Time to dump the Wild Card?

[statrat]

Jumping off the greatest collapses thread, and the fact that a Red Sox collapse will not mean that much, being that both they and the Yankees would likely make the playoffs regardless, is it time to get rid of the wild card and back to true penant races? It would be win or go home for the Red Sox down the stretch. I think its time baseball either went back to two divisions or found a way to split each league into four smaller divisions and to do away with the wild card, but that's just my opinion. Thoughts?

 

[Bubbler]

ITS BEEN 13 YEARS! THE BIRD HAS FLOWN!

The wild card "argument", if it even is one, is as tired as the designated hitter debate (thankfully, it is rarely heard anymore) and whining about unbalanced schedules.

 

[zeke12]

In a word: **** no, are you ****ing kidding me?

OK, that was more than a word...

 

[Chi City 81]

No. Also, DTGDTN!

 

[friend of a friend]

If you dump the wild card, which is a horrible idea, then what? Are you giving one of the division winners a bye or do you go to four divisions?

 

[Boomer7]

From an economic perspective, there's no way baseball can go back to the old system (1969-93. From a strictly baseball perspective, I kind of wish they would. Two rounds of playoffs are more than enough.

Go back to the two-division format -- seven teams in the AL divisions, eight in the NL. Win your division and you advance. Otherwise, go home.

 

[statrat]

Considering that Selig feels its necessary to tinker with the postseason structure every few years (All-Star winner gets WS home field advantage, best record in the league gets to pick its postseason series) I hardly believe the ships has sailed and think its worth debating something that, in my opinion, was a stupid idea to begin with.

 

[steveu]

Without the wild card, most divisions in baseball would be wrapped up and people would be paying attention to football. The wild card gives reason for hope in some cities.

Face it, without the wild card, Philly's likely watching the Eagles right now. Although the Mets ARE trying their hardest to say "you take it" to Philadelphia about that division lead...

 

[Beaker]

Considering that in the last five years, one of the wild card winners has either won or reached the World Series, I would definitely say no.

 

[statrat]

Without the wild card, most divisions in baseball would be wrapped up and people would be paying attention to football. The wild card gives reason for hope in some cities.

Face it, without the wild card, Philly's likely watching the Eagles right now. Although the Mets ARE trying their hardest to say "you take it" to Philadelphia about that division lead...

But most of the divisions are not wrapped up. In four of the six divisions the first and second place teams are seperated by three games or less and in the AL West and AL Central the second place teams are all but out of both the division and Wild Card.

 

[friend of a friend]

So let's say Team A goes 110-52 and Team B (in the same division) goes 109-53. The two other division winners go 81-81. You think Team B shouldn't make the playoffs?

 

[statrat]

So let's say Team A goes 110-52 and Team B (in the same division) goes 109-53. The two other division winners go 81-81. You think Team B shouldn't make the playoffs?

Nope. They should have figured out a way to beat Team A one more time during the four series they played in the regular season.

 

[friend of a friend]

Team B swept Team A in the regular season.

 

[Oz]

Not sure what would replace the wild card, if it were dumped. Seems like the system's working just fine.

 

[Bubbler]

If it ain't broke ... and all that.

 

[zeke12]

I really think it is a ridiculous question, statrat.

The wild card has been an unqualified success.

Baseball still has the most exclusive postseason of any of the four major American sports.

It also adds a layer of strategy to the pennant race.

I'm hard pressed to think of one bad thing about adding the wild card, I really am.

 

[bostonbred]

Wildcard has been one of Selig's few slam dunk successes.

 

[IU90]

I'm hard pressed to think of one bad thing about adding the wild card, I really am.

The one bad thing is it can diminish the importance of pennant races. This Sox/Yankees race is a prime example. Without the WC, this race would be viewed as something epic and historic, a potential meltdown of huge significance in baseball history. But, since we know both teams will be in the playoffs anyways, its not nearly as consequential.

Having said that, I agree the good of the WC outweighs the bad.

 

[friend of a friend]

If you don't like a system that guarantees the top two teams in each league make the playoffs, I don't know what to tell you.

Yes I do. Suck it up, because it's not going away.

By the way, Bostonbred, wild card, like Super Bowl, is two words.

 

[statrat]

I like some of the aspects of the Wild Card (just look at the teams that have won the World Series after making the playoffs thanks to the Wild Card) it just seems to dillute what should be some great pennant races. I would just as soon see four small divisions in each league. Having the Wild Card is not the end of the world for me, I just think their could be a better way of doing things.