And has that model worked? I really don't see a point in following a model that hasnt worked. You dont need a superstar line-up to win. You also dont need to have a $200 million payroll to win either. Pitching comes first, then you go out and get your hitting. The. Cardinals. Didn't. Have. Great. Pitching. They didnt have great pitching, but their pitching stepped up when it matter the most. Which, in the end, gave them a World Series victory. oh. my. so when you say "pitching comes first," you're saying that teams need to focus on geting pitching that "steps up when it matters the most." I've figured out that his argument is basically the same as saying "whoever has the most runs wins". Because of course whoever wins a game has the best pitching that game, and whoever wins a series has the best pitching that series. Yes, the Cardinals won th....but this world series was not and example of good pitching beating good hitting. How can you say that, the team that pitched better won the series. Nuff said. Wrong. The team that hit better won the series.