Quote:
Originally Posted by kq76
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I'm quite enjoying the Jays, Rays, and Mariners scratching their way to that so important first wild card spot because of course the two that don't will have to play on the road and one might even get caught by another team.
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Of course. if we were playing by 1994 rules, there would be
more drama, because 2 of the 3 would be going home, and obviously "in or out" is much more crucial than "home field advantage…for two games".
Even under last year's rules, all three of the Jays/Rays/Mays (shh, I'm stretching) would be fighting every day to stay alive, instead of kind of hoping they can get the #4 slot, but as long as the Orioles aren't a threat, let's not overtax ourselves, etc.
Every added playoff team diminishes the drama, IMO. And I say this as someone who cherishes 1999 and 2016 just fine.
(2000 was never my jam; we played two scabs regularly, we couldn't beat the Braves and just got lucky the Cards did our work for us, and the Subway Series hype made me queasy, since I really hate defining the team in relation to the Yankees. It ain't 1977 any more; I'm not in 9th grade listening to smug Yankees bandwagoners [who probably thought Celerino Sanchez was a condiment] gloat non-stop. I just want to win. Idgaf if we never played the Yanks at all.)
RE 2007: they had a bunch of past Clemente Award honorees at the Mets-Pirates game last night, introducing them before the 1st pitch. The fans booed Jimmy Rollins [2007 winner], as they should.
(Jimmy took it very well. It's all good, now. Sort of.)
RE 2006: Carlos Beltran [2013 winner] was also honored. The fans clapped, politely (not what they did for Leiter [2000], Delgado [2006] or Granderson [2016]).
I, of course, screamed at my TV, "Swing the &#$^# bat, Carlos!" As I probably will until I'm dead, lol.