Wildcard Playoff game hurt or help MLB?

[Runscott]

Heck, it used to be two 8-team leagues and you only got to the playoffs if you won the division. Now you have fewer teams in your division and it mathematically easier to make the playoffs even if there were NO wildcards

Bottom line - win your division and reap the benefits.

[canjond]

I hate divisions all together. I wish the format was 2 leagues with the top teams in each league making the playoffs. East, Central and West rewards mediocrity IMO.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by canjond

I hate divisions all together. I wish the format was 2 leagues with the top teams in each league making the playoffs. East, Central and West rewards mediocrity IMO.

I always wanted them to go back to 2 leagues for the same reason. And then 2 WC's.. I guess I'd be ok with 3 WC's under the current format, maybe with the worst two playing one game(I'd still find the one-off kinda silly though). This format, I really don't care much for..

NY, Baltimore and either Oakland or Texas could easily end up tied for the best record in the AL. NY's already at least clinched a share of that already. and they'd be stuck in this one game mess. Hell, if NY and Balt tie, they'll have to play a game to decide whos the division winner and who's the wildcard(because there are NO tiebreakers anymore), and then the loser will have to go on and play another one off vs either Texas or Oakland the following day. Exciting, yes! But I think it's f'ed up that they'll have to jump through all these hoops..

Basically, a team could realistically play 4 consecutive games against 4 different teams..

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by novakjr

I always wanted them to go back to 2 leagues for the same reason. And then 2 WC's.. I guess I'd be ok with 3 WC's under the current format, maybe with the worst two playing one game(I'd still find the one-off kinda silly though). This format, I really don't care much for..

NY, Baltimore and either Oakland or Texas could easily end up tied for the best record in the AL. NY's already at least clinched a share of that already. and they'd be stuck in this one game mess. Hell, if NY and Balt tie, they'll have to play a game to decide whos the division winner and who's the wildcard(because there are NO tiebreakers anymore), and then the loser will have to go on and play another one off vs either Texas or Oakland the following day. Exciting, yes! But I think it's f'ed up that they'll have to jump through all these hoops..

Basically, a team could realistically play 4 consecutive games against 4 different teams..

Yeah, I forgot to mention the AL side of this when I post the OP. It is a mess over there with the one off game possibilities, yet Detroit with the 7th best avg is automatically in because of the division breaks.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by novakjr

I always wanted them to go back to 2 leagues for the same reason. And then 2 WC's.. I guess I'd be ok with 3 WC's under the current format, maybe with the worst two playing one game(I'd still find the one-off kinda silly though). This format, I really don't care much for..

NY, Baltimore and either Oakland or Texas could easily end up tied for the best record in the AL. NY's already at least clinched a share of that already. and they'd be stuck in this one game mess. Hell, if NY and Balt tie, they'll have to play a game to decide whos the division winner and who's the wildcard(because there are NO tiebreakers anymore), and then the loser will have to go on and play another one off vs either Texas or Oakland the following day. Exciting, yes! But I think it's f'ed up that they'll have to jump through all these hoops..

Basically, a team could realistically play 4 consecutive games against 4 different teams..

I was thinking the same thing. The Yankees could play Boston tonight and lose and end up tied for first; lose to Baltimore tomorrow night and be the wild card; beat Oakland the next night; and then advance to play a division winner. Four consecutive different teams. Crazy!