Then you aren't getting the full implications of that 5 game series, in more ways than one.
Its no accident that wild card teams keep killing em, especially in the first round.
But the greater effect is how it affects the rotations of the 2nd round.
In the old days when they two division winners met, they each threw their regular rotations in order, just like the regular season. #1 vs #1, etc.
teams are built by Gm's and managers for a five man rotation all year long, and then we change the rules now in the postseason.
Now depending on the first round and how long it takes either team, the pitching matchups can be completely screwed, #2 vs. #4, then #3 vs. #1, etc.
The postseason doesn't resemble the regular season even a little bit in how it plays out.
The bigger farce is that after 162 games, no team with a a record like the Cards belongs in poostseason play in the first place. This aint football with 16 games. This is 162 GAME SEASON!!!! Anyone whos ever played baseball knows that the worst team in the league can win 3 of 5 against the best team on any given series. You really think the Yanks were that much better than the red Sox when they swept em 5 games this year? No way. But baseball is a hot and cold and game of inches game much more than football or basketball or hockey. In those sports no way is the better team ever gonna lose a 3 of 5.
Baseball is much different. One hot pitcher or one error can cost you a game or two, and 5 games aint enough.
Not to mention the way it affects the rotations after that in teh 2nd series.
The regular season in baseball used to be the only regular season that mattered, now you have teams like the Cardinals limping in with an awful record who make the World Series. I guess those 162 regular season games lied huh?
I just hate what the playoff system has done. And to illustrate my point about how any team can beat any team in a series, the Tigers were swept at home to end the season by the worst team in the Majors, KC.
This is just awful for baseball and after the record low ratings they are gonna get this year, they are gonna have to tweak it.