Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
As you may have heard, the Yankees clinched a playoff berth with their 6-5 win late last night in Anaheim. With the win, New York improved their overall record to a Major League-best 96-56. It is now all but certain that the Yanks will end 2009 with the best record in baseball (Dodgers are 4.5 games back, with just 11 to play). But take solace, Yankee haters, for that does not necessarily equal a World Series title.
Since 1995, the team with the best record has only won the Fall Classic twice, or roughly 14% of the time (Yanks in ‘98, Sox in ’07), a fact awesomely illustrated in the latest work from FlipFlopFlyBall. In fact, the team with the worst record in the playoffs has won the Series just as often (Yanks in ’00, Cards in ’06). There’s still hope, Detroit!
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wild card
the problem with the WC is years like this year when the WC clinches their spot with 8-10 games to go. They have the opportunity to set their rotation which is more of an advantage than the extra road game is as a disadvantage.
They need to go to 2 WC team and those teams should play a 1 game playoff, the Monday after the season ends and then their divisional series should start the very next day.
No days off for the WCs until the first travel day. Make the WC burn their #1 or #2 starter in order to make it to the divisional round. And now who ever pitches the playoff would probably have to wait until game 3 or 4 to pitch again.
there is not enough of an advantage for being a division winner.
by Chris F on Sep 25, 2009 5:28 PM EDT reply actions
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