As October continues to fade away, the MLB playoffs are well underway and I believe the only people disappointed are the fans of the teams quickly losing ground to Cleveland and Chicago (I never thought I’d say that). The MLB playoffs, in my opinion, are the closest thing to perfection when it comes to postseason sports (and yes I’m including our beloved March Madness in that statement). The MLB postseason, in it’s current form, is comprehensive, fair, and exhilarating. Baseball is our National Pastime, and even though we constantly hearken to the good oil’ days of Aaron, Ruth, and Mantle, Baseball is constantly changing and improving (for good or bad) the way the game is played and how it appeals to the ever-changing audience.
The Good (at a glance)
With the new Wild Card play-in game, Baseball capitalizes on the excitement of the single elimination style that has created the craze of March Madness.
Edwin Encarnacion’s 11th Inning Walk-Off Home Run
Alright, let’s start at the beginning ...
Why fix something that’s not broken?
Baseball is, and always has been, America’s National Pastime, a sport that is enriched with tradition that dates back to the 1870s. However, the social landscape of the world has changed exponentially in the past decade and in 2016 it is more important than ever to appeal to the short attention span that has meticulously developed with the success of Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. MLB teams play 162 games each year, and before 1969 the teams with the best records in each league (American and National) played each other in a best of seven World Series to crown a champion. If we were still using that system in 2016, then that would leave 28 teams [read: 28 fan bases] out of postseason consideration immediately following an arduous 162 game season. In fact, more than half those teams would have fallen out of reach mathematically well before the end of the season effectively losing the interest of half the country as the postseason approached. Baseball has strived to constantly evolve it’s postseason moving from one round to two rounds to three rounds and finally adding the play-in game in 2012, and there’s only one problem (that I can think of) that all of the “fixing” didn’t fix. The problem with adding teams into the postseason conversation is that you are not always left with the best team in each league as the dust settles. Before 1969, each and every year the two best teams played each other. There was absolutely no circumstance when a team with a losing record would be able to win the World Series. In 2016, while it still has yet to happen, the opportunity is certainly there. Eleven years ago in 2005, the San Diego Padres were able to win the NL West with an 82-80 record and could have been the first team to accomplish that unfortunate feat if they hadn’t won five of their last six games to close out the season. Year to year, it’s something that every major American sport deals with, within each league (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) some divisions are just not as strong as other divisions and it’s incredibly unpredictable. There are a lot of factors that aid both smaller and larger market teams to get stronger year to year (the draft, free agency, large wallets, etc.), and as is oft true in team sports any team can beat any other team on any given day. So again, I attest that MLB has nailed the postseason; giving multiple teams a shot to play their way in, cultivating competition up until the last game of their extensive season, and ultimately crowning a deserving champion each and every season. Let’s put it to the test, though.
MLB vs NFL
I admit this is a tough comparison especially given the commercial success of the Super Bowl each and every year, however I will challenge that the commercials and halftime show have literally been more of a success than the actual game being played. The point I’m trying to make is not which postseason makes the most money or attracts the most devoted viewership. As I stated previously, I want to know which postseason is most effective in finding an undisputed champion of the league in question and most successful in affording their fan base the opportunity to get swept up in the team's’ triumphs. The NFL fails to compare for a few different reasons; neutral field for the Super Bowl, unpredictability of single elimination games, lack of managerial responsibility. If you ask me, there is nothing more disappointing than having your (often hometown) team make the Super Bowl and realizing that on top of the ridiculous ticket prices you also have to buy a flight to California, Arizona, New Orleans, etc. In every other major sport, there are both home and away games for the playoff teams allowing hometown fans a greater opportunity to support their team in person. Football, in general, is a lot more physical than the other major sports which makes a best-of playoff series out of the question and some teams do get home playoff games, but overall it’s extremely inconvenient. On top of that, it could be one game and you’re out for your favorite team. It’s heartbreaking that each year a fan base can spend four months hoping and pining for a playoff game, and then have their dreams dashed in just sixty minutes on that first Saturday or Sunday. Lastly, with Bill Belichick the notable exception to this rule, there is very little managing done during the NFL postseason. I find myself constantly disappointed that a player didn’t run harder, or overthrew that pass, or fumbled the ball; but these are events that are part of the game of football and can befall even the best player. Even Bill Belichick and the undefeated Patriots were overwhelmed in 2012 when they were beaten by a far inferior New York Giants team. In Baseball, matchups and managerial decisions are countless and can directly lead to a win or lose. Just ask Buck Showalter (considered one of the best managers in the game), who is under heat for his use of his bullpen in the Baltimore Orioles loss this year to the Toronto Blue Jays; or just look at how Terry Francona is using his midseason addition, Andrew Miller, this postseason for the Indians. The Super Bowl is thrilling, but it so often seems like dumb luck.
Recent examples below:
Malcolm Butler’s Interception in the End zone — 2015 Super Bowl
David Tyree’s Helmet Catch — Super Bowl XLII
Nothing lucky about this ... Rivera closes down four separate World Series because that’s what he does.
1996 — World Series Game 6
1998 — World Series Game 4
2000 — World Series Game 5
2009 — World Series Game 6
MLB vs NHL and NBA
I’m lumping the NHL and NBA together because their postseasons are extremely similar, and they both almost got it right. Almost. In my opinion, there are only two that need improvement: be less inclusive and the home court/ice advantage. Competition is paramount in sports and even the most tortured fan bases would agree that they don’t want pity. Sixteen teams are included in both the NBA and NHL playoffs, which means more than half the league makes the postseason. I remember playing in sports tournaments growing up and all of the trophies that were given out, and I never remember anyone enjoying their “participation” trophy. I know that fan bases want to see their team make the postseason at any cost, but the fans of the 8th place team each year must be embarrassed that they even have a shot to win the championship. With a postseason that is this inclusive, how is competition fostered at the end of the regular season? Toward the end of the regular season teams that are well ahead of the curve are only vying for the ability to host crucial playoff games at home, and, although it’s hard to deny the home court/ice advantage, it must be difficult to the risk of injury to your most vital players for a couple of relatively meaningless games. Speaking of home court/ice advantage, I don’t understand its usage in the NBA/NHL. First of all, there is far too much travel and delay when a series goes to seven games because the last three games of those series alternate between the home and away teams. Also, I don’t see the clear advantage of this plan considering the lesser team can still host one of the final two games if they are able to push the series that far. I believe the point of the home field advantage is twofold: to give the home team the advantage if the series is extended to seven games, and to validate the upset if the away team is able to close out a series on the road. Both of these points are moot if you use a 2-2-1-1-1 series.
Yeah, but why the play-in game?!
I don’t really know why this is an argument, but I have heard the whining that the play-in game favors the team with the single best pitcher (not necessarily the best team). First of all, one of the most often used idioms in sports is “Defense wins championships”, one that has been proven time and again. Needless to say, if a team has the best pitcher don’t they deserve to win? The importance of having an ace at the top of the rotation is something that every team covets throughout the offseason, the regular season, at the trade deadline, and finally appreciates as the postseason approaches. However, using the logic above, wouldn’t all of the Wild Card play-in teams meet their demise shortly thereafter? I could go through each of the twenty teams that have had the distinction to play in those games and pick them apart, but the case was made for me in the 2014 MLB playoffs. In 2014, one of the most exciting World Series in recent memory, the San Francisco Giants were able to beat the Kansas City Royals in seven games after each of those teams survived their respective Wild Card play-in games to begin the postseason. In fact, the two teams only suffered two collective losses leading up to their World Series matchup proving that the best teams have both star power and depth. Even this year, only two of the top four teams heading into the playoffs are still alive and the clear World Series favorite, the Chicago Cubs, are tied heading into game 3 of the NLCS. I implore you to watch the rest of the postseason unfold, even if you are a Yankees/Red Sox/Orioles/Giants fan. Each and every year, I find that I am anything but disappointed with the final result, and if the Cubs can pull through then you’ll be witnessing history!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment