The teams for the 2011 American League Division Series are set as the New York Yankees (AL East Champs), Detroit Tigers (AL Central Champs), Texas Rangers (AL West Champs) and Tampa Bay Rays (AL Wild Card) have all qualified for the 2011 MLB postseason.

The Yankees finished with the best record in the American League and will have home field advantage all the way through the ALCS. The National League holds home field advantage in the World Series by virtue of their win in the 2011 MLB All-Star Game at Chase Field In Phoenix, AZ back in July.

The matchups are set as well as the Yankees take on the Tigers while the Rangers will take on the Rays.

Here is the schedule for each matchup (will be updated as warranted):

Friday, September 30th: Game 1 - Rays @ Rangers, 5:07 p.m.
TV: TBS
Announcers: Don Orsillo (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst), Jaime Maggio (reporter)

Saturday, October 1st: Game 2 - Rays @ Rangers, 7:07 p.m.
TV: TNT
Announcers: Don Orsillo (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst), Jaime Maggio (reporter)

Monday, October 3rd: Game 3 - Rangers @ Rays, 5:07 p.m.
TV: TBS
Announcers: Don Orsillo (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst), Jaime Maggio (reporter)

Tuesday, October 4th: Game 4 - Rangers @ Rays, 2:07 p.m..
TV: TBS
Announcers: Don Orsillo (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst), Jaime Maggio (reporter)

*Thursday, October 6th: Game 5 - Rangers @ Rays, 5:07 p.m
TV: TBS
Announcers: Don Orsillo (play-by-play), Buck Martinez (analyst), Jaime Maggio (reporter)

Click the read more button below to see the schedule for the Yankees and Tigers if you're on the home page.

In the second spot promoting the MLB Postseason, actor Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses, Juno, and Arrested Development) explains conquering the fear of being in tight spaces including in an elevator. Bateman explains how the feeling of the walls closing in while riding a cramped elevator is similar to those of battling for the No. 1 spot in the Postseason.

“In October, the walls always close in, but you just have to stay calm.” – Jason Bateman

Beginning on September 30, TBS will begin televising the 2011 MLB Postseason for the fifth consecutive year.  The network will provide exclusive coverage of all four MLB League Division Series (ALDS & NLDS) and the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

MLB on TBS Postseason Image Campaign feat. Jason Bateman "Tight Spaces" from Turner Sports on Vimeo.

Here's the first spot in case you missed it: Video: Jason Bateman Gives Tips on Dating and Baseball

Actor Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses, Juno, Arrested Development) explains the art of making a big move. In this case, that applies not only to dating but to the MLB Postseason on TBS. Beginning on September 30, TBS will begin televising the 2011 MLB Postseason for the fifth consecutive year.  The network will provide exclusive coverage of all four MLB League Division Series (ALDS & NLDS) and the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

MLB Postseason on tbs Image Campaign- Jason Bateman “Kakorrhaphiophobia” from Turner Sports on Vimeo.

After breaking a decade long drought with a win last year, the National League looks to make it two in a row over the American League in the 2011 MLB All-Star Game at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ tonight.

Television coverage kicks off at 8:00 p.m. and you can watch the game nationally on FOX.  And if you can't catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on any one of the ESPN Radio affiliates.

Jered Weaver, an All-Star for the second year in a row, will make his first start and appearance in the 2011 MLB All-Star Game. Weaver currently leads the AL in ERA at 1.86 and is 11-4 in 19 starts this year for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Roy Halladay, an eight-time All-Star, will be making his sixth appearance and second start in an All-Star Game. He last started for the American League in 2009. In his five All-Star appearances, Halladay has an 8.64 ERA in 6.2 innings of work. In 19 starts for the Philadelphia Phillies this season, Halladay is 11-4 with a 2.45 ERA.

Click on the read more button below to see tonight's lineups and links from the day if you're on the home page.

Here's the raw footage of a brawl between the Spokane Indians (Texas Rangers) and the Vancouver Canadians (Toronto Blue Jays) of the Northwest League. What's odd to me about this is the fact that it didn't involve a player being hit with a pitch.

While we may not like New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter too much up here in Red Sox Nation, you have to respect the way he plays the game. He goes out there and gives it his all and has never done anything to embarrass the Yankees organization.

He also became the first member of 3000 hit club to pick up his 3000th hit in a Yankees uniform on Saturday afternoon in front of the home crowd and Yankee Stadium. And he did it on a home run nonetheless.

So we offer our congratulations to Jeter on becoming the 28th MLB player to reach 3,000 hits.

Here's the link to the video of Jeter's 3000th hit. And if you're looking to buy DJ3K apparel, I've got you covered.

Photo credit: Getty Images

* injured or will not participate in game

Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees will not play in the game. He's been replaced on the AL roster by Jordan Walden of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees will not play in the game. He's been replaced on the AL roster by Jhonny Peralta of the Cleveland Indians.

Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees will not play in the game. He's been by Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox.

David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays is injured and will not play in the game. He's been replaced by David Robertson of the New York Yankees.

Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners pitched on Sunday and is unable to participate in the game. He was replaced on the AL roster by Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox. Since Lester is on the DL, he was replaced by Ricky Romero of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers pitched on Sunday and is unable to participate in the game. He was replaced on the AL roster by Michael Pineda of the Seattle Mariners.

James Shields of the Tampa Bay Rays pitched on Sunday and is unable to participate in the game. He was replaced on the AL roster by CC Sabathia. Since Sabathia pitched on Sunday as well, he is unable to participate in the game. He was replaced on the AL roster by Alexi Ogando.

Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies is on the disabled list and will be unable to play in the game. He's been replaced on the NL roster by Andre Either of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves is on the disabled list and will be unable to play in the game. He's been replaced on the NL roster by Scott Rolen of the Cincinnati Reds.

Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers will not play in the game. He's been replaced on the NL roster by Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched on Sunday and will be unable to play in the game. He's been replaced on the NL roster by Kevin Correia of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants pitched on Sunday and will be unable to play in the game. He's been replaced on the NL roster by Craig Kimbrel of the Atlanta Braves.

Jose Reyes of the New York Mets is on the DL and unable to participate in the game. He's been replaced by Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants.

Placido Polanco of the Philadelphia Phillies is hurt and unable to play in the game. He's been replaced by Miguel Montero of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Click on the read more button below if you're on the home page to see the 2011 MLB All-Star Game final vote candidates.

If Major League Baseball were to realign into the proposed two leagues of 15 teams each which National League team would move to the American League?

To quote William Tasker, writer of the Flagrant Fan blog, “the idea that the (Houston) Astros are the only logical team to jump to the AL is ridiculous. This whole thing is starting to annoy me.”

And he is right.  Why is Houston being seemingly railroaded into the American League? People say it’s because they’d have a rivalry with the Texas Rangers.  Well based on that logic there’s plenty of teams that would have rivalries based on geography if they changed leagues.

Some that come to mind are: Florida and Tampa Bay; San Francisco and Oakland; Kansas City and St. Louis; Washington and Baltimore; Pittsburgh and Cleveland; Cincinnati and Cleveland; not to mention the cities of Los Angeles, Chicago and New York who share two teams each.

Houston is also currently on the market as owner Drayton McClain tries to sell off the team.  Would it be fair to a future owner to have the outgoing owner decide the long-term fate of the franchise he no longer wants to control?

So it got me to thinking after Tasker said “wouldn’t if be fairer to have one of the newer teams switch like Arizona?”  Yes it would.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

In the last few days the fires of realignment in Major League Baseball have been stoked and the flames have been fanned and it seems that the players would really like this to happen.

While we are hearing that the players and the Major League Baseball Players Association are on board with the potential realignment it appears some of the owners maybe lukewarm to the proposition.

The players and the union like it because the proposal of two 15-team leagues with no divisions would produce a more balanced schedule making it easier for some teams to qualify for the post season.  By easier I mean that teams like Baltimore, Toronto and Tampa Bay along with Florida and the New York Mets would have to play less face to face games with the New York Yankees, Boston, Philadelphia and Atlanta.

One of the reasons championing the move to realignment is the imbalance of two divisions.  The American League West has only four teams while the National League Central has six.  The National league currently has 16 total team to the American Leagues 14.

The proposal of two leagues of 15 teams would do a few things.  First a National League team would have to be relocated to the American League.  Rumors are that the Houston Astros would be likely to move.  This is kind of up in the air as Drayton McClain has put the club up for sale.  To me it would be highly unfair for McClain to make the decision to move or not before a buyer is found which at this point could possibly make a Houston move a no go.

The second thing that would happen, and if I had a vote my biggest objection, would be year round interleague play.  With this move there would be no way around it as all teams need to play 162 games in roughly a 180-day window. I despise interleague play.

The new plan would also call for a fifth team from each league to make the playoffs in an expanded post season scenario tied to realignment.  So in the new format you would have the top five teams in each league going into the post season.  The four and five seed from each league would play each other in either a play in game or a short series (best of three).  The winner of the play in/short series would play the top seed from the league, while the two and three seeds would face each other in a five game series.  The winners would then go the League Championship Series (best of seven) and the league champions would face each other in the best of seven World Series.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you're on the homepage.

I’m here to call out ESPN writer Buster Olney as a baseball pink hat.  Let me say I have a lot of respect for Olney as a writer and for his unmitigated love of baseball but this stance he has taken on runner/catcher collisions is beyond outrageous.

In case you missed it, on Wednesday night San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey was run into by Florida Marlins base runner Scott Cousins while blocking home plate and suffered a broken ankle in the collision.

Then this morning I see Olney on Twitter railing against these collisions and how we need rules to protect the catcher.  What?

Here are Olney’s Tweets:

@Buster_ESPN: Re Posey: In the big-picture question of risk/reward, the play of blocking home plate, to save one run, is just not worth it.  Not even close.

@Buster_ESPN: MLB and the Players Association should step in and ban the play of the catcher blocking home.  It’s just not worth it, for anyone involved.

He even goes on to state that the reason is money related:

@Buster_ESPN: The reason for change: $. Posey is a cornerstone investment for SF  -- and all of that risk for one run? Makes no sense.

@Buster_ESPN: Just filed a news story: Agent for Buster Posey will call MLB and raise idea of rule changes regarding collisions between runners/fielders.

This is what’s wrong with the NFL.  In that sport they’ve put the quarterback’s in a bubble wrap pocket and they protect them.  Baseball needs to learn from the NFL’s mistake and not legislate these types of plays.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you're on the home page.