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Post by Rufus-T on Oct 1, 2018 18:08:47 GMT
The one thing that make the regular season meaningful is winning the division. That 1 WC format was a huge flaw as it ruined the drama towards the end of the season. When the Yankees & Red Sox tied going into the final game one year being both clinched a playoff spot already and that both teams played their B team, it was a flag for the problem of the format that the regular season is not as important anymore as long the team gets into the playoff. That 1 game is a punishment for not trying to win the division. That 1 game takes away the tied breaker so that there are two tie breaking playoff games today. The one game is scary, so the teams today will try the hardest not to play that wildcard game. If you look at football, they play do-or-die playoff game at every round, which is more than baseball. But is it in fact 'punishment' for not winning the division - or 'punishment' you were dealt a raw deal and in the one other division with an elite team while the rest of the league blows? The situation doesn't happen that often. This year is exception, and I would not call Indians and the A's blows. One game or three games, I would not count the A's out. Lucky that the season ended earlier. A more scary team would have been Tampa Bay Rays. |
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