Comments on: HBT Extra: AL Playoff Preview

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:50:02 +0000

I’m talking about wildcards in general: it’s still new to me. Besides I explicitly addressed that it was less of an issue because Texas was in the playoffs anyway.

By: bh192012

bh192012 — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:34:26 +0000

I think it’s interesting that in the AL, the new wild card hasn’t changed anything this year exept when/where the games are played, since wouldn’t Texas and the Orioles play a 1 game tiebreaker for the 1 wild card spot anyways? All the commotion about the extra wild card slot for nothing.

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:32:37 +0000

It’s interesting how the new playoff format has devalued certain things. As mentioned a couple of days ago, if it weren’t for the wild card format, the big story would have Texas’ Epic Collapse. Up by 5 games with 9 to play and they lose 7 of those 9 to end up in second place in their division. Contrast this with all the press the Mets got after floundering in 2007 (7 game lead with 17 to go) and other similar collapses of the past.

The big difference naturally is that Texas still got into the playoffs despite losing the Division Crown and still have a shot at redemption (and I wonder if a little east coast bias isn’t at play here as well; after all, the Braves got nowhere near the amount of press for flailing as the Red Sox did last season).

I wonder though, if they continue the skid and lose to the Orioles, how will this play in the media down in Texas.