The Angels showed how tough they can be winning a very important game in hostile Yankee Stadium Wednesday. The rare mid week day game had the feel and look of a post season game as the teams were tied 1-1 heading into the 11th inning.

Scott Spiezio who Tuesday rang the bell to start the NY Stock Exchange, and drove back to the hotel Tuesday night in a police van, had more fun when he couldn’t lay down a bunt in the 11th and hit a game winning two run homer off Jeff Weaver instead.

Cory Lidle continued his impersonation of Cy Young in Cleveland, while Ismael Valdes celebrated his birthday winning in his Mariners debut in Detroit.

The Giants don’t want the Mets to leave town and the Dodgers avoided a tough loss in LA.

Today, the teams are back for more.

The Angels bull pen came through big time in the toughest stadium. Brendan Donnelly blew away the Yanks with a devastating slider, Ben Weber was undaunted by the big crowd, and Troy Percival got over his bout with nerves to wiggle out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the eleventh to preserve the victory.

The Angels have nerve, big time nerve, they can play the game and yesterday showed me they will not go away. They get the job done on offense in so many little ways. I like the fact that they are not dependent on the long ball. David Eckstein is a serious MVP candidate waiting to happen, the kid makes everyone play better. I enjoy watching him.

Today, the Texan John Lackey pitches the biggest game of his life. David Wells has not been sharp for the Yankees and the Angels pound lefthanders, this will be one heckuva game to see in the Bronx.

The A’s now have a dilemma with Cory Lidle. If they make it into October, what do you do with the suddenly resurgent Lidle? Last year, he self destructed in game four of the ALDS. Now he is pitching his way back into the postseason rotation. Game four means you can be up or down 2-1 in the five game series. Do the A’s dare give the ball to the righty knowing what he did in 2001?

The difference in Lidle this year is, in this winning streak now covering 31 consecutive scoreless innings, he is using an effective split finger pitch and is locating the ball perfectly on both sides of the plate with some serious movement.

What to do? If Lidle continues to pitch against Anaheim and Seattle like this in September it will be tough to keep him out of the post season party.

For my two cents, I’d put him in the bull pen and go with Hudson, Mulder, and Zito, if the A’s play in October.

Seattle got its first win this month from a fourth or fifth starter when Ismael Valdes celebrated his birthday with a win.

Tonight fifth starter Ryan Franklin goes against Detroit’s top pitcher Mark Redman. The Tiger lefty has struggled his last couple of starts, but if he keeps the ball in the big part of the park he can win tonight. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I just don’t see the Tigers taking three of four from Seattle, no matter how good Redman pitches tonight.

John Olerud gets the night off tonight against the lefty and tomorrow night too against CC Sabathia in Cleveland. Lou realizes he has to give his veterans some rest because this offense is very tired. Ichiro is 24 for his last 96, but won’t come out of the line up, this may cost the Mariners in September when the light weight may wear down even more.

Comerica Park is so big that you really have to play a diversified game to win there. Once the Tigers develop a team to fit this park, it will be very interesting to see how they do. I think they will be big winners, as this stadium will play a lot like the old Yankee Stadium, big deep center and left field, built for lefthanded pitching.

The Mets are so bad that they may come in last in the East. The Giants will get a wake up call when the much improved Expos show up Friday night.

I enjoy talking to Mo Vaughn, but he is absoulutely finished as an impact player. If he can somehow work his way back to Fenway Park he may go out with a few more big hits, his NL days have not been very good. Too bad, he is a very intelligent and smart man, plus I always respect the fact that he wears number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson.

Barry Bonds has more intentional walks than strike outs, and Curt Schilling has more wins than walks given up. Two amazing players.

Carlos Hernandez pitched a nice game last night against the Cubs. Good news for Houston as the Cards and the other wild card contenders keep a very wary eye on the the Astros.

The Dodgers will have a tough customer tonight in Josh Beckett, but I have a feeling Hideo Nomo will come up big for LA in the last month.

I thought the news out of NY yesterday on the labor front was encouraging.

Can they really not settle their differences over 30 million or so?