Around The Majors- Monday

The American League is set, with Boston hosting the Angels and the Yankees visiting Cleveland. The NL had a lot of turmoil on the regular season's final day, including the Mets completing one of the largest collapses in sports history, getting tagged by the Marlins, while the Phillies got their first division title and playoff appearance since their NL Pennant year of 1993. New York was up 7 games with 17 to play, and they just didn't have that sense of urgency save their Saturday win. But in that 13-0 blowout win over Florida, they enraged the Marlins, who had zero reason to put out any kind of effort on the final day. Due to the brawl and melee that ensued the previous day, it gave the Fish a sense of passion and determination, and it seemed like everything was on the line for them. That couldn't be any more opposite then what it was. In Philadelphia, the fans were riled up, and the players had that vigor and enthusiasm, led by Jimmy Rollins. It's not just his numbers are fantastic and worthy of this year's NL MVP, it's his leadership, his day in and day out effort of giving it his all every day (he played all 162), and his courage to stir the pot at the beginning of the season. He proclaimed that the Phils were the team to beat in the NL East, and not only did he back it up, he riled up his team and an entire city starving for a winner.
Another team that badly want to taste October baseball is Colorado, who have reeled off 12 of 13 to force a 1 game playoff with San Diego, who have faltered down the stretch, particularly after the infamous Milton Bradley incident. Not only have the Rockies fed off stellar play from Matt Holliday and stud rookie Troy Tulowitzki, they've gotten good outings from their young starters Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales, and a stable back end of the bullpen with youngster Manny Corpas. This team could be dangerous in the long term, but they have to beat Jake Peavy and the Friars tonight at 7:30 on TBS and ESPN Radio. The Rox send hot starter Josh Fogg.
One game overlooked because of the pennant races was the final game of future Hall of Famer, Long Island native, and all out gamer and lifer Craig Biggio. He was the ultimate team player, constantly changing positions over the years, and always being a franchise cornerstone for the Astros. There are fewer and fewer players like this, and everyone should take a moment to realize what kind of player baseball is losing in Biggio.

In closing, I'll give my Fantasy Top 30 for this year based on the SprungOnSports points system.
1) Peavy
2) A-Rod
3) Rollins
4) Sabathia
5) Webb
6) Prince
7) Hanley
8) Lackey
9) Pujols
10) Harang
11) Magglio
12) Beckett
13) Holliday
14) Jose Reyes
15) Haren
16) Carlos Pena
17) Carmona
18) Penny
19) Ortiz
20) Smoltz
21) David Wright
22) Vazquez
23) Santana
24) Helton
25) Brandon Phillips
26) Halladay
27) Howard
28) Hudson
29) Bedard
30) Verlander