The MLB Playoffs have been Amazing... and Unpredictable

Ok, so I'm not perfect. I predicted the Cincinnati Reds would beat the Giants in Game of of their NLDS series and I was mistaken.  Mat Cain showed the world he is truly the ace of their staff. What is remarkable is how they're former ace, Tim Lincecum, was pitching out of the bullpen and they still won.  Does anyone realize Lincecum had the highest ERA this year among eligable pitchers?  Then, the Giants promptly lost Game 1 of the NLCS to the Cardinals...who are hungry to repeat, and then regrouped and won Game 2 (what the Yankees should have done).

Adam Wainwright did not pull a 'Justin Verlander' and shut down the Nationals, but the Cardinal's miraculous 9th inning comeback in Game 5 of the NLDS left Davy Johnson, the Washington manager, contemplating retirement from his nursing home (he's really old).  I always love (and hate) when I go to bed and discover the next morning that 6 run 4th inning lead completely evaporated, and in a series deciding game.  I should not have been surprised however, considering it has already been shown that home field advantage doesn't amount to much this year with the Giants WINNING ALL THREE GAMES ON THE ROAD.

And as for Alex Rodriguez...baseball is a funny sport.  It astounds me how one action can lead to such volatile consequences. Joe Girardi pitch hits for A-Rod in the bottom of the 9th and looks like a genius when Ibanez ties and then wins the game. But he did so at a heavy price. By ending Alex Rodriguez's superhuman status, he invited a swarm of media to drown the Yankees in controversy about benching a $100,000,000,000,000 man (something like that, I just typed a bunch of zeros).

Now, Girardi may be going too far (or has a big ego) with benching Rodriguez against Justin Verlander in Game 3.  A-Rod hit Verlander well this past season and had two good at bats last night, but Joe decided to go with Eric Chavez at third base and bench Swisher as well.  But consider this, if the Yankees can somehow beat Verlander tonight, Sabathia gives them a great chance to win tomorrow and then the series is tied with two of the last three games at Yankee Stadium.

So much can change in one night, from one play, one pitch or one moment.  We are about to find out if the Yankees have any magic left in the tank. If they lose tonight, well....let's just say Girardi might need to call Terry Francona for some advice.