What makes the MLB Playoffs great? The answer ... EVERYTHING!

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!

The Toughest Guy in MLB?

So ... I was doing my daily MLB check-in, browsing all of my favorite websites (see links on the right panel of the blog), and I came across an amazing page! MLB.com has a sub page dedicated to tracking milestones in baseball from the seemingly small (Tyler Flower’s upcoming 500th game) to those destined for the hall of fame (Albert Pujols’ soon to pass Frank Robinson for 25th on the all-time RBI list).

MLB.com — Milestone Tracker

As you can probably imagine, if you’ve been keeping up with the blog, this information sent me down a rabbit hole reminiscing past milestones and freeing up my schedule so I can watch live as some history is made this season.  

Anyway, as I was perusing, I expected to see the names David Ortiz, Carlos Beltran, Albert Pujols, but dominating the page was a player that I believe is often forgotten. Adrian Beltre is 37 years old and finishing up his nineteenth season in MLB, and I feel like he’s rarely grabbing the headlines despite an incredible career. To be fair, as I began to write this blog post I came across a piece that Sports Illustrated did on Adrian Beltre in March of this year (SI Profile — Adrian Beltre), so I guess I’m not the only one who is making this realization. In any case, Adrian Beltre deserves far more praise than he’s received in his nineteen years in MLB.

The milestones, in case you were getting curious, that Beltre is approaching are the following: 1,600 RBIs, 500 HRs, and 3,000 Hits. Currently, there are only four players in MLB history that have accomplished that feat: Alex Rodriguez, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Rafael Palmeiro. Let me say that again, only FOUR people have managed to accumulate these stats since the RBI became an official stat in 1920. Now, I am getting a little ahead of myself because Beltre is certainly going to have to do some work to reach these stats (he currently has 2,915 Hits, 439 HRs, and 1,559 RBIs).

**Disclaimer: There will be plenty of videos in this blog post and I suggest you try to watch them all**

We asked 100 people to name …”People who are Durable”

Averaging 142 games/season in his nineteen year career, Beltre has garnered the praise of teammates and coaches for being one of the toughest guys in baseball.

Beltre came back from this injury suffered in Game 1 of the 2015 ALDS to bat .444 in the final three games of the series.  

In June of last year, Texas recalled Beltre from the DL following just one batting practice session and without a rehab stint sparking Jon Daniels, the GM of Texas at the time, to call him a “freak”. Beltre IS a freak and his desire to be out on the field and help his team win games is at the very heart of what makes baseball great (along with wearing high baseball socks or stirrups).

The Answer is …

Adrian Beltre. The answer is Adrian Beltre. Seriously, if you are ever in a pinch to answer a baseball related trivia question just guess Adrian Beltre and you’ll probably be right. For instance, you’d be right if you answered Adrian Beltre to any of the following five questions:

1. Name one of the five AL 3B to have seven 20-homer seasons. (Graig Nettles, Adrian Beltre, A-Rod, Eric Chavez & Gary Gaetti)

2. Which player from the Dominican Republic has played in the most career games? (Adrian Beltre)

3. Name the two active players with 400+ HRs and 100+ SBs. (Adrian Beltre, Albert Pujols)

4. Name the two active players with 300+ HRs and 4+ Gold Gloves. (Adrian Beltre, Mark Teixeira)

5. Name the four players who have hit for the cycle a record 4 times. (Bob Meusel, Babe Herman, John Reilly)

He’s ALIIIIVEEEEE!

Beltre is a statistical monster! I won’t reiterate the obvious stats above, but on top of those unfathomable benchmarks Adrian Beltre has won countless awards and be on the precipice of a few more. He’s finished in the top 15 of the MVP voting seven times, including each of the last six season; he’s won four Silver Slugger awards; he’s won four Gold Glove awards; and he’s been selected to the All-Star Game four times. The only thing that has continued to elude him for the past two decades seems to be a World Series title. Could this be the year? Texas is finally going all in this year and has surrounded Beltre with the supporting cast to possibly pull it off. On top of that, Beltre is certainly pulling his weight (Elias Sports Bureau tweeted on Wednesday, “Adrian Beltre has scored in 12 straight games — longest streak by a player 37 or older since 1944.” - the streak ended Wednesday although he has reached base in both the past two games).

And the Academy Award goes to …

Speaking of awards, Beltre is one of the funniest guys in baseball, and his constant commentary on the game should be awarded an Oscar. Here are some examples of his hysterical antics:

Beltre uses a broom to avoid a Gatorade shower and then helps the grounds crew.

Beltre, facing Pat Venditte (an ambidextrous pitcher), tries to decide which side of the plate to hit from.

Beltre’s best moments — this one is priceless!

Possibly my favorite story of Beltre’s sense of humor dates back to last year in April when Beltre broke three bats in a game against pitcher Garrett Richards — the next day, Beltre sent a $300 invoice to Richards to cover the replacements.  

Back to the milestones, it's clear Beltre will easily reach 1,600 RBIs and 3,000 Hits, but 500 HRs will be a lot tougher. Although, with two years left on his contract in Texas and at least another year after that somewhere as a DH, I think he will do whatever it takes to reach that club. I’m certainly rooting for him!

Math Schmath ...

Sports are universally enjoyed by people all over the world for a variety of reasons. Some people love the competition and the high stakes drama; some people love the drama of the player’s personal lives; some people are introduced to sports at a young age and follow along with the family fanaticism. Personally, I love sports because, within their constraints, individuals often find ways to defy the laws of physics and math and push the limits of the human body beyond the unfathomable. One of my favorite plays in baseball (and your favorite according to the recent poll on this blog) is the steal of home. The most exciting thing about it is that anyone was ever crazy enough to think it was a good idea.

The act of stealing home requires two key characteristics that Jackie Robinson, in the previous video, was widely known for: superior athleticism and absolute commitment. Even if I didn't mention it, it's blatantly obvious if you take a look at the field and the players. The pitcher's mound is closer to home plate than 3rd base (60' 6" vs 90") and a 90 mph fastball takes far less time to get to the plate than a runner at top speed (. 4 seconds vs 4.4 seconds). On the face of it, the math doesn't compute at all. And yet …

Alright, I know what you're thinking, and I agree, I've ignored the variables here too long. First of all, the steal of home rarely takes place unless there is a left-handed pitcher on the mound (notice both videos above). This is because the left handed pitcher, pitching from the stretch (typical when there are runners on base), has his back to the runner on third base and has to rely on his peripheral eyesight and defense to keep the runner close. You'll notice, in the next video, how it only takes a split second of lost concentration or distraction to make all the difference.

As you just saw, an element of planned distraction is often employed when attempting the steal of home. This can be simply the runner on third acting a little lackadaisical to lull the pitcher and defense into falsely believing he has no intention of going anywhere. It can also be a second runner on the base paths causing havoc. If there is a runner on first base, as well as the runner on third, then the pitcher has to split his attention three ways (the two runners and the batter). To make matters worse, if he’s a left-handed pitcher, as we discussed above, then the runner on first is in his vision at all times and will most definitely cause confusion.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of poor execution. In the previous clip, with two outs the White Sox wanted to just throw the runner out at second and have the inning be over with. However, when the runner slowed down early on the base paths their plan was foiled and it gave the Yankees the opportunity to score the tying run. It not only takes a lot of preparation to complete the steal of home, but also to defend it. You never want to let another runner get to second base, but you definitely don’t want to let a run score like that. I think coaches tend to underestimate opponents when it comes to low-probability plays like the steal of home, and that’s exactly why it works sometimes. One thing is for sure, it’s always exciting and you’re always left wondering how the defense could “let” that happen. Well, hindsight is 20/20 after all, and Math isn’t always so cut and dry when you add all the variables.

So enjoy one of the best plays in baseball!