By: Mike Guerriere
The reality of the sports world we are in today is that constant change is now a norm. Especially in the game of baseball where we have seen dramatic changes in the formatting of the way the postseason is run.
1995, 2012, 2020 and now in 2022 the MLB has introduced a new rule pertaining to the wild card portion of the postseason. “A third Wild Card spot was created in each league, bringing the total number of postseason teams to 12. The Wild Card Series returns — again as a best-of-three, with all three games in the home site of the higher seed. The top two division winners automatically advance to the DS, the division winner with the third-best record hosts the Wild Card winner with the worst record, and the other two Wild Card winners face each other. The top division winner faces the winner of the Wild Card Series between the Nos. 4/5 seeds, and the second-best division winner faces the winner of 3/6. The DS, LCS and WS then play out as before”. A rule that opens up another avenue for teams to make a run at the World Series as well as making postseason baseball that much different.
For fans, change in a sport that they love can be a hard thing to accept, you have the introduction of a much more enticing playoff format that will draw the attention of adrenaline seeking fans, causing chaos as 100 win teams are sent home whining, but if you are a much more traditional fan, you yearn for the regular season to be as important as it once was, where only the best teams with the best records could make the push for the World Series Title.
But why be upset about a good underdog story?
Embed from Getty ImagesIf these teams are truly that good then the wild card should be a cake walk when playing against lower seeded opponents, but the results from the past two seasons have NOT been enough for the media to contort this idea as it is still relatively new.
The change thus far has not favored the better teams in the MLB, although there certainly needs to be more trial and error before yet another league altering decision is made, then all arguments go out the window bashing the new format.
Teams that are resting, or rusting, in the eyes of Dodgers and Braves fans have the short leg up against lower seed opponents. The 111-win Dodgers lost their NLDS to the 89-win Padres. This was after the Padres needed three games to get past the Mets in New York while the Dodgers sat around twiddling their thumbs. The 101-win Braves lost their NLDS to the 87-win Phillies. The Phillies won their Wild Card Series in two games, but the Braves didn’t have to play any, sitting around resting and rotting away waiting to play.
All this, without question, gives fuel to the fire that these arguments can be made, but looking at the AL side last season, again, this argument flies right out of the door.
The Astros swept the Mariners in their three game series, while the Yankees managed to find a way to prevail over the Guardians, making the bye teams 2-2 during the 2022 postseason.
All in all, the idea that returning to the old format would be a great idea for some, but with the mission of the MLB constantly changing to try and meet the needs of their fans, we must continue to stay critical all while remaining patient during these times of trial and error. If the MLB can continue to put together games that cause this much controversy then they are doing it right.
