MLB Playoffs 2011: Game 5 Drama Creates Best Divisional Round Ever

Game 5 of the 2011 Major League Baseball Playoffs will end with three teams making a lasting memory with either a walk-off hit or that final out from the pitcher. Either way, these games will end an epic first round with champagne showers in the victor's locker room. 

"We're not going to give up, even when we're down 2-0," said Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young, who drove in three runs in a Game 4 10-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. "In the clubhouse, we still believed we could do it. At the time, our goal was to get back to Milwaukee. We've reached that, so it's a toss-up now. We're going to be ready to go."

"We're not looking at this like we're just happy to be here, and it's David and Goliath.” St. Louis Cardinals' free agent signing Lance Berkman said after his Cardinals, who had to win in their last game of the season to make the playoffs as a Wild Card team, won against the 102-win Philadelphia Phillies last night in Game 4 5-3, forcing a Game 5. 

"Tomorrow, I got the most important game in my life.” New York Yankees Game 5 Starter Ivan Nova said about tonight’s elimination game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium. 

These three quotes from these three teams who all had to win in Game 4 to force this winner takes all, loser goes home elimination games, are the reason this is the best Divisional Round that Major League Baseball has ever had.  

The end of the regular season was fast-paced and had a lot of drama, but two of those teams who won, eliminating the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves, were playing for nothing. 

When Baltimore beat Boston, their season was already over. The win didn’t advance their season any further. The Phillies win to end the season for the Braves didn’t advance their season any further than it already was.  

Tonight, though, if Game 5 between Detroit and New York goes to extra innings, and a player like Brett Gardner for the Yankees hits a walk-off home run to advance the Yankees to the American League Championship Series, it will make Gardner a Yankees hero forever.  

Tomorrow, the National League determines their Championship Series, as both games will be decided. It will be high drama in Milwaukee and Philadelphia, as all four teams send their best pitchers to the mound to get their teams to the next round.  

It’s one game for six teams that will make for lasting memories for their respective fan bases. 

This is why the MLB Playoffs are called “The Fall Classic.” Every pitch, swing, throw and catch matters tonight and tomorrow.

Twitter: @tjmcalon