Disclaimer/Confession: I finished writing this about 45 seconds before Pujols hit the homer Sunday. I'm glad I can post it, unedited, now, and with no sense of irony or further fear of jinxing involved.

The Houston Astros, in their 44th season of existence, are headed to the franchise's first World Series. The best man of the World Series dropped to one knee tonight and offered up a promise ring -- one with a (baseball) diamond attached, of course.

Now maybe Toronto fans, spoiled by multiple World Series within their team's first two decades of existence, can't appreciate the magnitude of that statement ...

Before last night, the most memorable homers of this post-season had been hit by Brad Ausmus and Chris Burke. Not your most likely suspects.

Albert Pujols. That's a little more like it.

For just the second time since the Black Sox scandal, the Chicago White Sox are going to the World Series.

Almost two weeks of sitting around and waiting his turn didn't bother Jon Garland very much.

Houston got the win in St. Louis that they needed, and the White Sox are going to need to win a game in Anaheim.

Hey, all you Bauxites who are sure you could do it better than JP, are smarter than that Harvard guy Keith Law, pine for the days of Stand Pat Gillick ...

Look what's posted over at MLB.com:

OK, OK, I'll drag myself away from the Data Table I'm working on...

The Angels win the first one, behind Paul Byrd.

No truth to the rumours that Chuck Finley is starting the second game.

And then there were four...

So does anyone still want to replace Miguel Batista with Kyle Farnsworth?

This is the first of three articles that attempts to discuss -- and rank -- the greatest hits in post-season history. Not the greatest games, per se, but the most important individual hits that were the most pivotal in baseball playoff history.

This installment covers the Division Series, which occurred on a one-time basis in 1981 and has been a permanent part of the baseball landscape from 1995 through the present.

Comments -- and debate -- are most welcome!

There are places I'll remember
All my life
Though some have changed

Well, that was lively.

The National League takes the day off - the action's in the junior circuit. The defending champs try to stave off elimination!

Three more games... and another managerial change. It never stops.