So far the 2004 playoffs have been less than spectacular.

When you have an overmatched Dodger team and an underachieving Angels team leading the way, it’s tough to get excited.

The Red Sox have the bats cooking. If Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez continue to throw the way they did in their opening starts, perhaps Boston fans will have something to cheer about.

The Yankees and the Twins have each other, a bumbling matchup with the Yanks doing everything in their power to give the series to Minnesota.

One word of advice to the Twins: Don’t let NY up, just when you think you have them, they are back in the game and beat you.

What was up with Roger Clemens in his first start? Houston better hope The Rocket was still suffering from the effects of the flu because walking six will not get it done for Houston as the series moves forward.

Barry Zito should take a look at how Clemens handled his pregame illness last Sunday.

Clemens, the scheduled starting pitcher, was hooked up to an IV, trying to regain fluids lost as a result of the stomach flu which struck the righty just hours before game time. He told his manager that he would start the game and go as long as he could.

Contrast Zito who left his team’s biggest game of the year after seven sparkling innings when his legs started to feel “funny.”

You know what happened next for the A’s.

Houston’s manager Phil Garner and Minnesota’s skipper Ron Gardenhire must think they have Goose Gossage and Rollie Fingers, the all time masters of the three inning save, in their pens.

In today’s game, the closer is trained to throw one, maybe two innings max. Why in the world would Garner and Gardenhire try to get fifty pitches and three innings from their closers when they haven’t done it once that way all season?

Atlanta closer John Smoltz gave Bobby Cox three innings in game two against Houston because Smoltz is one of the best pitchers in the game, a hall of famer in my book.

Anyone (even Grady Little would) watching Joe Nathan’s struggles in the 12th inning Wednesday night had to realize that the Twins closer had lost it after he threw 8 straight pitches out of the strike zone.

The Cardinals hit for power and field the baseball. As long as Tony La Russa can find his way to the mound, they should make it to the world series.

La Russa brought in a lefty to get the last out in game two even though he had a 8-3 lead and the game salted away. Talk about over managing. You’ll see a lot of La Russa over the next two weeks because the Cards starters go six innings at best.

After watching the games this week, if Boston and St. Louis don’t get to the series there should be an investigation by Bud Selig’s detectives.

Just a thought: LA Times beat writer Jason Reid has been covering the Dodgers all season. He knows Milton Bradley has a problem with discussing the bottle throwing incident. Why continue to ask him about it two weeks after its conclusion? Maybe Reid should be more considerate of Bradley’s feelings? Move on Jason, Milton’s reactions to the fans reactions are old news.

Texas is dead serious about trading their high priced defensively challenged second baseman Alfonso Soriano this winter. Once Soriano is gone, the money can be used to find a free agent pitcher, preferably Carl Pavano.

Even though the A’s will lose Jermaine Dye this winter, his departed salary has already been applied to raises for Eric Chavez and Erubiel Durazo. Not a pleasant thought for those of you who figured the money could be used to sign a free agent outfielder.

Jermaine Dye in right field at SBC? Dye still suffers from the effects of his broken leg. The Giants next rightfielder needs to cover triples alley in right center, I’m not sure Dye can do that.

First step in rebuilding the A’s bull pen: Colorado’s Tim Harikkala. OK, what does the A’s front office know that the other 29 teams in baseball doesn’t?

The Phillies are looking at Charlie Manuel, Grady Little and Don Baylor as possible successors to deposed manager Larry Bowa. Manuel, who formerly manged the Indians, spent last season advising the Phils front office on personnel moves. I say he gets the job.