MLB Playoffs: Day 8

Well, the Divisional Series are over, and the East Coast's interest in these proceedings has completely evaporated. After dominating their respective leagues all year, the Yankees and the Phillies ran into well-managed clubs that have been red-hot down the stretch and that knew how to pitch to the big guns of the East. Ryan Howard, the Phillies' cleanup hitter, went 2-19 against St. Louis, while Alex Rodriguez, who batted cleanup for the Yankees, went 2-18 against Detroit. Any team will struggle to win under those circumstances.

Philly phans have to be particularly disappointed. I believe that the 2011 Phillies were almost certainly the best team ever fielded by that ancient franchise, and it may have been the best team fielded by any Philadelphia squad since the 1977 Sixers. Of course, they didn't win the title either -- although they did make it past the first round. Philadelphia has better hitting than St. Louis, and better pitching than St. Louis, but somehow they are out.

The East Coast won three World Series in a row from 2007 to 2009 (Red Sox, Phillies, Yankees), but we have now been shut out for the second consecutive year. I have no doubt that the provincial teams will play some entertaining baseball from here on out, but I cannot help but feel like someone who waited all year to watch a big Broadway show, only to find that the star has been replaced by the understudy.

(Oh, and the Brew Crew beat Arizona 3-2 in 10 innings to win that series. They now meet the Cardinals in a series that will have great meaning for any baseball fan who remembers when "Turning Japanese" was a big hit.)

National League Divisional Series (Best of 5):

St. Louis beats Philadelphia 3-2

Milwaukee beats Arizona 3-2

American League Divisional Series (Best of 5):

Detroit beats New York 3-2

Texas beats Tampa Bay 3-1