Harper: Ace should hear pitch from Mets  —  ANAHEIM - He has had a big-game reputation since he won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series as a 24-year-old rookie, yet John Lackey hadn't won a postseason start since that magical night.  And last October he had raised eyebrows in his own clubhouse …

Ninth-inning nightmare  —  October 8, 2009 — Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday is unable to catch a fly ball off the bat of Los Angeles' James Loney for an error in the ninth inning (Chris Lee/P-D)  —  LOS ANGELES — What couldn't happen did happen to the Cardinals Thursday afternoon.

Phillies name Pedro Game 3 starter  —  Veteran of Red Sox-Yankees battles goes in pivotal game  —  Pedro Martinez, Boston's warhorse in four postseasons from 1998-2004, was named by Phillies manager Charlie Manuel on Friday to be the starter in Saturday's Game 3 of the National League Division Series in Colorado.

Gaudin would start in ALCS instead of Chamberlain  —  Should the Yankees advance to the ALCS, they are leaning heavily toward using Chad Gaudin rather than Joba Chamberlain as the Game 4 starter, The Post has learned.  —  The Yankees would not finalize plans unless they beat Minnesota.

A.J. Burnett gets advice from Andy Pettitte as he prepares for first playoff start … RELATED CONTENT  —  Video: Yankees beat writer Marc Carig and columnist Steve Politi preview ALDS Game 2  —  Politi: Matsui keeps getting big hits, but are his days in Pinstripes numbered?

Brace Yourself: C.B. Bucknor the Home Plate Umpire for Game 2 of ALDS  —  After a genuinely unbelievable showing in Game 1 of the ALDS, C.B. Bucknor will be moving behind the plate for Game 2.  —  That's a move that should frighten not just Red Sox fans, not just Angels fans, but any fan of baseball.

Pop Quiz  —  Over the years, many Baseball Prospectus staffers have been hired away by major-league teams, which is a source of pride for us.  We've gained a reputation as being a source of bright, dedicated people whose approach to baseball can be of considerable value to front offices …

Babe Ruth Like You've Never Seen Him Before  —  SECAUCUS, N.J. — Babe Ruth has struck out looking.  Displeased, he leans on his bat, right hand on his hip, and looks back at the umpire.  He utters something that can only be imagined.  Lou Gehrig, on deck, leans on his bat, too, as if he has seen this act before.

Chip Caray Is in a Verbal Slump in the TBS Booth  —  In his third season as TBS's No. 1 national baseball announcer, Chip Caray is slightly better than he was two years ago when the network began carrying the league division series.  But that doesn't mean he is a No. 1 announcer.

Wanted by Braves: Big bat, righty preferred  —  We've got some Junior Wells wailing on the stereo, Dodgers-Cardinals muted on the TV, door to the patio open and a nice Punch cigar burning.  It hasn't been a week since the season ended, but doesn't it already feel like long time since the Braves …

Towers moving on after time with Padres  —  Former GM in no rush to find new job after dismissal  —  You ask Kevin Towers, the ousted general manager of the San Diego Padres, what happens now, and he has a quick, one-word answer: “Exhale.”  —  Towers says the word and you can all but sense …

Derek Jeter believes it will be “awkward” without Jorge Posada starting a playoff game  —  As you know, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada are close friends.  Close enough that Jeter was Jorge Posada's best man at his wedding.  So knowing that Posada is not happy about sitting yet having to toe …