About the best thing that a competitor can ask for is the opportunity to be in the middle of things. Give a big leaguer the chance to have an impact on a playoff game, and he’ll gladly take it.

The whole point of the Cardinals’ deep lineup, stacked with dangerous hitters from top to bottom, is that you can’t rely on shutting down just one star. Keep Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday quiet and you have to face Allen Craig. Get Craig out, and Yadier Molina and David Freese are waiting.

No matter how rough the season was for the Miami Marlins, Jose Reyes remained a constant with his effort and energy.

Jim Rantz, who has been with the Twins since the organization’s arrival from Washington in 1961, announced Monday he will retire at the end of the year from his post as senior director of Minor League operations.

Some of the most intriguing questions facing the Mariners heading into next season revolve around the catching position. Including if Jesus Montero is ready to increase his role behind the plate or if he is destined to remain more of a designated hitter or even play some first base.

Playing at home in the bizarre world that is the 2012 postseason simply hasn’t been as cozy as it should be.

The NLCS continues at 8 p.m. ET Monday on FOX at AT&T Park, where Chris Carpenter will oppose Ryan Vogelsong and the Cardinals will try to take a supposedly commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven set.

What the Cards do, when they are at their best, is squeeze opposing pitchers into submission. They patiently wait for their pitch, they smack the ball the other way, they mash mistakes, they watch that pitch count tally rise until the bullpen phone rings.

To give his team legitimate hope in the American League Championship Series, all Yankees right-hander Phil Hughes has to do in Tuesday night’s Game 3 is outpitch the great Justin Verlander.

David Wright, who is in the beginning stages of a long-term contract negotiation, wants to win. So the Mets must prove they are set up for victory over the lifetime of their third baseman’s next contract.

Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta has quietly put his own stamp on the ALCS as Detroit has taken a 2-0 advantage over the Yankees.

The danger here is not only the New York Yankees losing the American League Championship Series. There is also the potential for the Yankees’ pitchers to sustain hernias from carrying this entire operation all by themselves.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi will attend the funeral services of his father, Jerry, in Tampico, Ill., on Monday — an off-day after Games 1 and 2 of the ALCS were played at Yankee Stadium over the weekend.

Stung by jeers he heard from the home crowd during the Yankees’ Game 1 loss to the Tigers, Nick Swisher acknowledged that he offered just a lackluster wave when he heard his name chanted.

A jogging Joe Buck made his way into AT&T Park around 10 minutes before the start of the National League Championship Series opener, ready to take on the second part of his unusual Sunday doubleheader.

Their clubhouse was quiet, their tone low key. Still, the Tigers appear to be in control of the ALCS after beating the Yankees on Sunday for the second time in less than 24 hours.

The Tigers will turn to ace Justin Verlander on Tuesday night in Detroit as they go after a 3-0 lead over the Yankees in the American League Championship Series.