How so? We were the best team in the national league (if not all of baseball, don't remember anything about the American League) going into the playoffs. We're the best team now. St. Louis had a better record and we had to play a road wildcard game, and start both series on the road. Not even close to the same thing. The Cards starters were not looking good going into that series. Martinez was hurt while Lynn and Wacha were pitching well (plus I think we lit those two up twice in Aug and Sept). There's a reason they brought Lackey back on short rest in Game 4. It's not quite the same thing but I think I lot of people thought the Cubs were the favorite in the series.