Post by tigertowner 68 on Sept 3, 2015 20:22:50 GMT -5
The only really compelling divisional "races" left are between the Yankees and Blue Jays in AL East and Astros -Rangers in AL West..
And if Mark Teixeira doesn't return soon for NY, it will not be race for long in the East, even though Greg Bird is doing a credible job at 1B.
And just this season as an unintended consequence of the two wild card system, it is likely that each of these two races comes equipped with a "parachute" for the loser. In other words, the loser of each divisional race is an odds-on wild card.
So, this year the availability of a 2nd wild card sucks because it cheapens each division race.
Yeah, I know you'll all point to the fact that the losers in each division face a one game elimination. True.
But both World Series participants from 2014 (Royals -Giants) faced the one-game elimination as wild cards.
So, we are down to just a race for the 2nd wild card in the AL. And it is not much of a race because as I stated, odds are stacked heavily in favor of the West and east loser claiming each spot.
Barring total collapses, the field is set.
That said, do not forget the 2007 Mets and 2011 Red Sox. Total collapses.
Sucks that we have to root for a 2015 collapse by some team to even make things interesting, don't you think?
And if Mark Teixeira doesn't return soon for NY, it will not be race for long in the East, even though Greg Bird is doing a credible job at 1B.
And just this season as an unintended consequence of the two wild card system, it is likely that each of these two races comes equipped with a "parachute" for the loser. In other words, the loser of each divisional race is an odds-on wild card.
So, this year the availability of a 2nd wild card sucks because it cheapens each division race.
Yeah, I know you'll all point to the fact that the losers in each division face a one game elimination. True.
But both World Series participants from 2014 (Royals -Giants) faced the one-game elimination as wild cards.
So, we are down to just a race for the 2nd wild card in the AL. And it is not much of a race because as I stated, odds are stacked heavily in favor of the West and east loser claiming each spot.
Barring total collapses, the field is set.
That said, do not forget the 2007 Mets and 2011 Red Sox. Total collapses.
Sucks that we have to root for a 2015 collapse by some team to even make things interesting, don't you think?
