Today's Format in 1978

[LouGehrig]

If today's format existed in 1978....

http://major-league-baseball.suite101.com/article.cfm/if_the_red_sox_were_eliminated

[Ubiquitous]

Many baseball writers and fans have complained that the three division format that creates the need for a fourth team or a “wild card” team hurts the game. They are wrong. The new format creates excitement and rewards teams that want to win but were not good enough to win using the old format.

Well, no they are not wrong. With expansion, new divisions and more playoff spots would have to occur. So at the very least it would go from 4 to 6 or even to 8. Secondly as this year itself would show it would completely remove a rather popular and historical pennant race that led to a one game playoff and replace it with a pennant that ends in a tie with both teams only winning 87 games. Secondly this "new" format still shafts many teams. All it does allow is a chance for close to mediocre teams to get in because of the division while stronger and better teams stay home. Simply removing the Wild Card from the 1978 article you get three pennant races. Add the wild card and you remove the best pennant race. It isn't the wild card that adds excitement it is the fact that we now have 3 divisions instead of 2. So instead eight teams vying for one spot or 6 teams vying for one spot, or 7 teams vying for one spot we often have 4 or 5 teams vying for one spot. Finally of course is that there is no way in the world the Central would have 6 teams while the East and West have 4. Somebody would have to move either Detroit to the east or KC to the West. If KC goes to the west then we have no pennant races whatsoever in the AL in 1978, thanks to the wild card.

[LouGehrig]

What is aggravating is that the AL East could be so great this year and Francona is not concerned, and under the rules, rightfully so, with winning the division.

He would be foolish to trade his best shot to win the WS by trying to avoid the ignominy of finishing as the wild card, and that is what is wrong. There is no penalty, other than possibly one home game in each playoff round, for the Red Sox if they lose the division.

[Captain Cold Nose]

What is aggravating is that the AL East could be so great this year and Francona is not concerned, and under the rules, rightfully so, with winning the division.

He would be foolish to trade his best shot to win the WS by trying to avoid the ignominy of finishing as the wild card, and that is what is wrong. There is no penalty, other than possibly one home game in each playoff round, for the Red Sox if they lose the division.

Exactly where do you get the impression Francona is not concerned with winning the division? Has he said as much? Has anybody actually said that much since it started? Unless you can actually substantiate evidence to that statement he is not concerned, what you said holds absolutely no water.

[Ubiquitous]

Sure there may be no evidence but any manager in Boston or NY would be crazy to say what would be needed to say for there to be concrete evidence. The real proof will be the final days if the two stay close. Does anyone really believe that Francona or the Yanks are going to put out their best pitchers in the final days causing them to get their spots in the playoffs pushed back simply for the honor of winning the division? Would you ride Varitek or Porsada hard in that final series or would you want to rest them? Would you have Rivera or Papelbon close 4 or 5 games in a row at the end because you needed to nail those wins down?

the concern Francona probably has and rightfully so is that the Red Sox are not playing very well to end the season and he needs to turn it around for the playoffs

[LouGehrig]

Exactly where do you get the impression Francona is not concerned with winning the division? Has he said as much? Has anybody actually said that much since it started? Unless you can actually substantiate evidence to that statement he is not concerned, what you said holds absolutely no water.

NY Post, NY Daily News, Interview yesterday. Francona is getting Becket, Schilling and Matsusaka ready for the playoff rotation in October. When asked if he is concerned that the Yankees are closing in, he responded that he is trying to win the WS.

He is preparing for the playoffs because he is guaranteed a playoff spot. Having his pitching staff ready is worth the chance he may not have the home advantage for a game.

Read what he has been saying the last few days.

[Captain Cold Nose]

NY Post, NY Daily News, Interview yesterday. Francona is getting Becket, Schilling and Matsusaka ready for the playoff rotation in October. When asked if he is concerned that the Yankees are closing in, he responded that he is trying to win the WS.

He is preparing for the playoffs because he is guaranteed a playoff spot. Having his pitching staff ready is worth the chance he may not have the home advantage for a game.

Read what he has been saying the last few days.

That doesn't necessarily mean he's not trying to win the division. It means his concern right now is with his team and their postseason preparation, not the Yankees. If you want to read it that way, fine. But that's *your* interpretation.

[leecemark]

--The wild card certainly does take away from the tension of what could be a great division race - and I wouldn't mind seeing either the Yankees or Red Sox miss the postseason. The trade off is that fans in alot more cities get to enjoy the excitement of a "pennant race". With 14/16 teams in the league quite a few fans would have nothing to root for by Labor Day (and many by the 4th of July) without the wild card to fall back on.

[LouGehrig]

That doesn't necessarily mean he's not trying to win the division. It means his concern right now is with his team and their postseason preparation, not the Yankees. If you want to read it that way, fine. But that's *your* interpretation.

Exactly. If he were not guaranteed a playoff spot, his main concern would be to get a playoff spot.

See Bob Costas:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n34_v221/ai_19715005/pg_1

[Captain Cold Nose]

Exactly. If he were not guaranteed a playoff spot, his main concern would be to get a playoff spot.

See Bob Costas:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n34_v221/ai_19715005/pg_1

That still doesn't mean Francona doesn't care about winning the division. One man's opinion is only that. Just because he is Bob Costas does not mean it's some holy affirmation of veracity. Unless Francona actually says "I do not care about winning the division" I don't buy it one bit.