Friday, September 20, 2013

What To Do About The Wild Card Playoff

A year into the second Wild Card slot in MLB and there is no surprise that having a second Wild Card team has been an exciting thing during the pennant race. Having a second playoff slot means that teams are in the hunt longer for a postseason berth than in previous years. But there is something nagging about the way the teams play AFTER the season. See I have an issue with a two teams crawling and scratching their way to a postseason berth and it all coming down to just one game. Anything can happen in a one game scenario (ask the Braves how they felt losing that game to the Cardinals last season). This is what I propose should happen.

Instead of playing just one game, the Wild Card should be decided by a two out of three series with the first two games being played the next day after the season ends in the form of an old fashioned double-header. If the double-header is split, then the third game is played the next day to decide the series. I think playing the first two games in the form of a classic old fashioned back-to-back double-header (not a day/night double-header) would be an exciting way to decide the Wild Card.

To be honest, I'm not sure how you decide who hosts the games. If it is at the home park of the Wild Card team with the better record or even at a neutral site. That can be hashed out later. Making a series out of it in two potential days doesn't affect the scheduling. The only thing is that there is an advantage for the team with the best record since they have to play a Wild Card team who probably would have had to use their best pitchers in the two out of three series. Then again, we see that the Wild Card has been successful in the playoffs since they are usually running on full cylinders just trying to make the postseason.

I believe that having the second Wild Card slot is a good thing. They should just do more with it than just playing one game among the two teams.

Agree? Disagree? Any other scenario and/or suggestion? Drop me a line. Let me know.

Sisco Kid.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

The 200 Homerun 400 Steals Club

Pete the other day at work was telling me that Jimmie Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies is on the cusp of joining an exclusive club. With one more homer, Rollins would join the 200HR/400 Steals club. In total (not counting Rollins) there are nine players who have reached that plateau. I guessed three right off the bat and faltered on a few guesses. Here is the list:
Roberto Alomar (210 HR/474 SB)
Craig Biggio (291 HR/414 SB)
Barry Bonds (762 HR/514 SB)
Bobby Bonds (332 HR/461 SB)
Johnny Damon (235 HR/408 SB)
Rickey Henderson (297 HR/1406 SB)
Marquis Grissom (227 HR/489 SB)
Paul Molitor (234 HR/504 SB)
Joe Morgan (268 HR/689 SB)
I had guessed Barry Bonds, Henderson and Morgan while Pete added Paul Molitor. I thought that maybe Lou Brock and Tim Raines were on that list. I never would have imagined that Marquis Grissom was on this list. It's a pretty impressive list.

Good luck to Jimmie Rollins as he looks to hit is 200th homerun to join the club.

Sisco Kid