1.   But because the purchase has not closed, Disney was not able to transfer the divisional series to ESPN, which it owns, from Fox Family.

2.   But he never had the shoulder examined and pitched the Marlins to a victory against the San Francisco Giants in the divisional series.

3.   But the Astros held off the Pirates and won the right to lose to the Braves in the divisional series.

4.   Divisional series games have never thrilled the networks, because their ratings are low.

5.   For the past few years, ESPN has been the cable home of the divisional series, with NBC and Fox carrying the games on broadcast television.

6.   Fox tried to sell the divisional series games to ESPN or Turner Sports, but the offers did not match their financial expectations.

7.   If the Rangers beat the Yankees and play in the ALCS, they will encounter a similar financial arrangement to that of the divisional series.

8.   In the divisional series last week, one Yankee worshiper reached around the left-field foul pole to catch a home run by Juan Gonzalez.

9.   In the divisional series against Texas, the Yankees lost the opener, then won three straight.

10.   Johnson faces Greg Maddux tonight at Turner Field in a dream pitching matchup that very well could be a preview of the divisional series opener.