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• Vote on ALCS: Which Angels hitter is most dangerous in the clutch?
• Postseason Quiz: Do you know how to run the bases better than the pros?

Remember back when CC Sabathia was a postseason question mark, and Alex Rodriguez was the postseason answer you knew you didn't want? In other words, remember last week? Now people can't get enough of the Yankees' latest primetime playoff performers.

Sabathia had allowed 22 earned runs and 22 walks in his first 25 postseason innings. But after a strong outing against the Twins in the division series, he now edges out Philadelphia's Cliff Lee as SportsNation's first choice to start a must-win game.

• 57 percent of SN, including 71 percent in NY, say pitch Sabathia on short rest in ALCS

And after driving in 17 runs in his first 39 postseason games, A-Rod drove in six in three games against the Twins. But with the game on the line in the ninth inning, would you rather have Rodriguez at the plate than Derek Jeter?

• MLB Awards: Pick your winners for AL/ NL Cy Young and AL/NL MVP.

Tim Lincecum's gem against the Rockies Monday night may yet make a race out of the NL wild card, the lone prospect for any sort of September drama in the standings. But if the Giants ace eventually captures his second consecutive Cy Young, Monday's line -- 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 11 K -- may go down as the clincher.

Lincecum has been out in front of the SportsNation voting most of the season. He dominated the midseason Cy Young rankings and had a 46-percent lead on his closest competition, Chris Carpenter, as recently as two weeks ago. But between Lincecum's bad back and Carpenter's amazing second half, the gap had closed to 20 percent last week.

• Your Power Rankings: How many of the top five teams are in the American League?
• Chats: Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, 11 a.m. ET | SweetSpot blogger Rob Neyer, 12 p.m. ET

• Vote: Is Joe Mauer part of baseball's best one-two punch at the plate?

We're going to start the day talking about a Minnesota sports star. Wait! Give us a chance; it's not about that guy. We all need a break from he who shall not be named.

But Joe Mauer, who is not from Mississippi, and as far as we know, hasn't been videotaped throwing footballs to high schoolers since he was himself a prized gridiron recruit bound for Florida State, is quietly having a heck of a season. Quietly, because he plays for the Twins, who are still mathematically in the AL Central race but are also several games under .500 and thus earning less attention than either Ricky Rubio or that quarterback fellow.

Mauer hit two home runs yesterday, pushing his season line to the following: .383 batting average, 1.011 OPS, 25 HR, 77 RBIs. That's especially noteworthy because only three guys -- Rod Carew, George Brett and Tony Gwynn -- have hit better than .380 for a season since Ted Williams last hit .400, and none of them hit as many as 25 home runs doing it.

Sounds like an MVP, right? Well, the catch is the team with the best record in baseball also has a guy, Mark Teixeira, putting together a heck of a season (.283 BA, 30 HR, 86 RBIs). So as we head toward September, what's the call, SportsNation?

• Mauer was SportsNation's pick for batting champ at the All-Star break.
• But voters split when it came to .400 for Mauer or 62 home runs for Pujols.
• Wednesday chat: Steve Phillips answers your questions at 1 p.m. ET.

As befitting a profession in which one must hurl a ball at ludicrous speeds toward gentlemen who could potentially send it hurtling back at even more ludicrous speeds, pitchers in major league baseball can be a bit emotional.

Witness Roger Clemens throwing a bat at Mike Piazza, or Carlos Zambrano destroying a water cooler, or Francisco Rodriguez pointing to the sky after a big strikeout. Or, if you want a more recent example, consider that of Matt "Big Game" Garza.

Garza has seen Evan Longoria's tower buzzed before, so when Joba Chamberlain threw at the talented third baseman, Garza felt he had to respond. Down went Mark Teixeira in the next inning, and both benches were warned. Significantly, Garza admitted to throwing at Teixeira on purpose, which is either refreshing or dumb, depending on your temperament and affiliation.

Beanball wars aren't a new thing in baseball, but they're usually couched in some semblance of denial ("My hand slipped"/"It just got away from me"/"I was distracted by a wave of ennui"). Garza's straightforwardness may be bold or dumb, but one thing is for certain: it'll cost him some spending money.

• The Yankees may have tied the beanball war, but they won the game, and SportsNation thinks they're the best team in baseball.
• User ninerfreak800 thinks the Rays are falling behind in the AL East and need a big bat.
• Groups: Rays Fan | 09 NEW YORK YANKEES | Fans of the Tampa Bay Rays

• Would Babe Ruth wear down in the Home Run Derby? Rank the all-time field.

We're sure the distinct lack of an American League lineup for the Home Run Derby has nothing to do with stars making like DeMarcus Ware on the sideline when asked to participate.

Sure, Josh Hamilton, Justin Morneau and Mark Teixeira already said they were out, and sure, the NL lineup was announced days ago. Yes, even Curtis Granderson has suggested it's not really his bag. But the delay is entirely coincidental; it's not as if the powers that be have been reduced to bribing Tim Wakefield to take some hacks. Right?

But if this year's Home Run Derby has all the makings of a dud (unless they wise up and make Ichiro do it), that won't stop us from wasting a few minutes on a Friday. How would things unfold if you put 10 of the greatest home run hitters (natural or otherwise) on the field for a power-hitting contest?

• Can the Derby mess up a player's swing? Apparently, it depends where you live.
• Josh Hamilton would have won with SportsNation's preferred Derby format.
• More than 70 percent prefer the Home Run Derby to the All-Star Game.
• Stunner: Albert Pujols heavy favorite to carry the NL flag.

At the end of the "SportsNation" TV show on Monday, Colin Cowherd told co-host Michelle Beadle the debut took so much energy he didn't know if he could do it again.

Guess who's back?

Check out the big stories of the day, cast your votes and watch on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET!.

If you had $900 million to spend, would you buy the Cubs?
The family of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts reportedly has a deal to buy the team and Wrigley from the Tribune Co. for $900 million.

Where will LeBron James play after 2009-10?
LeBron told Trevor Ariza he'd be in Cleveland after next season. Or he didn't. NBA free agency is a game of intrigue and rumors.

Awesome or weird?
What do you think of Ron Artest reportedly going to find Kobe Bryant in the shower to tell him he could help the Lakers?

Should the 76ers try to sign Allen Iverson?
A.I. averaged more than 30 points a game in four of his 10 full seasons in Philadelphia. His average has dropped, but he can still score.

Would you partake in the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona?
Thousands of people risk goring and trampling each year in Spain. Are you interested in a road trip?

And our final question ....
Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis carry a built-in rivalry to the lineup card that will be filled out by Joe Maddon, manager of the third AL East team of note.

What is "SportsNation" TV and how do you make your voice heard on the broadcast? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.