By Jim Salter
The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - After all he's been through this year, commissioner Bud Selig has no complaints about the playoffs so far.

"I feel good about it," he said. "I'll tell you why. There's an attractiveness to these teams. It's a very attractive group, and the television ratings are good. They're ahead of last year. There are a lot of rivalries, and certainly you know about Minnesota. I'd be a fool to add to that."

Selig, who arrived in St. Louis on Thursday just before Game 2 of the NL championship series between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, said it's refreshing for fans to see new faces in October.

"There have been a lot of surprises," Selig said. "The Angels are playing so well and people are enjoying the teams that are in it. I'll take credit for things, but not for the teams that won. They did it on their own."

He is convinced the new labor agreement will keep fans happy, along with the rest of the baseball community.

"I always talk about hope and faith," he said. "You've got to produce a system of hope and faith in as many places as possible."

Selig hadn't decided where he was headed Friday, saying he had a lot of work to do.

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BAD BLOOD: The dustup between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of the NL championship series wasn't the first time there's been bad blood between these longtime rivals.

In July, San Francisco left-hander Chad Zerbe hit Placido Polanco and Jim Edmonds with pitches in the same inning. When the inning ended, Edmonds said something to San Francisco's David Bell at third base and both benches emptied briefly.

The teams weren't friendly through the mid-1980s, either. San Francisco manager Roger Craig and Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog nearly fought during a 1986 game when Vince Coleman stole a base while the Cardinals had an eight-run lead.

In 1987, San Francisco's Chili Davis called St. Louis a "cow town" before the NL championship series and infuriated fans with his "one flap down" home run trot. Several fans brought cowbells and banged them loudly during the games. The Cardinals won the series in seven games.

The next summer, San Francisco's Will Clark slid hard into Cardinals second baseman Jose Oquendo, now the team's third base coach. Shortstop Ozzie Smith became incensed and began throwing punches at Clark, most of which missed.

For years thereafter, Clark was seen as a villain by Cardinals fans, who booed him incessantly. But he became a fan favorite in 2000 when he was acquired at the trade deadline from Baltimore and hit .345 with 12 home runs and 42 RBIs to help the team win the NL Central. Clark retired after that season.

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BATTING BEHIND BARRY: Do the other San Francisco Giants feel disrespected when opposing teams constantly pitch around Barry Bonds?

No, at least according to David Bell.

"I don't think anyone takes it personally or anything like that," Bell said. "I think that we all know what kind of player Barry is. There's been teams that take a different approach on what to do with him. We just try to make the most of any opportunities we get. I think last night was a good example of that."

The Cardinals walked Bonds three times in Wednesday's 9-6 loss. Otherwise, he was 1-for-2 with a two-run triple.

On Thursday, Cardinals starter Woody Williams was more aggressive, getting Bonds to line to right and strike out before walking him on a 3-2 pitch in the sixth. Bonds struck out against reliever Jeff Fassero in the eighth.

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PITCHING WOODY: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa had no concerns about pitching Woody Williams on Thursday, despite the fact that he hadn't pitched since Sept. 20 after injuring his left side. Williams was 9-4 with a 2.53 ERA in the regular season.

Williams pitched well - except for two home runs by Rich Aurilia that provided three San Francisco runs - in his six innings of work. But the right-hander lost to Jason Schmidt, who gave up just one run in 7 2-3 innings.

"I just flat out got out-pitched," Williams said.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa asked reporters what was better, excellent or outstanding? When someone answered excellent, La Russa said, "I thought Woody was outstanding, but Schmidt was excellent."

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AROUND THE BASES: San Francisco reliever Tim Worrell chatted on the field before the game with his brother, Todd, the closer for Cardinals teams that won the 1985 and 1987 NL pennants. ... Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen stretched and did some running before the game, but again didn't take grounders or hit prior to the game as he continues to recover from a sprained shoulder. La Russa said it was impossible to gauge how soon he might return until he starts swinging a bat and fielding balls. ... Retired track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee, a native of East St. Louis, Ill., threw out the first pitch.