Having played baseball most of my life, I should know this maybe.
But... How exactly does this wildcard thing work?
Since my Braves kind of fell apart late this season the only we're bucking for a wildcard to the playoffs. I normally don't follow it all this much, but with Bobby Cox retiring as the Braves skipper and Chipper being out for the season and rumors of him hanging up the glove has kind got my attention.
Your Going To Love This, So Pay Attention
Phillies at 97-64 have wrapped up the National League East and do not want to see the 90-71 Braves again in the playoffs. The Braves think otherwise and are up 8-4 over the Phillies in the 7th. Assuming the Braves win they are 91-71.
The Padres 90-71 play at Giants @ 91-70 later today. Assuming the Braves win, if the Giants win they take the NL West and the Padres go home. If the Braves and Padres win there are 3 teams @ 91-71, so San Diego and the Giants go to San Diego Monday for a 1 game NL West playoff and the loser goes to Atlanta Tuesday for a wild card playoff.
If the Braves lose and the Padres win there is a NL West playoff and the loser is the wild card.
If the Braves lose and San Diego loses then they play for the wild card.
That is if I remembered it all correctly.
Paul in PA
yeah Paul
We must be watching the same game on the same channel. Tom Glavine described all of what you said.
It's 8-7 Braves still top of the 8th. I think they brought Billy in too soon. He's a 9th inning closer - not mid 8th through the 9th closer.
Billy has had an awesome career as well. I hear he's retired after this season as well.
Basically, there are 4 playoff teams from each league. There are 3 divisions in each league, so the division winners are the first 3 playoff teams from each league. The wildcard team is the best 2nd place team from each league. So out of the 3 divisions the best 2nd place team get's the wildcard. The wildcard team plays the league's best division winner unless they are in the same division. In that case the wildcard will play the 2nd best division winner in the first round.
Right now San Diego is Tied with Atlanta for the wild card spot and one game behind San Francisco for the division lead with one game remaining. SF vs. SD and ATL Vs. Phil
Scenario 1 - If San Diego wins and Atlanta loses today - San Diego is the NL West champ (due to head-to-head tiebreaker over San Francisco), San Francisco is the wild card, and Atlanta is out.
Scenario 2 - San Francisco beats San Diego, Philly beats Atlanta - San Francisco is NL West Champ and Atlanta will play San Diego in a one game playoff to determine the wild card team.
Scenario 3 - San Diego beats the Giants, Braves beat the Phillies (which leaves all three teams with the same record) - San Diego and SF will play each other on Monday to determine the NL West champs, then the loser has to play Atlanta on Tuesday to determine who becomes the wildcard.
Scenario 4 - SF beats San Diego, Atlanta beats Philly - SF is the NL West Champ, Atlanta is the NL Wild card and San Diego is out.
There are some that are advocating some changes to this. I have heard they may add another wildcard team on each side to play a one or three game playoff with the other wildcard team to decide who moves on to the division series. Another one is they may chang it so the wild card team only gets one home game in the 5 game series, or 2 home games in a seven game series (if they expand the division series) - which gives the teams more incentive to finish first rather than just make the wild card).
> Scenario 3 - San Diego beats the Giants, Braves beat the Phillies (which leaves all three teams with the same record) - San Diego and SF will play each other on Monday to determine the NL West champs, then the loser has to play Atlanta on Tuesday to determine who becomes the wildcard.
>
> Scenario 4 - SF beats San Diego, Atlanta beats Philly - SF is the NL West Champ, Atlanta is the NL Wild card and San Diego is out.
>
Only Scenario 3 and 4 (above) are in play now, since the Braves just won.
almost surreal
Braves skipper Bobby Cox's first win 8-7.
Bobby Cox's last [regular season] game with an 8-7 win.
All the umpires came to congratulate him. I was thinking how funny, and appropriate, it would have been for one of the umps to eject him from the game just for old time's sake.
Forgetting all of this year's scenarios I don't know a thing about this wildcard thing. How does a team qualify? Where are the rules for it?
almost surreal
>Basically, there are 4 playoff teams from each league. There are 3 divisions in each league, so the division winners are the first 3 playoff teams from each league. The wildcard team is the best 2nd place team from each league. So out of the 3 divisions the best 2nd place team get's the wildcard. The wildcard team plays the league's best division winner unless they are in the same division. In that case the wildcard will play the 2nd best division winner in the first round.
thank you Ryan
Short and simple. That was all I needed.
Thanks.
E.
Done Deal, Giants Win West, Braves In as Wildcard
Too much come back for San Diego. Having to win 3 out of 3 is a tough row to hoe.
Paul in PA
thank you Ryan
They said last year that Cox was thinking of retirement then he realized that he had a pretty good team for 2010 and decided to go for it again this year.
I am glad that they made the wild card spot. My FIL is a life long dedicated Braves fan.
thank you Ryan
Well my team didn't make it this year *cries* so I'm rooting for the Phillies for NL. Gotta see who plays in the AL to figure that part out still. 🙂
thank you Ryan
> Well my team didn't make it this year *cries* so I'm rooting for the Phillies for NL. Gotta see who plays in the AL to figure that part out still. 🙂
Tampa Bay Rays (AL East Champs) vs. Texas Rangers (AL West Champs)
Minnesota Twins (AL Central Champs) vs. New York Yankees (AL Wild Card)
I want Twins vs. Rays in the ALCS
And the Rays to win the World Series.
(current Rays manager, Joe Maddon, is a former Angels coach and a fan favorite coach here in Anaheim for many years)(Rangers are my 2nd favorite in the post-season due to the Angels connections there - Nolan Ryan, team president, Vlad Guerrero, Daren Oliver, former Angel players).
Cincinatti Reds (NL Central Champs) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (NL East champs)
SF Giants (NL West champs) vs. Atlanta Braves (NL Wild Card)
Don't really care about the NL, but if someone were holding a gun to my head, I would pick SF vs. Philly in the NLCS and would like to see SF in the World Series. If the Rays, Rangers or Twins don't make the World Series then I will root for the NL team no matter who they are.
Anything but the Spankees.
thank you Ryan
I'd go for either the Rays or the Rangers. I believe the Rangers have never won a series before?? Both teams are underdogs.
What's funny is most people assume the Angels are my favorite team being I'm from So Cal and named Angel. When I say "St Louis Cardinals" I get funny looks. 😛
I'm with you. ANY team but the Yankmes/Crankies!! No offense to any Crankie lovers on here but... :-X
thank you Ryan
For me...I don't care if I offend any Spankee fans out there.:-P
As for the Rangers - they have never been to the World Series and I think only been to the post-season a couple of times in the late 90's. The Rays also have never won the World Series, but they did lose the WS to the Phillies in 2008.
