Are we really smarter?

[tntoriole]

If the Os of 1969 - 1971 can only win one series despite having the most talent in the majors, then I suppose the 2010 - 2014 Giants can win three series despite having a roster that looks completely mediocre in every aspect.

Even Bumgartner is a mystery to me.....guy doesn't come up there with unhittable stuff, and most of the time he is near the strike zone. I have no idea how nobody hits him, yet they don't. Each of those Royals relievers was much more filthy than Madbum, but I guess like Maddux he just throws them where the hitters aren't expecting them?

Although the Giants winning those championships (and the Royals being in this last one) is due to the existence of the wild card system. In the hey day years of the Orioles, we would have made a number of playoffs if there had been a wild card system. Apples and oranges. Teams had to be much better for 162 game seasons to get to the World Series before wild cards were invented.