By Jose M. Romero

Four Game 5s. Seven ninth-inning-or later rallies, either tiebreaking or come-from-behind. Two of the most dramatic comebacks from huge deficits in postseason history. One organizational decision in September that, in the end, could have cost a team at least one win, and ultimately, the right to move on to the league championship series.

Baseball had a great opening week, I’d say. Smashing. Mind-blowing. Memorable.

The game and its commissioner don’t always get everything right, but the one-game playoff decision was good if only for one reason – it got the right teams into the American and National League Division Series.

Read more

By Jose M. Romero/@RomeroJoseM

For Fox Deportes

 Fernando Salas saved 24 games for the St. Louis Cardinals last season, helping his team make it to the postseason.

The right-handed reliever from Huatabampo, Mexico was solid in the NL Division and Championship series, but struggled in the World Series. The Cardinals won it all, but perhaps Salas’ control issues were a sign of things to come in 2012.

Read more

By Jose M. Romero

For Fox Deportes

Rafael Furcal went 2-for-12 this past weekend as his St. Louis Cardinals were swept in a three-game series by his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The series was highly atypical of the kind of season Furcal has had hitting. His batting average after Sunday’s game was a scorching .352, and Furcal has been a big reason for the Cardinals’ early season success as the table-setter, the leadoff man.

Read more