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Anthony Hill’s Rant of the Week: The Playoff System
Ever since the 2012 season, teams have had the chance to win the 2nd wild card spot. Has the addition of this playoff spot been harmful or beneficial to the playoffs?
Although the Mariners have the longest playoff drought in MLB, this rant will be a positive one. The addition of the second wild card spot will be the main focus of this piece.
The point of the 2nd wild card spot is simple; to add drama to the baseball season and encourage more teams to not rebuild and pursue a playoff spot. Even though the Mariners haven’t claimed one of those spots in 15 years, it still has benefited baseball in the northwest.
2014 & 2016 were great years for Mariners baseball even though we couldn’t quite make the playoffs. That second wild card meant meaningful baseball games in September for the M’s. Seeing your team in the wild card chase has to make any fan more than excited.
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An argument against the second wild card team is that it adds too many teams to the playoffs and it makes the playoffs longer. Although both are valid, they don’t outweigh the importance of that playoff spot.
The difference between eight and 10 teams is not significant enough to not put that second team in. Also, that only adds two more games in total to the entire playoff picture.
Like March Madness, having a wild card team go deep in the tourney, like a Cinderella team, only adds excitement.
2017 looks to be a promising year for Mariners playoff baseball. After years of no playoff baseball, it looks as if the M’s will finally break the playoff drought.
Although it seems they are contending more for the division title, the wild card is always a nice backup plan.
Next: Mariners Sign A Very Tall Player
Playoffs are a special time, and the more playoff games we can have the better. The second wild card not only adds drama, but it adds hope. It gives every team in 2017 a chance to do something historic.
2nd wild card? Great move for MLB.