On Friday, October 5th I slipped away from the thanksgiving dinner table to catch the end of the first single elimination playoff game in the MLB. I got to the TV just in time to see the bottom of the 8th and the call that would define the game. This new single elimination playoff game was a big change for pro baseball . Even before the playoffs had started I was already a fan of the new format. We’re in a time where the North American sports scene has the NBA coming off of a lockout- shortened season, the NHL going into a lockout and the NFL sending out high school teachers to ref it’s games. The MLB is standing out as a league that is actually making positive change and improving the quality of product they put on the field. As a sports fan I can not help but be excited and inspired by the MLB’s new playoff format and the season it has brought about.
For the majority of MLB history, the winner of every division, plus one wild card team per league (National League and American League) advanced to the playoffs. Under the new system there will be two wild-card teams from each league; these two teams will play each other the day after the regular season ends. Normally in sports, adding new playoff teams can make the regular season less important. Some critics might say that a league should not have too many teams in the playoffs because it makes each regular season game less important. The NBA is often criticized for having sixteen playoff teams resulting in a lack of effort threw out the regular season. The MLB’s change will do the opposite: under the new system the wild card teams will be forced to play in this unpredictable one game playoff, resulting in a huge increase in value of winning the division. Once the season is over, the two wildcard teams will play their single elimination game the very next day, naturally playing their best pitchers. The wildcard team that is lucky enough to pull out the win and keep their season alive will be forced to enter the playoffs having to rest their best pitchers, giving the well earned advantage back to the division winner.
Throughout the regular season the new system worked! For the first time in a long time, it seemed like every team really felt they had a chance to win. Perennial bottom feeders Washington, Baltimore and Oakland all made playoff pushes and with many playoff races coming down to the wire the result was just as they hoped; September baseball became a must watch sporting event.
On Friday October 5th the first MLB single game elimination playoff was played. The stage was set for a great show and there was a buzz around the MLB that normally just doesn't occur this early in October.
Kris Medlen threw the first pitch and the game had begun! The first two innings rolled along until the bottom of the second when Braves catcher Dave Ross belted a two run homer. The cardinals responded by putting up six runs over the next few innings. The braves finally got the bats going scoring a run in the 7th. They held the cardinals in the top of the 8th and then in the bottom of the 8th inning they had found themselves in a position to get back in the game.
Andrelton Simmons had a chance for a potential hero moment. The braves were down three with one out, full count and two runners on. Simmons dug in for the payoff pitch he took a swing and got bat on ball, he had hit a lazy fly ball to left. It wasn’t exactly a Baberuthian but the ball was in play. It looked like it would be an easy out but the fielders were confused and the ball dropped in left field. Bases loaded with only one out! It looked like the braves were staging a come back.
As the fans started to stand in excitement the umps waved their arms and called it off. Confusion fell over the crowed until they realized what had happened then the confusion turned to anger. The umps had called it a dead ball on the basis of the “infield fly rule” (a rule meant to protect teams from getting double plays off fly balls in the infield) the only problem was this ball was hit to the outfield. This replacement-ref-like call by umps drew a quick reaction from the home fans who began throwing anything they could find on the field. As the sky began to rain beer bottles and popcorn bags the game needed to be stopped. Eventually the fans cooled down and the players returned to the field.
The game rolled on without another score. And just like that the it was over. The Braves will say one bad call ruined their season and the critiques against a single game playoff have their case.
Whether the call would have changed the outcome of the game or not is a good debate but the point is fans realized that one call could lose a team a game, and if one game can end your season, Is one game enough to settle who goes on and who goes home?
My only hope is that the controversy of this one blown call will not ruin public opinion of an otherwise excellent new system put in by a league trying to be better.
James Mitchell
For the majority of MLB history, the winner of every division, plus one wild card team per league (National League and American League) advanced to the playoffs. Under the new system there will be two wild-card teams from each league; these two teams will play each other the day after the regular season ends. Normally in sports, adding new playoff teams can make the regular season less important. Some critics might say that a league should not have too many teams in the playoffs because it makes each regular season game less important. The NBA is often criticized for having sixteen playoff teams resulting in a lack of effort threw out the regular season. The MLB’s change will do the opposite: under the new system the wild card teams will be forced to play in this unpredictable one game playoff, resulting in a huge increase in value of winning the division. Once the season is over, the two wildcard teams will play their single elimination game the very next day, naturally playing their best pitchers. The wildcard team that is lucky enough to pull out the win and keep their season alive will be forced to enter the playoffs having to rest their best pitchers, giving the well earned advantage back to the division winner.
Throughout the regular season the new system worked! For the first time in a long time, it seemed like every team really felt they had a chance to win. Perennial bottom feeders Washington, Baltimore and Oakland all made playoff pushes and with many playoff races coming down to the wire the result was just as they hoped; September baseball became a must watch sporting event.
On Friday October 5th the first MLB single game elimination playoff was played. The stage was set for a great show and there was a buzz around the MLB that normally just doesn't occur this early in October.
Kris Medlen threw the first pitch and the game had begun! The first two innings rolled along until the bottom of the second when Braves catcher Dave Ross belted a two run homer. The cardinals responded by putting up six runs over the next few innings. The braves finally got the bats going scoring a run in the 7th. They held the cardinals in the top of the 8th and then in the bottom of the 8th inning they had found themselves in a position to get back in the game.
Andrelton Simmons had a chance for a potential hero moment. The braves were down three with one out, full count and two runners on. Simmons dug in for the payoff pitch he took a swing and got bat on ball, he had hit a lazy fly ball to left. It wasn’t exactly a Baberuthian but the ball was in play. It looked like it would be an easy out but the fielders were confused and the ball dropped in left field. Bases loaded with only one out! It looked like the braves were staging a come back.
As the fans started to stand in excitement the umps waved their arms and called it off. Confusion fell over the crowed until they realized what had happened then the confusion turned to anger. The umps had called it a dead ball on the basis of the “infield fly rule” (a rule meant to protect teams from getting double plays off fly balls in the infield) the only problem was this ball was hit to the outfield. This replacement-ref-like call by umps drew a quick reaction from the home fans who began throwing anything they could find on the field. As the sky began to rain beer bottles and popcorn bags the game needed to be stopped. Eventually the fans cooled down and the players returned to the field.
The game rolled on without another score. And just like that the it was over. The Braves will say one bad call ruined their season and the critiques against a single game playoff have their case.
Whether the call would have changed the outcome of the game or not is a good debate but the point is fans realized that one call could lose a team a game, and if one game can end your season, Is one game enough to settle who goes on and who goes home?
My only hope is that the controversy of this one blown call will not ruin public opinion of an otherwise excellent new system put in by a league trying to be better.
James Mitchell
