2013 MLB Playoffs

[boogielicious]

It may, because they're in the wild card spot. They played in a tough division this year with St. Louis and Cincinnati both having good years. The Pirates have more wins than all but five other teams: Boston (4), Detroit (1), Oakland (3), Atlanta (2), and St. Louis (2, own division). LA has as many wins as they do. Third place in every other division has 9, 8, 14, 19, and 18 fewer wins. In the Pirates division they have 1 fewer win. And they play the Red to end the season.

They're under-rated, but the best team in baseball doesn't even have a 70% chance of winning a one-game "playoff."

Roberto Clemente would be proud of the way they played this year.

[dsc123]

From what I understand, MLB's original point with these was to expand the amount of teams that try for playoff spots come September.

I've read a bunch of articles saying that their plan may have backfired. Teams are actually more likely to tank come September when winning the wild card only gets you a 50/50 chance of actually making it to the ALDS/NLDS. No one wants to spent extra money, make potentially short-sighted trades, and keep their young players in the minors just for a wild card slot that doesn't mean as much anymore.

Yeah, they wanted to expand the playoffs and the purists would have revolted.  So this was meant to keep more teams interested, while also strengthening the significance of winning the division.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamo

Maybe Yankees fans liked that, but as a Red Sox fan I liked the assurance that having the second best record in the AL didn't go for naught. (Speaking in general terms here. There were at least several seasons where the best two AL teams were the Sox and Yanks, and having only one of those teams with a guaranteed playoff spot would be unfortunate.)

Well I suppose a lot of teams would like assurances that they prove over the course of 162 games that they are not the best team, but then get even footing in the playoffs crapshoot anyway.

But this system is closer to fitting my opinion of what playoffs should be.  First you prove that you are the best in your division, then the best in your league, then the best of both leagues.  If over 162 games you prove that you're not the best in your division, in my opinion you shouldn't get a chance to pretend your the best in the league because you get hot at the right time.  Particularly because we have unbalanced schedules.  A 95 wins in one division is not equal to 95 wins in another, so it makes more sense to me to make the teams rise to the top of their division.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPMPIRE

I like the bolded statement here. This is why I like the older wild card format better. I highly doubt each team is playing for the wild card spot rather than winning the division. The new format may have made that winning the division was more imperative, but if you get the next best record in your respective league and not win your division, to me, you already deserve a playoff spot considering how long the season is.

[dfreuter415]

Roberto Clemente would be proud of the way they played this year.

Roberto Clemente played in 14 World Series games (1960 & 1971), and had at least one hit in every one.  When I was a kid we used to sit out in the right field bleachers just to see Roberto. If you ask anyone who saw him play, Clemente had undoubtedly the best arm in MLB history...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/590862-mlb-power-rankings-the-25-best-outfield-arms-in-mlb-history/page/26

Can the Bucco's win in the playoffs this year?  In baseball, anything is possible once you make the playoffs.  But, more importantly, this Pirate team has brought an excitement to the "baseball starved" and "history rich" city of Pittsburgh.

Beat 'em Bucs and Raise the Jolly Roger.

[iacas]

[Slice of Life]

Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland World Series.

How nuts would that be?

[georgeshot]

Braves vs. Indians: '95 rematch... Anyone, Anyone, Bueller? Bueller?

[Golfingdad]

Braves vs. Indians: '95 rematch... Anyone, Anyone, Bueller? Bueller?

Nah ... '88 rematch is coming. ;)

P.S.  Holy crap I just realized that Jamo was like -6 or something then!  Damn I'm old!  (Dodgers - A's, for you kids ;))

[jamo]

Nah ... '88 rematch is coming. ;) P.S.  Holy crap I just realized that Jamo was like -6 or something then!  Damn I'm old!  (Dodgers - A's, for you kids ;))

Ahem, -4.

[georgeshot]

I could go for that too. Awesome series. I became an A's fan around 1973 when I started collecting baseball cards & I grew up under the influence of my mother's affection for the Brooklyn Dodgers so... Dodger blue runs true.

[Slice of Life]

Braves vs. Indians: '95 rematch... Anyone, Anyone, Bueller? Bueller?

As long as the outcome is different, I'm good with that.

[butt3r3dt0ast]

GO TWINS!   .... oh, wait..

[Slice of Life]

[boogielicious]

Felt bad for the Tribe.  They had many chances but weren't patient at the plate.  With TB, you have to be patient.

[Slice of Life]

Felt bad for the Tribe.  They had many chances but weren't patient at the plate.  With TB, you have to be patient.

I was at the game. It was a choke job plain and simple. 9 hits, 0 runs. Pathetic. Nick Swisher swinging like he's roided out Mark McGwire with two men on...

[Golfingdad]

They finally got rid of the rule where two teams from the same division can't meet in the division series (last year when they added the second wild card team) which makes sense.  Does anybody know if they also changed the rules regarding home field advantage?

The Dodgers won the west with 92 wins and the Pirates won a wild card spot with 94.  If they both win tonight, who has home field in the next series?

I know it always used to be division winners over wild cards, but I don't know for sure if that's still true.

[meenman]

They finally got rid of the rule where two teams from the same division can't meet in the division series (last year when they added the second wild card team) which makes sense.  Does anybody know if they also changed the rules regarding home field advantage? The Dodgers won the west with 92 wins and the Pirates won a wild card spot with 94.  If they both win tonight, who has home field in the next series? I know it always used to be division winners over wild cards, but I don't know for sure if that's still true.

It is still the division winner

[georgeshot]

Been great games so far. I'm thinking Boston will wrap up tonight. If, not tonight then I think they will beat the Tigers regardless. I don't really have an affinity for any of the teams since The Braves got eliminated. I like Jim Leyland, but appreciate the job John Farrell has done this year.

[dsc123]

Terrific baseball. I've never watched so many games that didn't involve my team.