The defending champ survives

In what truly was one of the more exciting playoff matches in recent memory, we saw Joe, the defending champ, survive a wild Sunday to advance on a tiebreaker over Andy.

The match ended 9-9, but not without some bizarre twists. The big thing out of all this? We learn that maybe pitching is a little more valuable than we give it credit for, if only because the tiebreaker in the playoffs is ERA.

Joe led 10-8 going into Sunday. Not many categories were really up for grabs. Total bases, saves and innings pitched were the big three that would ultimately decide the matchup.


Andy had four pitchers going, thanks to a couple stiffs. Joe, shockingly, did not stiff back and had two pitchers and about a 14 innings pitched lead. Saves were tied, and Joe led by two total bases.

Joe survived some very close early calls with Andy's pitchers - eight innings, no runs allowed in two outings with reasonable pitch counts.

"It was heartbreaking not to get a complete game out of Maholm or Lester," Andy said. "I think they had like 95 and 105 pitches, and the managers didn't leave them in. Unbelievable."

"It was just Joe karma," Joe said. "I'm a pretty lucky guy in life."

Joe went on a huge RBI surge Saturday - 11 total from David Wright and Jorge Cantu - to take that category and also total bases. It was an incredible boost.

The kicker was doubleheaders. Andy and Joe each had four guys with doubleheaders, and one of them endured a very long rain delay. As it turned out, the offenses had similar days and Joe held onto total bases, so we knew it would come down to innings pitched and saves.

Andy had Tim Redding, a stiff, and trailed IP by six. The score was still 10-8. Both guys had a closer in the Seattle-Texas game. These were the only two games left. Redding went six innings, meaning the score was now 9-8 and if Andy got a save from David Aardsma he would take innings, saves and win the matchup. Anything else and Joe wins.

It's the second straight week we've had late Sunday night drama. As it was, though, Seattle maintained a 5-0 lead and Aardsma pitched the ninth, eliminating any save opportunities.

The matchup ended 9-9 and Joe won the ERA tiebreaker. He improved to 3-0 all-time in the playoffs and takes his wildly inconsistent team on the road to face Jack, in what should be a great matchup.

Most importantly, the defending champ lives to play another week.

"Pitching wins in the playoffs," Joe said. "Pitching and luck."