With playoff baseball comes the inevitable debates about who the greatest postseason performer was. This has been especially true in lieu of Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling's recent performances in the World Series.

Many people are familiar with some of the best postseason hurlers, but what about some other, less heralded pitchers? Are there guys out there who may have flown a bit under the radar? In fact, there are a number of them. While none of these guys had the extensive impact of a Bob Gibson or Mariano Rivera, they still delivered clutch performances throughout their postseason careers*.

Ken Dayley, St. Louis Cardinals
If I were to ask you who in postseason history had the best WHIP (0.58), allowed the least number of hits per 9 innings (2.61) and the fourth best ERA (0.44), your first answer might not be Ken Dayley, but that's the correct answer.

Dayley was a lefthanded reliever for the Cardinals who pitched in both the 1985 NLCS and World Series, and the 1987 NLCS and World Series. He never pitched more than 2 2/3 innings, but he was an important part of the bullpen, picking up 5 saves even though Todd Worrell was the main closer. In 20 2/3 postseason innings, Dayley gave up just 1 run.

Dave Dravecky, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants
Just who is Dave Dravecky? Well, he was a hurler who pitched in the 1984 NLCS and World Series for the Padres and the 1987 NLCS for the Giants. Dravecky had entirely different roles for those teams, however.

First, let's look at some numbers. Dravecky possess the third best ERA (0.35) in playoff history, and the second best WHIP (0.66). In Dravecky's postseason career, he found himself relieving for the Padres, and going multiple innings every time. In 10 2/3 innings of relief for San Diego, he didn't give up a single run, walked just one batter, allowed only 5 hits, and struck out 10.

Then, Dravecky went on to starting for the San Fransicso Giants. In the '87 NLCS, he threw a complete game, 2-hit shutout against St. Louis in game 2, and followed that with a 6 inning stint where he struck out 8, allowed 5 hits and the only run of his postseason career in a 1-0 loss.

Sterling Hitchcock, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees
Surprised? Yeah, me too. However, Hitchcock is one of only eight pitchers to have a perfect win-loss record in the postseason, at 4-0. Not to mention the fact that he has the third best K/9 ratio in postseason history. Hitchcock struck out 12.03 batters per 9 innings pitched, which is over 5 strikeouts per 9 more than his regular season average.

Hitchock appeared in 9 games, and he was a starter in 4 of those games. And in those starts, Hitchcock was 3-0. He struck out 32, allowed only 3 extra-base hits, had a 1.23 ERA and held opponents to a .195 batting average and .287 on-base percentage.

Others
Harry Breechen, St. Louis Cardinals: 1943, '44, '46 World Series - 3 complete games, 4 wins, 0.87 ERA, 3 total earned runs allowed.

John Rocker, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians: 1998, '99, 2000, '01 NL/ALDS, NLCS, World Series - 20 games, 0.00 ERA, 4.35 hits/9 allowed, 11.32 K/9.

Blue Moon Odom, Oakland A's: 1972, '73, '74 ALCS, World Series: 1.07 ERA in 42 innings, 5 total earned runs allowed, 4.71 hits/9 allowed.

Obviously, this is but a small sample size of pitchers that have put up very good postseason numbers. There are many more that have performed well, but these are a few that people may not have known about.

(* = Minimum 20 Innings)

On Wednesday, Barry Bonds took his final at-bat wearing a Giants uniform in San Francisco. The appearance was a prime example of why the Giants were bidding farewell to their longtime left fielder. Bonds hit a long fly ball to center that was just shy of the warning track - a ball that in past years would probably have exited the park.

As it is, Bonds represents the Steroid Era more than any other player. And though he will probably play again next year, many of his contemporaries that made the era what it was have retired or are on their last legs. Here's how some suspected or confirmed juicers fared in the final at-bats of their career, in chronological order. As you will see, 2001 and 2005 were particularly bad years for these broken down players.

Rafael Palmeiro, Baltimore Orioles - August 30, 2005: With runners on first and second in the top of the eighth inning, Rafael Palmeiro was struck out looking by Jason Frasor of the Blue Jays. Toronto won the game 7-2.

Bret Boone, Minnesota Twins - July 30, 2005: Having let go by Seattle, the Twins picked up Boone in hopes he would regain his power. In the top of the 7th against the Red Sox, Boone made the final out of the inning on a fly ball to right field against David Wells. The Twins lost 6-2, and Boone was released after hitting just .170 for the team.

Juan Gonzalez, Cleveland Indians - May 31, 2005: Gonzalez lasted all of one game and one at-bat for the Indians. In the top of the first inning, he grounded out to third against the Twins' Carlos Silva. In the bottom of that inning, he was replaced by Casey Blake. The Indians went on to win, but Gonzalez never saw the field again.

Benito Santiago, Pittsburgh Pirates - April 11, 2005: Santiago played only 6 games and registered just 23 at-bats with the Pirates. In the top of the 8th against Milwaukee, Santiago faced Matt Wise, and struck out looking in a 6-2 loss.

Mark McGwire, St. Louis Cardinals - October 14, 2001: In game 5 of the NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks, McGwire struck out swinging in the top of the 7th against Curt Schilling. He would be pinch-hit for in the 9th inning of that game by reserve outfielder Kerry Robinson. The Cards would lose to eventual World Champions Arizona in the bottom of the 9th.

Ken Caminiti, Atlanta Braves - October 12, 2001: The last game of his career was his only at-bat of the postseason in game 3 of the NLDS. The Braves swept the Astros, and in the bottom of the 7th, Caminiti pinch-hit for Mike Remlinger. He flied to center off of Octavio Dotel.

Jose Canseco, Chicago White Sox - October 6, 2001: Playing in the final game of a regular season that went long because of 9/11, Canseco and the White Sox were playing in Minnesota. In the top of the 9th, with a runner on first and the Sox down by one, Canseco pinch-hit for Mark L. Johnson. He flew out to center against Eddie Guardado, and the Sox went on to lose. He got a viral infection, went on the DL, and never returned.

Combined Total of These Players: 0-7, 3 K's


(All game info: Baseball-Reference.com)

Many great philosophical questions have been pondered throughout time. What is knowledge? Does God exist? What is the nature of reality? In a similar vein, many great thinkers have ruminated this question: If the current pennant races were porn, what type of porn would they be?

N.L. Central - Amateur

This is the easiest race to define. Milwaukee, Chicago and St. Louis are in a race in baseball's worst division. In any other division, they would not be anywhere close to the lead. Clearly, the Brewers are baseball's version of the "casting couch" girl. They are apprehensive, unsure of themselves, and wondering what the hell they are doing.

N.L. West - Orgy

The N.L. West is a jumbled orgy. While Arizona's kids are on top for now, the whole division has switched positions throughout the season. San Diego and L.A. have had turns at the top, and are now fighting to be included in postseason.

N.L. East - Watersports

The New York Mets are the rich old men of the group. They simply enjoy toying with the other teams, only to denigrate them in the end. Atlanta and Philly are sandwiched in the middle, but are clearly looking up at the Mets.

A.L. Central - Role Play

Cleveland and Detroit have switched roles throughout the season. They can't seem to make up their mind about who wants to be in what role. Early in the year, Detroit was in the lead role, but now the Indians have made a charge in an attempt to takeover the Tigers as front runners.

A.L. East - S&M

In Boston, the Red Sox jumped out and dominated their opposition. Now, the Yankees have made a charge, and are attempting to get up from under the foot of their rivals. Having been the media's whipping boys for the first part of the season, New York is trying to release itself from the chains of second place.

A.L. West - MILF

In honor of L.A., the Angels are clearly MILF's of the West. The Mariners are doing their best to come from behind, but the wise Angels have veterans who have been there before and know what they are doing.

The best of the Tuesday sports blogs, including Mila Kunis, who is celebrating her 24th birthday today. Unfortunately not with me.

- The Top 7 fake cheerleaders of all-time. (Six Pack Sports Report)

- Will the New York Mets save the Apple when they move out of Shea? (Epic Carnival)

- Making a case for drafting Priest Holmes in fantasy football. (Ghosts of Wayne Fontes)

- Ingrid Vandebosch takes on Cheryl Tweedy in the Hottest Wife/Girlfriend in Sports poll. (Hint: Tweedy is the correct answer) (Our Book of Scrap)

- O.J. is finally going to tell the world how he would have done it. You know, if he were the one that killed Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman. Because obviously, he was not. It was somebody else. Who he's searching for. Right now. (Deuce of Davenport)

- Placido Polanco and his misshaped head (Sooze's words, not mine) broke the record for consecutive games without an error at second base. (Babes Love Baseball)

- OMDQ changes their look and boldly states that in 20 years, we will view Barry Bonds in a positive light. (One More Dying Quail)

- Should Johnny Bench be the choice as the all-time best catcher? (The Extrapolter)

- We all know Julio Franco is old. But now he has to feel really old, as he was assigned to play with 18 and 19 year old kids on the Braves Low A minor league team after clearing waivers. (Shakedown Sports)

- What has happened to the Milwaukee Brewers? (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

As we all know, Major League Baseball has no salary cap, leaving teams to bid inordinate amounts of money on sometimes mediocre players. Huge contracts can burn teams, while other squads employ less expensive players who produce more.

Below is a comparitive look at statistics from two players at each position. One of them makes a huge amount of money, while the other does not. Can you guess which contract belongs to each set of statistics? Answers are below.

Catcher
A).315/.389/.495, 11 HR, 63 RBI
B).226/.261/.281, 2 HR, 22 RBI

Salaries: $13,000,000 and $387,500

First Base
A).315/.415/.548, 20 HR, 57 RBI
B).341/.389/.523, 9 HR, 52 RBI

Salaries: $15,000,000 and $500,000

Second Base
A).283/.328/.492, 19 HR, 57 RBI
B).281/.362/.470, 12 HR, 50 RBI

Salaries: $11,500,000 and $407,500

Third Base
A).297/.380/.501, 16 HR, 51 RBI
B).262/.338/.371, 4 HR, 39 RBI

Salaries: $12,000,000 and $1,000,000

Shortstop
A).253/.333/.316, 2 HR, 24 RBI
B).323/.383/.479, 10 HR, 48 RBI

Salaries: $9,000,000 and $405,000

Left Field
A).235/.394/.432, 12 HR, 43 RBI
B).337/.386/.570, 16 HR, 73 RBI

Salaries: $13,000,000 and $4,400,000

Center Field
A).333/.404/.528, 13 HR, 49 RBI
B).259/.343/.415, 7 HR, 38 RBI

Salaries: $4,350,000 and $395,000

Right Field
A).297/.353/.532, 19 HR, 56 RBI
B).256/.366/.385, 6 HR, 33 RBI

Salaries: $14,000,000 and $2,535,000

Starting Pitcher
A) 5-11, 5.32 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, .287 BAA
B) 8-3, 1.97 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, .192 BAA

Salaries: $9,000,000 and $750,000

Answers
Catcher:
A) Russell Martin - $387,500
B) Jason Kendall - $13,000,000

First Base:
A) Albert Pujols - $15,000,000
B) Dmitri Young - $500,000

Second Base:
A) Brandon Phillips - $407,500
B) Jeff Kent - $11,500,000

Third Base:
A) David Wright - $1,000,000
B) Scott Rolen - $12,000,000

Shortstop:
A) Jason Bartlett - $405,000
B) Edgar Renteria - $9,000,000

Left Field:
A) Pat Burrell - $13,000,000
B) Matt Holliday - $4,400,000

Center Field:
A) Aaron Rowand - $4,350,000
B) Ryan Church - $395,000

Right Field:
A) Alex Rios - $2,535,000
B) J.D. Drew - $14,000,000

Starting Pitcher:
A) Chris Young - $750,000
B) Jose Contreras - $9,000,000

(All salaries found at: Cot's Baseball Contracts)

The Chicago Cubs have passionate fans, a historic stadium and a tradition of being lovable losers. Their past failures are often blamed on billy goats and Bartman, black cats and bad luck. Those are all fun things to talk about. More fun than, say, total incompetence by the front office.

With the All-Star Game coming up on July 10, a closer look at the voting ballots will prove just how effective Cubs player development is. Within this notebook, Gerry Fraley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has done some research and came up with this gem:

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There are 240 position players on the All-Star ballot. Only one began his career with the Chicago Cubs. Can you name that player?

Time's up. The lone product of the Cubs player-development system to appear on the All-Star ballot is outfielder Corey Patterson, now with Baltimore. By comparison, there are 15 Toronto products and 14 Atlanta products on the ballot. The Cardinals had eight.

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One player on the ballot came up through their system. Of course, this does not count pitchers, and we would be remiss not to mention they developed one of the greatest pitchers of all time in Greg Maddux, and Rich Hill looks like he could be very good.

Still, the fact that the only position player on the ballot is Patterson, a mediocre player hitting .210 this year, is far more telling of their plight than any curse.