Seemingly more reliable is former closer Ryan Dempster, who's tougher to defeat at Wrigley Field than Mike Ditka on the mike in the middle of the seventh. The best stuff among the starters (maybe in the entire league) is offered by Rich Harden, another Oakland A's refugee who — contrary to widespread expectation — has not yet required right-arm amputation. Ted Lilly, the Cub interpretation of a crafty lefty, has 17 victories and an ERA that suggests great run support.

Many of the Cubs' bit players are having career years and the big-ticket hitters have been good enough to make the lineup dangerous. Piniella also has a deep bench that has everything except a guy named Murphy (the Cubs did have a guy named Murton, but he was a goner in the Harden deal).

Our next stop is Los Angeles, which — thanks to the miracle of marketing — has become a suburb of Anaheim. Anaheim is where you'll find the gee-aren't-we-smart-guys' pick to win the World Series.

By the time baseball sharpies realized Erik Bedard would not pitch the Seattle Mariners into the World Series, the Angels already had locked up the AL West. Unfortunately, their offense was a bit too much like free cold pizza — good enough, but not great.

Enter the expiring contract of Mark Teixeira, who turns into the spawn of Godzilla with runners on base. Much like Dr. Phil, Tony Robbins and soft lighting, Teixeira makes everyone around him better.

The Angels' starting rotation lacks a superhero, but closer Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez holds the single-season record for most saves in one, drop-to-your-knees season. It must be admitted that the team from Los Angeles of Anaheim might be completely likeable if Rodriguez could avoid celebrating each final out like someone who's won the showcase on The Price is Right.

But K-Rod is no match for Manny Ramirez in the art of violating unwritten (we presume) baseball protocol.

Manny, who probably wouldn't have run out a fire alarm during his last days in Boston, still has enough new-karma smell to keep the Dodger clubhouse (and lineup) viable.

However, in taking on the Cubs, Ramirez must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with several position players and pitchers who offer little (if any) postseason experience. The Dodgers, who've done nothing in October in 20 years, did welcome back shortstop Rafael Furcal, who just returned after months in injury exile, and second baseman Jeff Kent, who's back just in time for the Mr. Popularity write-in vote.

What Torre does vis-a-vis his kids and that sprinkling of veterans should be interesting enough to keep us up on playoff nights.

Even though Torre's snub by Hank Steinbrenner has its residents a bit irritable, these clashes involving Chicago, Los Angeles and Los Angeles of Anaheim may not be enough to make it (interesting) in New York.

All of this means Joba Chamberlain may have to face this year's insect blitz without the benefit of a national TV audience.