Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra was onto something when he famously said: "95% of this game is half mental." (Spend any time with this quote and I guarantee it will make you dizzy.)

Years after I hung up my spikes I still revel in decoding the mental mysteries of the game. Why do some teams seem steely eyed and completely focused from spring training until the post-season, such as the 2009 Yankees, while others ride an emotional roller coaster?

Torii Hunter, the Los Angeles Angels outfielder, noted that the collapse of his team in the 2009 American League championship series was attributable to mental wobbliness. Across town, the Dodgers were similarly eliminated in the National League pennant chase because they had the nasty habit of mentally showing up or boycotting certain contests, during and after the regular season ended.

As a fan, you never quite knew if they'd blow-off a game here and there against the worst teams in baseball, simply because they believed they could get away with it and still reach glory in October.

Joe Torre, Dodgers manager and a veteran of numerous seasons, regular and post, has echoed a widespread sentiment. As a player, you cannot allow yourself to get too high when you win or too low when you lose. Above all, when a game is over, it needs to be mentally over, as well.

Easier said than done.

Many of the Dodgers' personnel moves, especially late season roster acquisitions, seemed to be aimed at not repeating their collapse in the 2008 league championship series with the Phillies. Yet, despite acquiring Vincente Padilla, a pitcher unafraid to throw inside, and Jim Thome, an answer to the Dodger-crushing pinch hitter Matt Stairs, the men in blue lost in five games, once more.

Trying to avoid repeating 2008, the Dodgers in many ways, duplicated 2008, in 2009. Or, as legendary Satchel Paige admonished, "Don't look back, because something may be gaining on you!" When you think about it, Yogi may have understated the case. Possibly 110% of baseball is half mental.