good the Pirates are this season.

This is the biggest series of the season for either team. Both teams have been the best in baseball since the all-star break.

Well, it hasn't started off very well for the Bucs.

A baseball oddity happened last Friday night. Justin Upton hit his 100th career homerun in a game in Philadelphia. Forty minutes later his brother B.J. hit his 100th career homerun for the Rays in another game.

Melky Cabrera snagged for using testosterone. Hmmmm? He won the All Star game MVP, the National League wins and gets home field in the World Series. Something stinks here.

Them's the breaks. I've never been a fan of having home field advantage hinge on the All'Star Game, but there's nothing that can be done.

I officially withdraw any praise I bestowed upon Cabrera this year. This happened at a really bad time for him as this is his free agency year. The difference between the multi-year contract he would have commanded and the contract he may actually get may be in the tens of millions.

but would he have commanded the big bucks if he didn't take the juice, which likely gave him the juiced up numbers?

No he wouldn't have, and as a Giants fan I'm upset, disappointed, and completely relieved that the Giants didn't sign him to a big contract extension like they were talking about doing. I would hate to have him on the team for the next 3-5 years sucking up part of the budget when he probably wouldn't produce at the same level.

If guys like Melky Cabrera are getting caught using PED's, imagine how many players are using without getting caught thanks to new designer drugs and masking agents. It's sad.

I liked Melky when he was a Yankee, and I'm sorry to see this. Blib, you are so right. How many of these guys are doing this crap without getting caught?

Most of those using banned substances are in the minor leagues or are marginal players, desperate enough where the risk of getting caught is outweighed by the benefit of stepping up to the next level. An established mlb player or star has a lot more to lose than someone struggling to make the league or hang on to a roster spot.

Dodgers are apparently working on a major deal that would have Adrian Gonzalez, who was claimed on the waiver wire, going to LA, possibly with Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford.

....and here is Gonzalez's first at bat as a Dodger....and there is goes, Home Run.

Well, in the preseason I picked the Reds to beat the Tigers in the world series, so I'll stay with my pick.

I'll pick St. Louis to beat the Braves with Kyle Lhose on the bump. He's had an amazing year. I think the Rangers will beat the Orioles.

NLCS: Reds over Cardinals
ALCS: Tigers over Yankees.

The Rangers season has to go down among the top collapses of all time. Maybe not the biggest, but up there. For them to have the division in hand all season and then lose to an A's team with 18 rookies throughout the season on the very last day, and then lose to the Oriole's is an amazing failure.

I won't make any predictions, with fear of jinxing my team, but I have to say to the American League, watch out for the A's. They are a real life version of the movie Major League.

is it that bad they lost to the oriole's? the A's on the other hand yea they could be a threat.

i actually believe that the oriole's and nationals will make it to the world series.

What I meant was the Rangers never should have been in the position to lose a one game playoff. They completely blew the end of the season.