I know none of you care but ........ (the Baseball thread)

[UK Redsox]

The three best teams in baseball come from the NL North (Cardinals, Pirates & Cubs).  It's criminal that one of them will not make it past Wednesday - the wildcard game.  162 game season comes down to a one game playoff, which is scandalous.

I think that they've got the balance just right.

If you want to avoid the one game playoff, win your division

[usav]

The three best teams in baseball come from the NL North (Cardinals, Pirates & Cubs).  It's criminal that one of them will not make it past Wednesday - the wildcard game.  162 game season comes down to a one game playoff, which is scandalous.

I think that they've got the balance just right.

If you want to avoid the one game playoff, win your division

The Mets and the Dodgers won 8 & 6 games less respectively than the Pirates.  How can the balance be right? 

Basketball is moving to a best record format for their playoffs this season, it's time for baseball to follow suit.

[UK Redsox]

This year its the NL Central that's good (well, the top three teams anyway) but next year it'll probably be a different division.

The only way to solve the problem you have usav would be to scrap the divisions, go to a balanced schedule and just have the top five teams qualify for the playoffs.
I wouldn't mind this happening but this can't really be done with 15 teams in each league.


Since they were brought in, divisions in baseball have meant something to supporters. Until the NBA's obvious problem last season, I suspect that some basketball fans weren't even aware that there are divisions. Most standings shown and certainly the way that radio and TV cover the league, make it seem that there's just two Conferences.

[usav]

I get that argument, and don't necessarily disagree.  Fundamentally though, how can a 162 game season come down to a one game play-off?  The Pirates (or whoever) could be playing a team that won 20 games less than they did - and then have to face a red-hot pitcher and then you are done after one game.  Madness.

[The Left Side]

Everyone knows the rules at the start of the season, as a Cubs fan at least we have a chance of the postseason. If we had finished 3rd with this record a few years ago we wouldn't have got anything so there you go. We';; win on Wednesday and then win the whole thing, Marty McFly saw the future!

[usav]

Everyone knows the rules at the start of the season,

Doesn't mean they are fair or shouldn't change.

[Meanwood Villa]

Another year without the Yankees winning it.

[UK Redsox]

Another year without the Yankees winning it.

The Spacemen defeat the Evil Empire.

[The Left Side]

Any predictions for the NL Wild Card game tonight, low scoring game I reckon? Come on the Cubbies!

[usav]

Pirates 2-1 Cubs

[PeterWithesShin]

Still up watching it live. Pirates reliever is Bastardo which amuses me.

[The Left Side]

Cubs win, wow Arrieta is good!

[UK Redsox]

Cubs win, wow Arrieta is good!

He should win the Cy Young for his regular season performance

[UK Redsox]

Let's hope that Lester can do the business against STL

[usav]

Cubs win, wow Arrieta is good!

He is amazing and I knew that going into the game, so did everyone in Pittsburgh.

Still think the wildcard game is flawed :-)