7 Game First Round Playoffs and More

[HahnSolo]

Let's look at the AL East this year as a counterpoint though:

The Yanks and Rays would have had to go all out to win that final weekend. Let's assume the Yankees had won the division on the final day. That would put the Rays into the wild card playoff. Meanwhile the "second" wild card team this year would have been the Red Sox... who by the final weekend had sewn up their spot in the WC play-in game. So, Boston would have adjusted their rotation ahead of time so that their # 1 pitcher (I guess either Lester or Bucholz) would have been ready for the play-in game (and beyond should they advance). meanwhile the Rays we'll assume have gone all-out and maybe have to use James Shields in a winner take all one-game playoff. Seems a little unfair to Tampa.

(I do realize that in many seasons the second WC would not be locked in, and they'd have to go all out.)

[Benjamin Grimm]

To really be fair, you should only let first-place teams make the playoffs. Let the regular season mean something. The system that was in place from 1969 through 1993 was just fine.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's easy to forget that all this post-season drama was there in the regular season. It was just called a pennant race.

That's one of many wonderful things about the promotion/relegation system. Everybody is playing for something beyond the game in the final weeks. Every placement in the standings has value.

[Ceetar]

HahnSolo wrote: Let's look at the AL East this year as a counterpoint though: The Yanks and Rays would have had to go all out to win that final weekend. Let's assume the Yankees had won the division on the final day. That would put the Rays into the wild card playoff. Meanwhile the "second" wild card team this year would have been the Red Sox... who by the final weekend had sewn up their spot in the WC play-in game. So, Boston would have adjusted their rotation ahead of time so that their # 1 pitcher (I guess either Lester or Bucholz) would have been ready for the play-in game (and beyond should they advance). meanwhile the Rays we'll assume have gone all-out and maybe have to use James Shields in a winner take all one-game playoff. Seems a little unfair to Tampa. (I do realize that in many seasons the second WC would not be locked in, and they'd have to go all out.)

I think it's fairly rare for the second WC card team to actually have it all locked up. Presumably the Rays would've had the home field 'advantage' in that case though, which doesn't quite negate the pitching thing.

I do kinda like that way. Although it still does theoretically punish what could be considered the second best team in the game. I don't think the Yankees were necessarily that this year, but it happens. I understand winning the division is supposed to be all 'meaningful', but ..this is how you end up with 83 win Cardinal teams (although they put up when it mattered, so it's a poor argument) or tanking teams in September with no challengers that end up as the 5th best AL team making the playoffs in 2000 (also won it all, so it's really hard to rank these teams going into the playoffs anyway..)