Cardinals/Yankees vs Nationals/Orioles

[Landshark]

The Cardinals just came roaring back from down 6-0 to win the deciding game 9-7 to advance to the NLCS.  Earlier today, the Yankees held on to beat Baltimore 3-1 with C.C. Sabathia pitching a complete game despite getting in trouble in the 8th.  I watched both games with friends while at a barbecue/house warming party.

I stated in a different thread on hockey about being "playoff hardened" and why the Panthers blew their series against the Devils last summer.  This is the same theory.  The Cardinals and Yankees have won the most World Series titles in the NL and AL respectively, and have been in this situation before.  The Nationals and Orioles haven't.  Ultimately, that's what it came down to in these game 5's

[Fins4ever]

In MLB, October is all about pitching and clutch hitting. Losing their ace in the 1st game cost the Reds. Looks like the bull pen fell apart for the Nationals and I heard that the Yanks starters are averaging...yeah, AVERAGING 8 innings a game. That is tough to beat.

[Thundergod]

Cardinals are really starting to bore/annoy me. GO GIANTS! And F the Yankees. GO TIGERS!  Sidenote: that one game wild card playoff is RETARDED. That's all.

[Fins4ever]

Cardinals are really starting to bore/annoy me. GO GIANTS! And F the Yankees. GO TIGERS!  Sidenote: that one game wild card playoff is RETARDED. That's all.

I was all for the underdogs and new blood. Tired of seeing the same teams every year.

[Landshark]

I was all for the underdogs and new blood. Tired of seeing the same teams every year.

I loved the scene in the Cardinals locker room afterwards.  A whole table with champagne and Budweiser bottles.  It was obviously what was for spraying and what was for drinking.

[EDGECRUSHER]

The Yankees offense is humiliating.

Oh, and that Umpire call today in the 8th was one of the worst in playoff history considering he was right there and the ball beat him. When the ball beats the runner and you call him safe, you better be damn sure the tag was missed. It would've been the 3rd out and 2 runs scored after that.

Now, as I said before, the Yankees offense is embarrassing and they just would've lost 1-0 anyway, but I hate to see non-players affect the game in such a drastic way.

Elias must be getting some stats ready, because I highly doubt a team can average 7 IP from it's starters with an ERA under 2 and lose as many games as the Yankees have/will.

[masterfins]

Although A-Rod has been taking most of the heat for not batting, Swisher, Granderson, & Cano have been stone cold for the Yankees also.  They need a day to recoup after playing extra innings games and back to back series without a day off.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Yeah, Swisher and Cano are the worst offenders. They don't have anyone other than Ibanez with Martin and Tex sprinkled in.

The day off won't help, Swisher has always been a terrible postseason player. A bit surprising that a guy as laid back as Nick lets the pressure get to him, but he has enough of a track record now where it isn't a fluke.