Two More Wild Cards

Major League Baseball opened up the playoffs to two more teams by adding an additional wild card to each league. It is the first change since the original wild cards were added to the play offs in 1994. The new change would have the two wild card teams play in a single game winner-takes-all to determine who plays the division champion with the best record.


It could be argued that the wild card has been a success since five World Series champions since 1994 were wild cards. The Florida Marlins won twice in 1997 and 2003 while the Anaheim Angels won in 2002, the Boston Red Sox won in 2004 and the St Louis Cardinals won in 2011. Add to that other wild card teams that made it to the World Series in the New York Mets in 2000, the San Francisco Giants in 2002, the Houston Astros in 2005, the Detroit Tigers in 2006 and the Colorado Rockies in 2007.


Make no mistake that the motive behind this is financial. It is likely that the wild card game will be expanded to a series down the road to take advantage of additional television revenue. The issue that makes me cringe about this is the thought of a third place team possibly winning the World Series. To me that cheapens the championship process. While in theory the strongest or teams with better records should come out on top and avoid this the history above shows that a lesser team can make it through. It is just the matter of riding a hot streak and getting some breaks.


Even with the change the MLB playoffs isn't as diluted as the other major sports. With 10 of 30 total teams making the playoffs that means one third of the teams make the post season. The NFL is next with 12 of 32 teams making the playoffs which is 37.5%. The NBA and NHL are equally laughable with 16 of 30 teams making the playoffs which is an outlandish 53%.


While I'm against the change it is here to stay. I only hope it is several years before the first third place team makes it to the World Series let alone win it all. In the mean time may the best team win!!