The Glory of Autumn
Pardon the digression, but as the man who got Richard Epstein and John Yoo to argue over the use of instant replay in Major League Baseball, I feel a special responsibility to the sports fans amongst the Ricochetoise. We are currently experiencing a magnificent closing to this year's MLB season and it deserves to be celebrated.
Tomorrow is the final day of regular season play and it promises to be one for the ages -- for it will determine the last two teams in the playoffs. Earlier tonight, the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees, leaving the Rays and the Sox tied for the American League wild card (the playoff slot that goes to the team with the best record that didn't win its division). In the National League, it's the exact same situation -- a tie between the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals. If there are still ties after tomorrow's games, either duo (or both) will go on to sudden death tiebreaker games on Thursday. The prospect of two such games is something approaching nirvana for those of us who love the national pastime.
This is sports drama at its finest. At a time when the issues facing the nation are grave, this may seem little more than a diversion. And perhaps there's some truth to that. But as diversions go, this is amongst the happiest.
Credit for the graphic, as always, is due to EJHill.
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Nov '10
Re: The Glory of Autumn
Re: The Glory of Autumn
As a Cardinals fan, this unexpected race for the Wild Card has been a wonderful gift.
But I have to ask ... What do you mean "sudden death"? It's just a one-game playoff, right?
Re: The Glory of Autumn
As a Cubs fan... I'm paying attention to the Bears. As a Bears fan... I'm getting ready for the Bulls to start playing.
When does the NHL start?
And yeah if I remember correctly it's just a one-game playoff. It's pretty intense stuff.
Edited on September 28, 2011 at 6:26amRe: The Glory of Autumn
That's right, Mollie. It's a single game rather than a series. Thus sudden death.
Good luck with your Cardinals. I think they're the more exciting playoff team in the NL wild card race. And someone has to knock off John Yoo's Phillies.
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.: As a Cardinals fan, this unexpected race for the Wild Card has been a wonderful gift.
But I have to ask ... What do you mean "sudden death"? It's just a one-game playoff, right? · Sep 27 at 9:01pm
Nov '10
Re: The Glory of Autumn
It is good to see two playoff races tied on the last day of the season. It would be better if it wasn't because the BoSox and the Braves have been playing like AAA teams for the past three weeks.
Apr '11
Re: The Glory of Autumn
That is a tough place to be in, Ethan. As a Tigers, Lions, and Red Wings fan I am loving life right now. Knowing that Verlander has the opportunity to get 2 starts in the ALDS if it goes 5 games and then getting 2 starts in both the ALCS and WS gives me the warm fuzzies about our chances in the post season. The offense is firing on all cylinders at the right time. The Tigers should be hard to beat. I'm not going to get too excited about the Lions, but it has been pretty fun the last 3 weeks to be a Lions fan. As for Troys post, I hope that both leagues need a one game playoff to decide the wild card. It doesn't get much better than this. It is indeed glorious.
Re: The Glory of Autumn
Probably prudent, Josiah, and I truly admire your ability to temper your enthusiasm. Maybe you can insulate yourself by working out the sports equivalent of a credit default swap with a football fan in Buffalo?
May '10
Re: The Glory of Autumn
The one game "playoff" is not a playoff. After these games are held those participants' won-loss records will equal 163 and everyone behind them will lose a half-game in the standings.
That said, MLB is about to gimmick itself to death. By the spring of 2013 you may not recognize the game. The MLBPA wants more playoff teams and an end to divisional play. There may be two 15-team leagues, which means interleague play from game 1 to game 162. The top 5 teams in each league would make it to the postseason and seeds 4 & 5 would play a one game playoff, then start the first best of three series, followed by the ALCS and NLCS.
There is no word on what happens when more than one team is tied for 5th. They will probably have rocket-science tie-breakers like the NFL. Makes me want to hurl.
Apr '11
Re: The Glory of Autumn
Troy Senik: Probably prudent, Josiah, and I truly admire your ability to temper your enthusiasm. Maybe you can insulate yourself by working out the sports equivalent of a credit default swap with a football fan in Buffalo? · Sep 27 at 9:38pm
Seeing as the risk of default is there, this might be a good idea. Maybe I can get payment in buffalo wings. I will have to think about what I can offer in payment from Detroit. Coneys? Gyros? Chevy Volts?
Feb '11
Re: The Glory of Autumn
I'll be raising a glass to the Phils with Prof. Yoo this year, mark my words.
Re: The Glory of Autumn
Terrific post, Troy.
This Game 162, "play-in" games are where baseball trumps football.
In the NFL, you have 16 regular-season games and wind up with a bunch of teams all hovering between 8-8 to 10-6. Lot's of post-season scenarios, but not the same wonder of four teams, all having played 161 games, winding up at the same spot despite taking different paths -- one game, maybe two, to decide their fate.
The baseball purist in me -- the one who still mourns the addition of the DH -- has long struggled with the three-division, one wildcard scenario. I'm starting to wonder if MLB should further expand the playoffs -- for example, copy the NFL approach of the top two division winners getting a first-round bye, while one division winner and three wild cards go at it. Maybe do best-of-three first round, stay with the current best-of-five division series, then best-of-seven LCS's.
Sep '10
Re: The Glory of Autumn
I am officially putting in my application for a Ricochet Sports Contributor. I will need no pay or vacation, but a cool Nike Dri-Fit Ricochet Sports windbreaker (my own) is a must. Swag is key in the sports world. I played football (QB), Basketball, Collegiate Sailor, student manager of National Champion College of Charleston Women's Tennis 1983. I surf, skateboard, run, swim, snowboard, throw frisbees, kick hacky-sacks, bocce', shoot skeet, golf ( i get bored though ) and badminton. Cards are my team, too. I caught a foul ball last year and was there in 2004 when Boston broke the curse (boo) and saw Albert's 2000th hit this summer. I love the Jets (b/c of Namath as a kid), The Tar Heels, and TEXAS FOOTBALL. I believe World Cup Soccer matches should have the shootout at the beginning of the game (not the end) and knock the whole deal out in a day and a half. I dig Nadal b/c he would be a better friend and not correct me like Federer would. Troy, I can ask the tough questions. Just ask my patients and students. FYI. SE Cupp can have NASCAR. G-Out.
Apr '11
Re: The Glory of Autumn
I think for MLB, less is more. If the playoffs are expanded too much, without making adjustments to the regular season, it takes them deep into November which is no good. The fact that the season is so long and only 4 teams from each division are rewarded spots in the playoffs makes the baseball post season special. On the other side of the coin, I do love how so many teams make the payoffs in the NHL. The NHL playoffs are so brutal. Both formats fit their sports.
Jan '11
Re: The Glory of Autumn
At the beginning of September, the playoff teams looked set. Who would have thought that the Braves and the Red Sox would collapse so badly?
It ain't over ...
Nov '10
Re: The Glory of Autumn
Apr '11
Re: The Glory of Autumn
Can I take it you are not very familiar with the history of the Red Sox? Let me take you back to 1978 and offer two words that chill the soul of every citizen of Red Sox Nation: Bucky Dent.
Jul '11
Re: The Glory of Autumn
I haven't seen a Cardinals team playing this well late in the regular season for quite some time. The year they won the World Series in '06, they were dreadful towards the end and almost didn't make the playoffs. I believe they were fading in '09 as well when they were swept in the division series by the Dodgers. Glad Carp is on the mound tonight.
Sep '10
Re: The Glory of Autumn
Also keep an eye on these two games that will determine the #2 seed in the NL.
Pittsburgh @ Milwaukee
LA Dodgers @ Arizona
If the Braves wind up with the Wild Card, the #3 seed ends up in Philly for a likely short playoff experience.
Jun '11
Re: The Glory of Autumn
The #2 seed in the AL is up for grabs tonight as well. If Detroit wins and Texas loses they will have the same record and Detroit gets the #2 seed by virtue of winning the season series vs. Texas.
Mark Belling Fan: Also keep an eye on these two games that will determine the #2 seed in the NL.
Pittsburgh @ Milwaukee
LA Dodgers @ Arizona
If the Braves wind up with the Wild Card, the #3 seed ends up in Philly for a likely short playoff experience. · Sep 28 at 6:45am
Aug '10
Re: The Glory of Autumn
To add another layer to the discussion...The Tampa Bay Rays have the second lowest payroll in the MLB and they are competing with the third highest payroll for the last AL playoff slot. To win out and make the post season, they must defeat the highest payroll in baseball and they have a 10 - 6 record against the Yankees this year (as of last night).
All the teams are made using Moneyball economic principles.
The Rays are young. There team leader (and one of the most amazing players I have been blessed to watch) is 25 and will be 26 on October 7th. The Rays starting pitchers have never pitched for any other team, and one of them is a Rookie having a stellar year. The Rays lost a star performer to the Red Sox last off-season when he went to the Free Agent market. They have replaced him with another exciting rookie.
Baseball is filled with wonderful stories.