The San Francisco Giants have taken the field 6 times during this postseason facing an elimination game, and six times the Giants have beaten the odds and avoided being sent home.  Last night, they pummeled the St. Louis Cardinals 9-0, behind a sterling performance by Matt Cain and four San Francisco relievers and thus advance to the World Series to take on the Detroit Tigers.  Cain becomes the second pitcher in postseason history to win two winner-take-all games in the same year, joining Chris Carpenter, who did it last year for the Cardinals.  San Francisco outscored the Cardinals 20-1 in the last three games of the series.  Marco Scutaro, who came to the Giants in a trade on July 27th from Colorado, was named the MVP of the NLCS.  Scutaro, who turns 37 years old on October 30th, batted .500, with 14 hits in 28 at-bats during the series.  

The World Series begins tomorrow in San Francisco.  The Giants have not announced who will be their starter, but it could be Barry Zito, whose storybook comeback this year surprised everyone.  The Tigers are well-rested since sweeping their series with the Yankees, and will have their ace, Justin Verlander, on the mound for game one.   

If I had to pick a winner in advance, I would go with the Tigers, even though the Giants will be enjoying home-field advantage.  Their lineup is scary and their starting rotation of Verlander, Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez, and Doug Fister should be enough to beat the Giants.  My only question mark with the Tigers is their closer, Jose Valverde, who has struggled mightily this post season.  Detroit manager Jim Leyland will not hesitate in hiding him in the pen and keeping him out of critical situations.  I’ll go with Detroit in five games.

TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Marco Scutaro tied a postseason record with 14 hits in a series.  Who are the other three players to get 14 hits in a series?  Tell you later, alligator. 

In last night’s Monday Night Football extravaganza,

Chicago Bears 13 Detroit Lions 7 Chi -6.5

Ex-Dolphin Brandon Marshall had six catches for 81 yards and a TD.

In my weekly picks against the spread this past weekend, I was 5-0, after the Detroit Lions scored a TD in the fourth quarter against the Bears to cover the 6.5 point spread.  I picked the Lions +6.5, the Packers -5 vs St.L, the Saints -1 vs Tampa, the Jets +10 vs NE, and the Steelers -1 vs Cincinnati.   

In college football, FIU hosts Western Kentucky this saturday at 6:00 pm.  Good time to turn it around against a very good Hilltopper team.  I invite you to catch the game broadcast (in English) on your smartphone or on the computer at www.fiusports.com.  I will be handling the play-by-play, and Pete Pelegrin will be handling the color analysis.

The University of Miami Hurricanes  are off until Thursday, November 1st, when the Hokies of Virginia Tech visit the Seven-Names Stadium.  Believe me when I tell you that PLENTY of good seats are still available, and you can watch the game on ESPN.  In the latest BCS ratings, Alabama is #1, followed by Florida at #2, Kansas State #3, Oregon is fourth, and Notre Dame is fifth.  LSU, Oregon State, Oklahoma, USC, and Georgia round out the top ten.  Florida State is #12.  Four out of the top ten teams are from the SEC.  

The NBA’s painful exhibition season is rapidly coming to a close.  The Miami Heat are in Charlotte to take on the Bobcats tonight, and will return home to face the Washington Wizards tomorrow, and the New Orleans Hornets on Friday.  The team opens the regular season on Tuesday, October 30th, against the Boston Celtics.  

THE ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:  Marco Scutaro tied a postseason record with 14 hits in a series.  Who are the other three players to get 14 hits in a series?  In 2004, Albert Pujols did it with the Cardinals, and Hideki Matsui also did it with the Yankees.  In 2007, Kevin Youkilis of the Red Sox joined the list.       

Don’t miss my two “Descarga Deportiva” segments (for the Spanish-challenged, “Sports Jam Session”) every day, Monday through Friday, at 9:25 am and 12:15 pm on Radio Esperanza, 1550 AM or on the internet on www.miradioesperanza.com.  

Behave yourselves, and always remember that tomorrow will bring us a brand new day.