The baseball season is unique in that it is split into two distinct seasons.

First, the 162 game schedule balances out the vagaries of slumps, winning streaks, and other variables that are lost over the course of six months.

The second season is a cut throat tournament. One injury, one win, one two game losing streak and a team is on the brink of elimination.

During the regular season these items go unnoticed on the march to October.

Five games proves very little in matching up the strengths of two teams, seven games gives a better idea of the worth of the combatants.

Some teams play better in the tournament because of match ups, speed, power, mangerial acumen, or player experience.

With that in mind let’s look at the tournament.

The Twins have been beating righthanders at home with regularity all season long. I have written about it many times. They won a very big game against Tim Hudson in the Dome last Saturday.

Last night they beat Kevin Appier, who pitched a credible game, good enough to win. The Angels didn’t hit at all against Joe Mays.

The Angels have not been as prolific scoring runs against righthanders.

The matchup of starters in this series favors the Twins, especially at home. If the rotations hold their planned course, Minnesota will see a lefty at home only in game seven of this series.

Jarrod Washburn better hope his mates are still playing next Wednesday when game seven is scheduled with him as the pitcher.

Washburn’s start in game three is huge because he is Anaheim’s only lefthanded starting pitcher.

Game two is a big game in any series. Anaheim throws Ramon Ortiz, another righty. Ortiz gives up homers like crazy.

Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire brought in Eddie Guardado to close last night when Joe Mays begged off pitching the ninth inning.

The Angels hit lefties very well, Guardado didn’t look good against Oakland on Sunday, last night Guardado was terrific.

Who can figure?

Tonight is pivotal for Anaheim. To go down 2-0 in games, knowing all you have is Washburn to combat the Minnesota lefthanded bats, would put Anaheim in a deep hole.

The Angels should outhit Minnesota no matter who pitches, if they don’t swing the bats the way they did against New York, it won’t matter who they have to pitch against the Twins.

The Giants have Kirk Reuter on the hill tonight. Reuter, a lefty, has pitched extremely well against St. Louis before. He is from the area and always has the team over to “The Shed” his 4500 square foot play room whenever the Giants come to the Midwest.

St. Louis is more vulnerable to lefthanders without Scott Rolen in the line up.

Barry Bonds will not be the story of the series. The Cardinal pitchers will be the difference.

Here’s why.

To beat the Giants, a pitcher must work with precision when pitching around Bonds and avoiding his bat. The pitcher must have pin point control when dealing with Jeff Kent, Reggie Sanders, Benito Santiago, Kenny Lofton, and Rich Aurilia. If he loses these batters consistently in big situations it won’t matter what Bonds does, the Cards will lose the game.

The Cards throw Matt Morris, Woody Williams, Chuck Finley, and Andy Benes, all veteran pitchers.

Morris is the only power guy in the group. The Cardinal staff will be tested often, just as every staff has been when trying to figure out how NOT to let Bonds beat you.

The rub is when working around Bonds, someone else gets the hit that wins the game.

Can St. Louis beat the Giants? Yes, but believe me it won’t be easy.

The Giants have better pitching and in a seven game series pitching will tend to have a bigger role in balancing the breaks that effect a five game series.

How about this.

The Athletics ownership continues to amaze me. Why blame the fans for the frustration of not winning the five game series against the Twins?

Why throw a tantrum at your GM, manager, and coaches when they feel as badly as anyone involved in the organization with the loss.

The owners have asked all the people involved with the team from the players, coaches, managers, broadcasters and everyone else, to work for less than market value. These people took a team and won 103 games in 2002, 295 in three years, and the owner rips them.

Over two million people showed up for the season. Give the fans credit. Not blame them for the team not hitting and losing game five.

Congratulate the staff, not demean them the next morning and make them defend themselves from mindless criticism.

By the way, an MVP, first deck seat cost $26.00 in 2000, last week the same seat cost $50.00.

Small minded owners who never, never say thanks fans for coming out, it was a great year.

Let’s build a park together.

What they should have said is:

Thanks Billy, Art, and Rick and everyone else for the tireless hours you put in giving the Bay Area and the country six great months of baseball.

The analysis on how to improve the product can come later.

What ingrates.