Major League Baseball‘s October classic kicks off today in fine fashion, matching up the league’s best for a memorable playoff season.
Yesterday’s 1-game playoff between the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers was an instant (ESPN) Classic.  12-innings, something like 24 hits and 20 stranded base runners in total.  Both teams were hungry, but the Twins executed in the clutch and pulled out the win to advance to meet the Yankees – baseball’s best (regular season) team.
American League Series
New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
The Yankees enter the postseason with the major’s best …

Baseball News from L.A. Times
Down, 7-0, they rally against Tampa Bay bullpen and win on Drew’s two-out single in the ninth. Series returns to Tampa Bay with the Rays leading, 3-2.  Down seven runs and running out of time, the Boston Red Sox weren’t quite ready to go away. Continue reading on L.A. Times

Baseball News from L.A. Times
Philadelphia batters Chad Billingsley for eight runs in 2 1/3 innings and survives Manny Ramirez‘s three-run homer to win, 8-5.  Continue reading on L.A. Times

The Philadelphia Phillies‘ Ryan Howard is preparing to play a pivotal role in the NLCS, starting tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Accustomed to being the focus of attention, Howard brushes off the fact that the Dodgers may avoid pitching to him in order to avoid giving up a homerun.
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is learning to accept the fact that as a perennial 40-homer threat, opposing teams will usually do anything they can to avoid pitching to him. Aristotle believed patience to be a virtue.Continue reading on L.A. …

Baseball News from L.A. Times
Boston wins, 3-2, scoring winning run with two outs in ninth inning. Angels eliminated in division series by Red Sox for the third time in five seasons.
BOSTON — Jed Lowrie’s two-out single to right field scored Jason Bay from second with the winning run Monday, sending the Boston Red Sox to a 3-2 victory and the American League Championship Series while sending the Angels home for the winter. Continue reading on L.A. Times

Baseball News from L.A. Times
Second baseman has failed in clutch chances that could have turned the tables against Boston. The Angels appear to be one bat shy of World Series caliber . . . again. Continue reading on L.A. Times

Baseball News from L.A. Times
It could be the Mets, Phillies or Cubs, but East Coast weather could delay the end of regular season. Now that the Dodgers are champions of the National League West, they will open the playoffs Wednesday in …
Continue reading on L.A. Times
The Los Angeles Dodgers completed their rise to the NL West crown earlier this week when the Arizona Diamondbacks were defeated by the St. Louis Cardinals. The division championship comes on the heels of the Manny Ramirez trade in August and the fall …