It's been heartening to hear the sports media's temperance with respect to the Cardinals' 3-1 series lead (now 3-2 as this is being written). In previous years they would have been presiding over the Dodgers' funeral. But the analysis I've heard has all noted how St. Lou blew a 3-1 NLCS lead against the eventual champs just last season. Just because the Fat Lady is warming up doesn't mean she's got a gig tonight.
On the flip side, how about all those pitching certainties. The first four starters to lose decisions in the league championship series this year: Lester, Kershaw, Verlander, Wainwright. Pitching matchups, like home field, convey advantages, not guarantees.
Evidence we still have a long way to go: Fox still talks incessantly about player performance in the postseason, as if Shane Victorino never went 9 for 35 in eight regular season games. Until a player has accumulated 100 postseason at bats or 45 postseason innings, can we stop talking about their "clutchness" or "postseason performance?" Are Miguel Cabrera's hitting woes the result of low moral fiber or just injury? How about Prince Fielder? Do Cardinal batters suffer from a lack of clutchness in the playoffs or from Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu? Is Michael Wacha a great postseason pitcher or an amazing rookie who is still improving? The only certain truth is that I don't know and neither do you.
Some people don't like 1-0 playoff games. Some people are Communists. My advice to them is to watch roller derby.
America passed on an opportunity to vote Koji Uehara onto the All-Star team this year in the final selection ballot. The Sox closer allowed a 1.09 ERA with 42 baserunners and 101 whiffs in 74 innings. Would America like its vote back?
Mike Napoli was batting .250 with a home run in the postseason this year going into Game 5 of Boston's series with Detroit. Not very clutch. Then he went 3 for 4 in Game 5 and now he's batting .375 with two big flies and an .875 SLG. Clutch!
One thing missing from the riveting playoffs this year is a Godsend. October weather in Boston, Detroit and St. Louis has provided evidence that the big man in the sky loves America's pastime. Let's hope the World Series isn't on past His bedtime.
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