BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE PLAYOFFS...

***DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR THE TWINS***
Down two with three to play isn't a formula you want to write on your blackboard if you're the Twins, but you can't tell me the Tigers aren't glad to have that 4-game set over with. A little fireworks yesterday with a rookie Twins pitcher getting upset over the Tigers taking 2nd bas on defensive indifference. So he threw behind a Tiger batter. Wrong! 1st of all, it was YOUR manager who called for defensive indifference, and 2nd, you can't blame the other team for taking what you give them. All he did was get one of his own players hit, a Twins player ejected and fines all around. Oh well, he's a rookie; he'll learn.

***COLORADO IS ALSO 2 BACK WITH 3 TO PLAY***
The difference is, the Rockies have clinched a playoff spot. The big question is: should they go all out for the division lead or set up their pitching staff for the playoffs? A no-brainer here: set up your staff. You're already in, you have little chance to win the division, you'll end up playing 2 of the other 3 three teams either way...why is this even a question?

***THE DISAPPOINTMENTS***
There are quite a few, but the main ones:
CLEVELAND INDIANS: the players failed and the manager got fired. Doesn't seem fair.
TAMPA BAY RAYS: As was predicted. Now I read that they have clubhouse problems, too.
CHICAGO CUBS: Anyone seen that goat around? Will Pinella return? Do they want him to?
NY METS: I know, injuries. But before you feel too sad for them, read John Harper:
Still, if you are masochistic enough to have continued watching long after it mattered, you know injuries don't begin to explain why the Mets have been such a joke of late, playing the same mistake-filled, brain-dead baseball that made them underachievers even before all the injuries.
For example:
• There was Jeff Francoeur, one of the few bright spots this season, getting doubled off first base against the Nationals the other night on a broken-bat liner to second - in the eighth inning of a tie game with the bases loaded to kill a rally. Just can't happen.
•There was Luis Castillo, in the bottom of the same inning, making a ridiculous, off-balance throw on a pivot at second when he had absolutely no shot at turning a double play. His wild throw allowed the go-ahead run to score from second.
There was David Wright Saturday in Florida, jogging home from second on Francoeur's two-out single, costing the Mets a run because he didn't cross the plate before Francoeur was tagged out at second trying to stretch his hit. At least Wright recognized his sin and apologized to teammates.
•There was Daniel Murphy a couple of weeks ago, nonchalantly one-handing a ground ball for what would have been the last out of the ninth inning of a tie game against the Braves if it hadn't kicked off the heel of his glove, allowing the tying winning run to score.
•There was Murphy a few days before that in Philadelphia, the Mets trailing by a run, incredibly getting thrown out to end the eighth inning trying to go from second to third on a pitch that bounced a few feet away from Phillies' catcher Carlos Ruiz. What could he have been thinking?
•And this doesn't even account for the stupefying baserunning clinics that Angel Pagan conducts on a semi-regular basis.
Unlike the Cleveland situation, you have to consider that this IS more the managers responsibility.

***A COUPLE OF INTERESTING FACTS***
Jayson Stark wrote about the "Decade's leaders," best in each category from 2000 thru 2009.
Most homeruns: Well you could guess Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols or even David Ortiz and reason that you could be right, but A-Rod is also a good guess and the right one.
Most wins: This is the one that shocked me. You could pick Halladay or Johan Santana or Randy Johnson and be confident, but nope. It's Andy Pettitte. Wow!

***GOT A QUESTION?***
Check out the following link. Buster Olney says he will answer your questions personally to your own mailbox, or forward the question to an appropriate executive, player or agent for a response. Your e-mail address will not be published in his column. I'm assuming that by some strange circumstance, Picasner has not addressed your question.
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/mailbag/_/id/6999

The Yanks better do well in the playoffs. The last time I checked, they lead the majors in every hitting category except team batting average (second by 1 point behind the Angels). Just remember the old baseball axiom: "Good pitching stops good hitting," so they better pitch well, too.