Quote:
Originally Posted by uruguru
Yeah, there were a lot of critics of the switch to 3-divisions + wildcard because of fears that a below-average team would make the playoffs and get hot . . .
So when the leagues switched to even smaller divisions, having the Rangers leading their league while a full ten games under .500 vindicated those concerns.
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This was exacerbated by using the same balanced schedule format as was used in 1993. You can rearrange the standings any way you want and the results would be equally legitimate.
Do note the three division structure was first being proposed way back in the latter 1970s, inspired by the success the amalgamated NFL-AFL had with it.