Why shouldn't they have to?

I don't think anybody is saying that the 1-game WC is "unfair" to the #5 team; I'm not sure anybody is saying that it's unfair to the #4 team (although I think the Braves are a genuinely good team that are going to play a 1-gamer against a genuinely good team). What the poster was saying is that he can't get excited about seeing a bunch of mediocre teams battle for a chance at a 1-game playoff. The Phils or Brewers or D-Backs might pull off one of the "greatest" comebacks in history then be down 8-0 after 2 innings 2 days later. Sure, it's more exciting than Deal or No Deal but it's pretty much the same concept.

I can't blame him but then I'm a traditionalist, 2-division, no wild-card, no interleague play fogey who has never been able to get excited about mediocre playoff teams (unless they happen to be the Cubs) ... not that the 2-division set-up didn't let through the occasional mediocre playoff team.

There's an obvious need for wild card teams in football where you only play 16 games (not that the NFL hasn't gone overbaoard on wild cards). Maybe that need still exists in basketball and hockey although 82 games is probably enough to sort out who the best are. But if 162 games isn't enough to figure out who the best baseball teams are then what are they doing during the regular season?

There's already a ton of randomness in baseball and the wild card made it easier for that randomness to determine who gets to be champion. I just don't see any point (well, other than money) in making it easier to "luck" into a WS title.

But we've been having this discussion for 20 years now and it ain't going back the way it was.

yep, I wasn't commenting on the worthiness of the format.

I was saying that the excitement of the race for the second wild card is tempered by the reward.

I don't think anybody is saying that the 1-game WC is "unfair" to the #5 team; I'm not sure anybody is saying that it's unfair to the #4 team (although I think the Braves are a genuinely good team that are going to play a 1-gamer against a genuinely good team). What the poster was saying is that he can't get excited about seeing a bunch of mediocre teams battle for a chance at a 1-game playoff. The Phils or Brewers or D-Backs might pull off one of the "greatest" comebacks in history then be down 8-0 after 2 innings 2 days later. Sure, it's more exciting than Deal or No Deal but it's pretty much the same concept.

Obviously that's possible, but if the Phils make it--unlikely--they would not be an improbable WS winner with that staff and that momentum.

if i was manager and got into the one game playoff and had a good bullpen i would just toss a back end starter for a few innings and plow through the bullpen. given the day off between games there isn't a downside barring extra innings but then you can roll in starters as needed.

Not sure if this will matter in the race for the wild card(s), but Josh Beckett just got thrown out at first base by Beltran in right field. Scully says first time he's seen that in years, but is certain last time he saw it was in Pittsburgh, can't remember who was involved. Wonder how his memory is on this one? Can the play index help with this one? assuming 9-3.

mrams

courtesy of shock from a thread last september when frenchy did it to an a's rookie

Game, Inning, Outs, Event, RF
BRO195108271, 3, 0, 93, Carl Furillo
SLN195705302, 2, 0, 93, Wally Post
LAN196108150, 4, 1, 93, Frank Robinson
SFN196304211, 3, 0, 93, Lou Brock
MIN196407170, 5, 1, 93, Lou Clinton
CHN196509040, 5, 2, 93, Billy Williams
BAL196507270, 6, 1, 93.1-2, Curt Blefary
PHI196608211, 1, 1, 93.1-2, Al Luplow
CIN197006060, 6, 1, 9326(1)/FO, Pete Rose
MON197005070, 1, 1, 93, Rusty Staub
SLN197105180, 3, 0, 93, Jose Cardenal
OAK197606180, 6, 2, 93, Bernie Carbo
MON197907100, 4, 0, 93, Ellis Valentine
CHN198008062, 5, 0, 93, Mike Vail
PHI198008200, 3, 1, 936(1)/FO.3-H, Bake McBride
CIN198306300, 3, 0, 93, Jack Clark
SFN198307102, 9, 1, 93, Jack Clark
CHA198409090, 6, 1, 93, Harold Baines
PIT198507060, 7, 1, 93.1-1, Tony Gwynn
SFN198509010, 5, 1, 93(B), Joel Youngblood
PHI198609290, 1, 1, 93.3-H, Glenn Wilson
MON198706120, 2, 2, 93(B), Glenn Wilson
SLN199209150, 2, 2, 93/G34D, Alex Cole
SDN199207040, 1, 0, 93/G34D, Larry Walker
MON199209230, 6, 1, 93/G34D, Larry Walker
MIL199308241, 1, 1, 936(1)/FO/L9M.B-1, B.J. Surhoff
TOR199705050, 5, 2, 93/G34, Orlando Merced
PIT199805120, 7, 1, 93/G34D.1-2, Jose Guillen
HOU200007090, 2, 1, 93/G, Lance Berkman
FLO200008250, 6, 2, 93/G, Mark Kotsay
ATL200006070, 4, 2, 93/G, Brian Jordan
ATL200004230, 5, 0, 93/G, Brian Jordan
SLN200008050, 2, 0, 93/G, Brian Jordan
NYN200204170, 2, 2, 93/G34, B.J. Surhoff
ARI200209290, 2, 0, 93/G, Gabe Kapler
CIN200307290, 3, 2, 93/G, Rene Reyes
LAN200409110, 8, 1, 936(1)/FO/G.B-1, Milton Bradley
TBA200409220, 6, 1, 936(1)/FO/L.3-H(UR), Jose Cruz
HOU200707250, 5, 2, 93/G, Luke Scott
WAS200906060, 4, 0, 936(1)/FO/DP.BX2(3), Elijah Dukes
HOU201008090, 2, 2, 93/G, Hunter Pence
LAN201008070, 10, 0, 93/G.1-2, Mike Morse

and at the bottom of the thread he has a bunch of other outfielder to infield putout combos

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/newsstand/discussion/francoeur_throws_batter_out_at_first_from_right_field

Thanks Harveys, I figured this ground has been covered here before.

I was saying that the excitement of the race for the second wild card is tempered by the reward.

For the 2nd wild card the reward is infinitely better than a year ago.

I'm not against the rule, but if wild card teams do as well in the playoffs after the rule as before, maybe it's worse. You are penalizing a team for not winning the division, but you are cancelling that out by rewarding an even worse team with a playoff spot.

courtesy of shock from a thread last september when frenchy did it to an a's rookie

Dumb question, but is the names at the end of each game, the outfielder who made the throw?

Unless it happened (9-3) last year, based on what Harveys posted, Scully's memory failed him, 2010, at Dodgers Stadium against the Nats. For shame Vin. The 2004, 9-3 at Dodgers Stadium was vs STL. Perhaps Vin's recalling some GOTW game he did. Or maybe not even a '9-3'

Dumb question, but is the names at the end of each game, the outfielder who made the throw?

It would have to be, unless the guys who hit into 9-3 plays all happened to be outfielders.

I'm not against the rule, but if wild card teams do as well in the playoffs after the rule as before, maybe it's worse. You are penalizing a team for not winning the division, but you are cancelling that out by rewarding an even worse team with a playoff spot.

Or giving a team that was slightly unluckier during the regular season a chance to be lucky in a one-game playoff.