MLB Playoff Update

Yankees on brink

• The 2012 postseason has been marked by odds-defying comebacks; among them the Cardinals coming back from a 6-0 deficit to take the do-or-die Game 5, the Giants coming back from a 2-0 series deficit to advance past the Reds and the Yankees coming back from a 4-0 deficit in the 9th inning to tie Game 1 of the ALCS (although they fell short in extra innings).  However, after Justin Verlander threw another masterful game on Tuesday (3 hits and 1 run in a 2-1 win) to give the Tigers a 3-0 series lead, the Yankees will need to make the most impressive comeback of them all to win the series. Verlander's biggest achievement may be off the field, with his rumored romance with SI Swimsuit Cover Model Kate Upton.
• Only once in MLB history (and never in the NBA for what it's worth) has a team down 3-0 come back to win a series.  Yankees fans will, of course, remember that this happened to them in 2004 against the Boston Red Sox.
• Making this feat even more improbable is the fact that the Yankees are without captain Derek Jeter, the heart and soul of their team.  Perhaps they could benefit from slumping star A-Rod getting a pep talk from good friend Kobe Bryant, although Bryant's comments to the media afterwards ("Sometimes A-Rod forgets he's the best, whereas I don't) aren't fully inspirational.  The Yankees still have loads of talent but winning 4 straight against a good Tigers team may be too much to ask.


Giants tie series

• On Monday night the Giants put it all together, combining great pitching with timely hitting and they took advantage of a critical error by Matt Holiday to beat the Cardinals 7-1 to tie the series.  The scary thing for Cardinals fans is that it wasn't ace Matt Cain or former Cy Young Winner Tim Lincecum on the mound for the Giants but Ryan Vogelsong who shut them down to just 5 hits.
•  Lead by lead-off hitter Angel Pagan, the Giants teed off on Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter who gave up 5 runs in 6 innings, though only two of them were earned.