Sheba, I love baseball. And this series with Detroit and Oakland is a good example of why 7 game series are the only way to play. In a five game series I'm not at all convinced that the best team wins, not at all.
I think both the Padres and Yanks would have taken their series to at least game 6, and at least one of those series to a game 7 if it had been best of 7 instead of 5.
Its just so ridiculous to ask GM's and managers to build a team on a 5 man rotation all year long. I mean please, Carpenter pitched two of the 4 games at SD. They had a 3 man rotation. Its also affects players pyschologically to start at home and blow one game, desperation sets in immediately and they play tight.
If the A's-Detroit series were best of 7 it would already be over for all intents and purposes. I know the Tigers have been hot, but does anyone really think that they can sweep the A's? I'm willing to bet that this one goes at least 6, and most likely 7 games.
I've never in my life watched a hockey, basketball, or baseball series and come away not feeling that the team who won a 7 game series earned the win. In 2004 when the Yanks had that 3-0 lead, the fact is that their 4-5 guys on the pitching staff were awful, and that got exposed. Had it been a 5 game series the Yanks would have swept, and that would not at all have been an indication of how close together those two teams were in talent that year.
I just can't imagine anything more ridculous than asking teams to play 162 games all year long, and then having them play a 3 outta 5 to see who moves on. It defies all logic. I know its all about money, adding that extra round, but it would only add three more days to play a best of 7. And then noone could bitch about the outcomes.
Liek I said, if this was a 3 outta 5 the Tigers would be as good as in and thats what we would be reading, how much better they were than the A's. Down 2-0 or not, if you don't think the A's can come back I have a bridge to sell you. They have a better rotation than the Tigers do in the 3-4-5 spots.
Since the 3-4-5 guys matter in the regular season, isn't it kind of stupid to say that they don't matter in the first round of the playoffs?