But perhaps, even more exciting is that final run at the end of the season to make the playoffs.
If you are not following the MLB playoff race this season, you are missing out. The MLB has done an amazing job at turning the last few weeks of the long 162 game season into something really exciting and special.
When first hearing about MLB adding the 5th playoff team to the AL and NL, AKA the 2nd Wild Card team, I was skeptical, I think we all were. However, we are in year one of the new playoff system and it is awesome!
Unlike in the NHL and NBA where 16 teams make the playoffs, there is excitement at the end of the season in MLB. In NHL and NBA teams can clinch top four playoff spots close to two or more months before the season is over. That leaves us fans to watch bad teams fighting it out for 7 and 8 seeds to close out the year.You put that together with a two month, four round playoff and by the time we hit the finals, the teams are so worn down, you are not seeing the best from the teams.
What MLB has done is brought excitement back to the end of the season and continuing right into the playoffs. No baseball fan will ever forget game 162 last season. The Rays vs. The Yankees, The Red Sox vs. The Orioles, The Cardinals vs. The Astros & The Braves vs. The Phillies.
Four games in one night that will go down in MLB history and will be forever etched in the minds of those of us that watched them. Even if our teams were winners or losers, we will always remember" Game 162, 2011" .
I remember the Rays vs. Yankees game was on ESPN TV and the Red Sox vs. Orioles game on ESPN3.com. I had them both going at the same time and watched as the Red Sox blew their lead and lose the game. Just two minutes later, Evan Longoria drills a home run in extra innings just over the left field wall in walk off fashion to send the Rays to the playoffs.
Awesome.
A moment so big in Tampa Bay Rays history, they made a monument of it right where the baseball landed.
No way baseball could top that night one year later, right? With the new five team playoff rules, they are well on their way to doing it again.
With as little as nine games left in the regular season, teams are just now clinching playoffs spots, not two months early like in other leagues. Baseball is putting an emphases on the importance of winning your division and having a secure playoff spot.
Don't win your division? That is fine, you are now one of two teams playing in the unpredictable one game Wild Card Playoff.
How exciting is that? Teams, like the Braves, may have all ready clinched a playoff spot, but it is not time for them to rest players and give up on the season. They have the chance to keep fighting and win their division and skip that unpredictable one game Wild Card Playoff. This is what makes baseball exciting.
Rewards for the teams that have earned it in the regular season and an uphill climb for the teams that were good, but not the best.
Much like the FCS Playoffs in College Football. They have a 24 team playoff with the top 8 teams earning a first round bye. That is so exciting because it gives teams that earned it, a playoff shot, and teams that earned it more, a bit of a rest. Just like in the NFL.
Love FCS Playoffs, Love NFL Playoffs and right now I am loving MLB playoffs.
Just Six games are left in the 2012 regular season, Only two teams have clinched their division out of six, only four teams out of ten have guaranteed a playoff spot, and with six games to go, 14 MLB teams still have a chance to make the playoffs.
What a time to be a fan of Baseball.
Well done Bud. You other leagues...*cough* NBA,NHL,FBSFOOTBALL *cough* can take notes from MLB.
Less is more.
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