Um... Angels and Twins win?

You've got to be kidding me.

Bud Selig was left scratching his balding head this weekend as he and the rest of the baseball world were boggled by how the Anaheim Angels and the Minnesota Twins pulled off upsets in what can be termed the "What the f*$#?" Division Series.

After the Twins beat the Oakland Athletics 5-4 in game five on Sunday, baseball oddsmakers threw in their towels and predicted the Milwaukee Brewers' racing hot dogs to win the World Series.

It all unraveled in the fourth inning of Game 4 on Saturday. With a 2-1 series lead and a chance to clinch, the Athletics gave up seven unearned runs to the Twins, who went on to win the game 11-2. In Sunday's Game 5, it looked as if someone shot a stun gun at the Athletics' hitters and Oakland basically provided the Twins with a free ride to the Championship Series. A three-run ninth inning was not enough to lead Oakland _ whose coveted starting pitching struggled throughout the ALDS (American League Division Series) _ over Minnesota.

In the ALDS, the Angels did what Red Sox can only dream of _ they redeemed themselves for 1986. The Angels, who lost the 1986 American League pennant to the Sox after leading the series 3-1 and being one strike away from victory in Game 5, upset the New York Yankees three games to one.

There was no greater feeling than watching the look on Joe Torre's face after Nick Johnson made the last out _ his facial muscles were tighter than a mini-skirt on a prostitute and you could see the spew of swear words forming in his brain.

His starters' ERA of 10.38 for the series was almost as high as David Wells' blood alcohol level on a typical Saturday night. Meanwhile, Anaheim nearly matched Roger Clemens' cholesterol level when it set a postseason record for highest batting average in a series at .376.

The Twins and Angels now face each other in the Underdog Championship Series that begins tonight. Expect the contest to be close and thrilling. Both teams enter with hitting that is hotter than Lou Pinella's temper and pitching that proved in the ALDS that it could handle the pressure of October baseball.

Minnesota's quirky astro-turf park worked against the Athletics, but it is less likely to impact the Angels, who were 3-3 in the Metrodome this year.

For both teams, the question is whether their pitchers can continue to perform so well on little rest. Minnesota's Brad Radke's performance on Sunday was poetic (6 2/3 shutout innings,) but he may not pitch so well in the ALCS if the Twins push him to come back quickly.

Angels' ace Jarrod Washburn pitched well on Saturday, but he gave four runs in Game 1, and he may not have the energy for two games in the ALCS. Anaheim's Ramon Ortiz, who was nothing short of dazzling in September, was rocked in Game 3 but escaped the loss after the Yankees bullpen imploded.

Kevin Appier was a smart choice to start the ALCS for Anaheim, as he pitched well in his Game 2 start and is the only Angel with playoff experience. He will likely face Jose Mays, who had a breakout season last year but showed in the ALDS that he does not have the experience to handle the pressure of pitching in the playoffs. The Twins rotation from there has yet to be announced, but Rick Reed, Eric Milton, and Radke are strong enough to cool off Anaheim if they get enough rest and eat their Wheaties.

The Twins and Angels share the same starting pitching uncertainties, so it may be the bullpens that determine this series. With closer Troy Percival and a slew of solid set-up men (including Francisco Rodriguez, who had two wins in the ALDS) the Angels have the advantage in the late innings.

If you could even name the Twins closer before the ALDS, then you need to get rescind your official Twins Club Membership Card and get a life. Granted, Eddie Guardado (the closer, for you non-dorks) had 45 saves this season, but he nearly gave away Game 5 to Oakland in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday and does not have the experience that Percival does.

Though the tops of each team's lineup are evenly matched, the Angels have the advantage of depth. Anaheim's seven-nine hitters, Shawn Wooten, Bengie Molina, and Benji Gil went a combined 12-for-26 in the series with four runs and four RBIs in Game 4 alone.

While it is possible to analyze statistics and determine which team is more likely to outplay the other, the ALDS match-ups taught us that key to winning for both of these teams is a motivation and drive that cannot be calculated. October baseball doesn't get much better than this.