Baseball Playoffs

After such a thrilling end to the regular season, the baseball playoffs have really flown under the radar so far. Perhaps that is partially because the MLB has lost its two biggest-market teams in the Divisional series with the Yankees and Phillies making early exits. Perhaps it's because the United States is happy football is back. Maybe it's even a little bit due to AMC transitioning from people with big problems in the Southwest to people with big problems in the Southeast.
It's a shame, too, because these playoffs have been excellent. Three of four division series went the maximum five games, the Yankees/Tigers and Cardinals/Phillies game fives were both nail-biters (with the former setting a cable TV ratings record).
Maybe Phils and Yanks gone things are looking bleak for baseball as it tries to contend with a football TV schedule that between college and the pros now covers five nights a week, as well as battling for viewers with Barney's love triangle in "How I Met Your Mother." Don't let that scare you off, though. The remaining baseball games should be awesome.
Every game should be exciting because each of the remaining four teams (Brewers, Cardinals, Tigers and Rangers) all make their mark at the plate, not from the mound. Think about it. Between the four teams, there is exactly one great pitcher (Detroit's Justin Verlander), and he hasn't even been great in these playoffs. With teams that rely more on their offense than their pitching to win games, plenty of 8-7 or 13-11 type games should be on the horizon. With mediocre pitching from start to finish (the Rangers appear to have the only reliable bullpen with Alexi Ogando and Neftali Feliz closing things out), comebacks will always be available, especially to teams that boast hitters like Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Miguel Cabrera.
Maybe the baseball playoffs have lost their most recognizable teams, but don't let that deter you from tuning in to these games the rest of the way. They figure to just continue the great run of games baseball has been having since the end of September.