sportsjabber.net

Oct 16, 2011 – During the regular season, we saw not one, but two teams advance to the playoffs in the most improbable of fashions. The Tampa Bay Rays erased an enormous late Boston Red Sox lead in the standings to take the AL Wild Card on the final day, and the St. Louis Cardinals erased an enormous late Atlanta Braves lead in the standings to take the NL Wild Card on the final day. It was all very unlikely and amazing.

Now, in the postseason, we’ve seen not one, but two teams advance to the World Series in the most improbable of fashions. The Texas Rangers are moving on despite a starting rotation with a 5.62 playoff ERA and an average under five innings a game, and the St. Louis Cardinals are moving on despite a starting rotation that had a 5.43 playoff ERA and averaged under five innings a game.

For a few reasons, then, it’s hard to believe the Cardinals have done what they’ve done. And I haven’t even mentioned Adam Wainwright’s season-ending injury yet. But they’re going to the World Series, and they’re going to have home-field advantage.

Sunday night, Tony La Russa handed the ball to Edwin Jackson to start Game 6 of the NLCS. Jackson lasted all of two innings before La Russa went to his bullpen, meaning not once in the entire series did a Cardinals starter throw a pitch in the sixth. But despite Jackson’s struggles, the Cardinals beat the Brewers to take the series, and they were able to do so because – as has often been the case – their bullpen was strong, and their offense was stronger.

MORE…

By Jeff Sullivan – SB Nation