Really?  Didn't everyone use a 4 man rotation in the playoffs last year?

i don't understand your post at all.     I think if anything it was easier to win in the playoffs 40 years ago with 2 studs and some also-rans. 

Something's wrong here, because I agree with Trentonjoe rather than zubinsum.  I don't believe that:

1. A focus on a smaller number of really good pitchers indicates an increased emphasis on pitching
2. That #1 is actually happening right now - I think the opposite is
3. That it's easier now than in the past to get by with fewer good pitchers, even in the playoffs

Well, maybe you aren't as dumb as I thought....

Given a choice between a Persian with (presumably) outstanding math skills and a schlub from Jersey, I have a hard time believing anyone would have a hard time making a decision.

The game is getting better. Players make more money so now they don't have to work during the offseason like many in my generation did. They can work out more. eat better foods. Buy better supplements. In general take better care of themselves.

The ball stays fresh. Ground ball ...new ball. Pitch in the dirt...new ball. Foul to the third base coach...new ball. Cleaner, fresher balls are put into play more so now than ever before. Uniforms lighter, shoes lighter and more comfortable. Batting gloves that the old guys never before used. Eye wear even. Not the old fashioned flip down sunglasses but $500 Oakleys. Cold weather gear...better, lighter. Everything equipment wise is better much better than ever before.

PEDS SCHMEDS...the game is getting better because the athlete is getting better and the equipment is getting better.

To be clear, my last post was just my opinion.  Only each oragnization or GM "knows" what and why they emphasize in player development. 

That being written, the divisional structure of leagues and the wild card format means fewer wins are needed to reach they playoffs.  And once a team is in the playoffs, they typically use only 3 1/2 starting pitchers (instead of the 5 that got them through the regular season).  Today ~91* wins gets a team a playoff berth.  This is different from the pre-divisional era when it took ~97* wins on average to reach the post season or in the pre-wild card divisional era when ~94* wins were needed.  This is actaully not too different from SIM leagues where the most sucessfull owners often use unbalanced rotations.

* numbers are off the top of my head, I didn't have time to re-research them.

The other factor I see is that pitchers are the most fungible talent in the game.  Only half the teams need a DH; every team has only 1 starting 1B-man, 2 corner OFers, 1 3Bman, 1CF, 2 MIFers and 1 C.  However every team has 4-5 starting pitchers.  As such every team could upgrade its pitching.  Of course this has always been true, but this is made especially so by modern general management (locking up key players earlier and longer) and free agency (making it expensive to fill "holes").   

Let me clarify my disgrokfulness:

How does "There is more emphasis on pitching"  square with "the divisional play-off structure makes it possible or even likely to win with a couple of studs and some also-rans."?

That's what I don't get.  I don't see how having fewer really effective pitchers adds up to a greater emphasis on pitching.

Respectfully back atcha.  When I think about more emphasis on pitching, I agree that that means teams acquiring, and more to the point (I think) developing more and better pitchers.  Emphasis on "more".  I would think that relying on only a couple of stud pitchers would actually indicate less emphasis on pitching.

I think we're circling the same point but our semantics are misaligned.

Doodooface.