In the Playoff Pulse series, our MLB editor takes on a hot topic.

Leave it to Mannywood -- ahem -- Hollywood to drum up some much-needed October drama. There's nothing like postseason baseball, but let's face it, the nailbiting, heart-stopping tension that makes it so great has been in short supply this month.

In fact, in the 25 completed playoff series since 2005, only three of them have gone the full five or seven games. Conversely, 12 of the series have been sweeps.

The Rays did their part Saturday night to ensure the ALCS wouldn't be a short one, pulling out a see-saw five-hour, 27-minute marathon to pull even with the Red Sox. But playing in a city where every busboy and gas station attendant has a script, the Dodgers and Phillies weren't about to be outdone.

Los Angeles had had just about enough of pitches up and in, high and behind and low and on the kneecap to Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin when, in obvious retaliation, Hiroki Kuroda buzzed Shane Victorino in the third inning of Game 3.

Like a good actor, the fiery Victorino played his role perfectly, gesturing vividly to his head and his ribs repeatedly. Moments later, the benches cleared. Ramirez had to be held back by Martin and Joe Torre. The Phillie-turned-Dodger Larry Bowa and the Dodger-turned-Phillie Davey Lopes were screaming at each other. And the FOX cameras caught it all.

Of course, all the huffing and puffing wouldn't have meant nearly as much if the Dodgers had lost to the Phillies Sunday night and fallen into 3-0 hole in the series. Brett Myers and Manny and Martin and Victorino provided the theater, but Los Angeles' win made it more likely that it will have a chance to play out.


The Dodgers will send their best two pitchers -- Derek Lowe and Chad Billingsley -- to the mound in the next two games needing only a split to send the series back to Philadelphia.

And that's what baseball needs more than anything this time of year -- more actual baseball games. A blood feud that would make LC and Heidi blush is a great way to draw in viewers, but it's no good without the backdrop of white-knuckle, winner-take-all playoff action with a trip to the Fall Classic on the line.

Monday, the Red Sox and Rays will play Game 3 in the afternoon shadows at Fenway Park. They'll be followed by the Dodgers and Phillies from Chavez Ravine. And remember, Tampa Bay and Boston are the clubs that are supposed to dislike each other.

It's the second to last possible day of 2008 with multiple baseball games on the schedule. Next Saturday would be the final such day, with Game 6 of the ALCS and Game 7 of the NLCS on the docket. The way things are going, that figures to be one dramatic Saturday night.

Yesterday's Hero: Kuroda, who gave the Dodgers both a quality start and some swagger. Honorable mention to Blake DeWitt and Rafael Furcal.

Yesterday's Goat: Jamie Moyer, who probably shouldn't get another start this postseason.

Quick Hits: You have to love Joe Torre's decision to bring Derek Lowe back on short rest Monday, particularly because Billingsley and Kuroda will be on normal rest in Games 5 and 6, respectively. ... Jon Lester has been terrific this season, and will no doubt be tough on the Rays, but don't sell his opponent, Matt Garza, short. ... Josh Beckett insists he's just fine. Sorry, Sheriff, but no one believes you.