Game Picks - Thursday: October 6, 2011

A squirrel, a Dairy Freese and tattoos all figured into Wednesday's division series games. This picker won one and lost one, but no matter, it was sure fun to watch. A squirrel? The critter that ran across home plate in the fifth inning of the Cardinals - Phillies game has become the new rallying cry of Cardinal Nation. "Win one for the squirrel!" Hey, isn't that Tony LaRussa a genius? An inning after the squirrel, David Freese belted a two-run homer to dead center to give the Cardinals a big enough lead that even their bullpen couldn't squander and sent that series back to Philadelphia for a Game Five. He must be a Dairy Freese, because he creamed that pitch.

The tone of the Diamondbacks - Brewers game was set in the first inning when both pitchers of this improbable match up couldn't put up a clean first inning. Ryan Braun hit a double to plate a run in the top of the first off of an ineffective Joe Saunders and then Ryan Roberts, a guy Diamondbacks fans call, "The Tatman," thanks to his plethora of body art, hit a grand slam off of an equally ineffective Randy Wolf. Kirk Gibson got his starter out of the game quicker than Ron Roenicke did his and that probably proved to be the winning idea. Micah Owings came in and pitched two scoreless innings while his teammates continued to pile up runs and that was the difference (more on Owings in the next post). Chris Young hit two of the D-backs' four homers.

Three of the four division series have gone the distance and you sure can't beat that for drama. The ALDS contest between the Yankees and Tigers will conclude in New York today while the two NLDS games will conclude those battles on Friday. How much fun is this!?

So what's the pick on the ALDS game today?

• The Yankees over the Tigers: This game will probably come down to which starter allows the fewest runs and which closer is standing on the mound in the ninth inning. Ivan Nova has been the Yankees good luck charm all season and the Yankees have figured out Doug Fister before. With the finale being played in New York, the odds are against the Tigers. But that's why they play the game. Let's just say that it will be quite the story if the Tigers can overcome those odds tonight.

Yesterday: 1-1

Week: 7-4

Month: 11-4

Season: 1374-1069