Not that I am taking anything for granted... But when the Cardinals have a 10 1/2 game lead on the first day of September, I think it is fair to at least dream a little bit.





Here are the post season matchups I would most like to see:





The Cardinals and Yankees fought epic World Series battles in the 1920s, 40s but haven't faced off in the Fall Classic in 45 years. It's about time for a new chapter in this book.





The Cardinals and Red Sox. Personally, I don't care to see Boston come to town again. But I would like to see the Cardinals get another crack and the BoSox without the benefit of a juiced up Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.





The Cardinals and White Sox. Chicago's playoff hopes have faded quite a bit over the last couple of weeks. But if the Pale Hose could rally and make it back to the series it would be the ultimate Cubs fan nightmare. Not only did North Siders have to watch the White Sox win the big prize in 2005 and the Cardinals take it in 2006. Imagine in their two most hated rivals actually played each other for the World Series trophy. I'd say they wouldn't know who to root for. But, of course, we all know that this is the type of year when many Chicagoans trade in their blue caps for their black ones.





A couple of things I don't want to see:





The Cardinals and the Twins. Who wants a reminder of one of the most frustrating World Series ever when the 1987 Cardinals minus the injured Jack Clark and Terry Pendleton were beaten in seven games? Maybe next year when that godforsaken dome the Twinkees call a baseball park is put to pasture. The only thing worse than astroturf, by the way, is the astroturf at the Metrodome with it's fake mowing marks... in circles.





I have had several people tell me that they want to see the Cubs get their act together and win the wild card so they could face the Cardinals in the NLCS. A Cubs and Cardinals playoff series holds all of the interest for me that people with Chevy Corvettes or Dodge Vipers have in racing dudes in Honda Accords with coffee cans for mufflers. If they win, they were expected to win. But, if they somehow miss a shift or something, they'd never hear the end of it.