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For love of a little down-to-the-near-wire hair-raising pennant race baseball!

Freakin' Angels failed to clinch a playoff berth again tonight!

They're really starting to try my patience!

Apparently, the Angels are determined to keep it interesting. The Rangers took a 4-2 lead, the Angels made it 4-3 in the ninth (a hit, a steal, a taking of third on a wild pitch, and an RBI single pushed home Orlando Palmeiro with the third Anaheim run), before Francisco Cordero struck out David Eckstein swinging with a man on first and two out.

Only thing is, they're keeping it interesting for the Mariners. That Red Sox loss to the White Sox eliminates Boston from the postseason - they would have needed, it turns out, to win their last five while the Angels lose their last five in order to clinch at least a one-game wildcard slot playoff. For Boston it's wait till next year. (Or, if you're that cynical a fellow Red Sox fan, it's "This year is next year!")

For the Angels, they'd better win one fast, though Oakland seems to want to help them get to the postseason - the A's are leading the Mariners 2-0 in the fourth. The White Sox, interestingly, are 21-9 since 24 August. Gee. If they'd played like that all year, they might have given the Twins a run for it in the AL Central. What a shock.

The Cardinals are the hottest team in baseball right now. Just swept the slumping D-backs (who have lost Gonzo for the year). The Cards have finally drawn even with the Snakes' won-loss record, but, by winning the season series, the Birds would now have the homefield advantage for their upcoming playoff series.

Albert Pujols, Edgar Renteria, and Scott Rolen could be first-team NL at their respective positions this year (not that Prince Albert would beat out Bonds for LF, but he could make the starting OF). Eli Marrero has been a super-sub, and Miguel Cairo may be the best pinch-hitter in the league. Most of all, the pitching has been amazing, the way unexpected guys (Benes, Simontacchi) have stepped up when their mates have gone down (to injury or even death!).

Cardinal Nation has lost, this season: starting pitcher Darryl Kile; broadcaster Jack Buck (the most beloved man in St. Louis); HOF outfielder Enos Slaughter; and '80s WS hero Darrel Porter.

Andy Benes, whom I thought I could hit this spring, has added the splitter and come back from the pitching graveyard. Jason Simontacchi has come from out of nowhere to give the starting staff a huge boost. Walt Jocketty has picked up for next-to-nothing, and Dave Duncan has revitalized, pitching retreads Chuck Finley, Rick White, and Jeff Fassero, all of whom have come through big-time. Jocketty stole--and today the Cardinals signed to a long-term deal--Scott Rolen, the best 3b in baseball, tremendously talented all-around (slugging, fielding, throwing, baserunning).

This has the makings of a storybook year for the Cardinals.

Baseball ?!?!?!?!?!?

There ain't no Baseball...Either there is a strike or, I'm a Mets fan.....lol.