Wild card in the World Series

[nyy26wc]

I'm currently giving this year's World Series matchup an F.

Normally, I'd give a Yankees World Series an A, but the fact that a disgraceful, not deserve to be in the playoffs team is there means, even if the Yankees are there, I'm keeping it as an F grade.

If having one of those disgraceful teams being there is enough to lower it 4 grades, if there are 2, instead of lowering it 4 more grades, I'll lower it 8. So, then I'll give the series an N grade.

[OaktownTribeFan]

If it's Yankees-Marlins, I'll give it a D for downright boring. I don't give a hoot who wins that matchup.

If Boston makes it, then I'll upgrade it to a B for barely entertaining, if only to see if they erase the curse.

[LeGrandOrange]

What, do you have a problem with becoming nyy27wc or something?

I'd agree with you on the F thing but I don't have to, everyone knows I hate Florida and I hate New York. Quite honestly, I hate Boston too...classless bunch of players. No fun when you don't give a *censored* about anyone left in the postseason...and it's freaking happened twice for me god damn it...

This postseason is a joke...

[nyy26wc]

Originally Posted by LeGrandOrange

What, do you have a problem with becoming nyy27wc or something?

The integrity of the game is far more important than the results and the integrity of this year's World Series has disappeared, just like last year. The only question left is if it as terrible as last year or just a lower grade of integritylessness.

[JamesI]

Originally Posted by OaktownTribeFan

If it's Yankees-Marlins, I'll give it a D for downright boring. I don't give a hoot who wins that matchup.

If Boston makes it, then I'll upgrade it to a B for barely entertaining, if only to see if they erase the curse.

I agree. If the Yanks win tonight I don';t watch the series..

[sweaver]

Originally Posted by JamesI

I agree. If the Yanks win tonight I don't watch the series..

You're gonna miss some great games......

I have stated my preference, such as in this thread: http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/...+realignme nt that I would prefer a different setup than we now have. I don't like the Wild Card (like Jim Baker, I capitalize it to reveal my "respect") but I won't let it affect my appreciation of the World Series.

[JamesI]

Originally Posted by sweaver

You're gonna miss some great games......

I have stated my preference, such as in this thread: http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/...+realignme nt that I would prefer a different setup than we now have. I don't like the Wild Card (like Jim Baker, I capitalize it to reveal my "respect") but I won't let it affect my appreciation of the World Series.

My not watching the series is not out of hatred for the wild card (I don't hate it, as long as there is only 1 per league) but more disinterest in the two teams playing. I don't want to watch a series to root against a team so I may not watch. But just how great yesterday's game was might have changed my mind...

[satchel]

I don't love the wild card but I don't hate it either. It's good to make sure that the team with the second best record in the league makes the playoffs if teams with lesser records can.

As I stated here http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/...ad.php?t=12101 as long as there is a division series I would prefer to extend it to seven games.

.

I think the theory was outlined well on the History channel: Beyond certain regular season win requirements, which have been met by all post-season entrants; and due to the sheer number of post-season games -- aren’t we seeing the best teams today, the best in respect to momentum and a rising up to pressure and competition?

.

[Jim Rice]

Originally Posted by nyy26wc

I'm currently giving this year's World Series matchup an F.

Normally, I'd give a Yankees World Series an A, but the fact that a disgraceful, not deserve to be in the playoffs team is there means, even if the Yankees are there, I'm keeping it as an F grade.

If having one of those disgraceful teams being there is enough to lower it 4 grades, if there are 2, instead of lowering it 4 more grades, I'll lower it 8. So, then I'll give the series an N grade.

Other than their skinflint owner, how are the Marlins "disgraceful"? This seems like a pretty likeable team other than Loria, so isn't "disgraceful" painting with an awfully broad brush?

Or is this a complaint about the wild card in general and not the Marlins specifically?

[nyy26wc]

Originally Posted by Jim Rice

Or is this a complaint about the wild card in general and not the Marlins specifically?

That's exactly what it is.

[Craig S.]

I'm not a big fan of the wildcard myself, but neither would I condemn this postseason because of the Marlins' appearance in the Series. I think the best team shows itself when the games matter most, and in this case it's been the Marlins. If the Giants and Cubs deserved it so much more, they should have won their series. I know the playoffs are usually seen as a crapshoot, but I don't subscribe to that theory.

I'm also not too concerned about the hit the wildcard team in the Series give's to baseball's alleged integrity. This is the same integrity that allows for a completely uneven playing field regarding team spending, and forces one of its teams to play 22 "home" games in Puerto Rico.

I'd like to go back to the old system, but there are bigger problems to deal with first, IMHO.

[Jim Rice]

Originally Posted by nyy26wc

That's exactly what it is.

Gotcha. Well, I really can't complain about it since my Sox have proven themselves capable only of winning the wild card and not their division for quite some time now, but I don't have much objection to it on unbiased grounds either.

I think it keeps more fans interested in the season for a longer period of time. I think it makes for more viewership in the playoffs because, in addition to always having a few million Yankee fans tuning in, many people watch simply to see an underdog. Americans like them, always have and always will. If the Yankees and the Dodgers were in the Series every year, or the Red Sox and Mets, or the Giants and White Sox - which they would be in a non-salary cap, non-revenue sharing, free agency envrionment, because they simply have more resources at hand - then what's the point of the rest of the country watching?

The NFL is better now that the Packers and Cowboys don't win every year. The NHL is better now that Montreal doesn't win it every year, and the NBA is monumentally better now that the Celtics or Lakers don't win it every year. I wouldn't want to get to an NBA or NHL scenario, where half or more of all the teams get to the playoffs - baseball's season is simply too long for that and I like it at its current length. But baseball is better, IMO, with more teams in contention to win the World Series, and the wild card has accomplished that.

Now, does the wild card make sense when an unbalanced schedule is being played? Different issue...

[SmedIndy]

There's been no integrity since the American League was formed because the best team didn't automatically win the Championship of the Major Leagues, Lee.

[KCBOOMER]

Lee, with all respect, I think your rant against the wild card is not realistic. If we were to go back to the old days of two leagues and no divisions and no interleague play the season would be over for 80% of the teams by July 1st. The attendance drop offs (i.e. money loss) would be staggering.

I suppose each league could split into two divisions with no interdivisional play and then we would end up with four "legitimate" teams. Terribly boring though. Had there been an NL East and an NL West setup the division races would have been over about August 1st. A similar set up in the AL would have had the Yanks in the east by Sept 1st, and Oakland and Seattle fighting it out an extra couple weeks.

Baseball is boring enough without the regular season ending in the average fans mind in the middle of summer.