Cardinals @ Braves Play-In WC Game Thread

[thomas35forever]

Originally Posted by JB98

Is it just me or does the umpiring get WORSE in the playoffs?

Sure, you see the occasional screw job in the regular season, but during postseason play the last few years it seems like you see some sort of egregious error every game.

Could be, but everything gets magnified in the playoffs, so everyone sees it.

[Brian26]

Just turned this on....not sure I've ever seen a sudden death playoff game played under protest.

[Huisj]

Ha, someone was yelling "infield fly" from the stands on that flyball Heyward hit.

[SI1020]

Originally Posted by voodoochile

Long term I think they add one more WC and go with a structure like the NFL. Perhaps a 3 game series to start which will expand to 5 shortly.

Turkey Day baseball here we come.

[cub killer]

Braves fans' years of frustration has manifested itself through their behavior.

Getting slighted by the media in favor of the Bulldogs or Falcons. So many playoff appearances, but only 1 WS title. Last year's collapse leading to these Cardinals getting in. Having the best record this season among non-division winners, only to now have to play these pesky Cardinals for a DS spot which they would have had in any prior year. And now for the 2nd year in a row, the Cards steal their spot. Ouch.

Lightning struck twice. Now will it for the Rangers, who were 1 strike away twice last year, only to lose? Will Texas collapse 2 years in a row?

[Dibbs]

I think this proves the 1 game play in is a terrible idea. Braves deserve a shot in a 5 games series.

Even worse if I heard correctly, the Nationals have to open IN St Louis? The best team in the majors all year has to open on the road??? Wow, they need to get this fixed asap.

[Huisj]

Originally Posted by Dibbs

I think this proves the 1 game play in is a terrible idea. Braves deserve a shot in a 5 games series.

Even worse if I heard correctly, the Nationals have to open IN St Louis? The best team in the majors all year has to open on the road??? Wow, they need to get this fixed asap.

And that stupid format was all because the TV networks didn't want to change their schedules which they had already set 7 months in advance or something. I didn't quite understand that, but it had something to do with when each series would have their travel days.

So instead of waiting a year and making it work right, they just went with it and let it be dictated by TV.

[FielderJones]

Originally Posted by Dibbs

Even worse if I heard correctly, the Nationals have to open IN St Louis? The best team in the majors all year has to open on the road??? Wow, they need to get this fixed asap.

That's for this year only. In 2013 the DS will go back to 2-2-1 format. This year the playoff format wasn't ratified until after the season started.

[voodoochile]

Originally Posted by Brian26

Just turned this on....not sure I've ever seen a sudden death playoff game played under protest.

The singularly most meaningless protest in the history of baseball. There is NO WAY MLB is going to slow down the money machine...

[SoxSpeed22]

Yeah, it was a lousy call, but the Braves fans should be flinging cans at their own players for giving the Cards all of those runs with their defensive mishaps.

[palehozenychicty]

Originally Posted by SoxSpeed22

Yeah, it was a lousy call, but the Braves fans should be flinging cans at their own players for giving the Cards all of those runs with their defensive mishaps.

For real. They gave it away, in typical Braves fashion.

You can't give the Cards anything. At all. They are as resourceful a franchise I've seen in ANY sport.

[Zakath]

Originally Posted by Dibbs

I think this proves the 1 game play in is a terrible idea. Braves deserve a shot in a 5 games series.

6 games better in a tougher division, and they get booted in one game.

Terrible doesn't begin to cover it. Thought this was a really bad idea last year, and I'm surprised it turned out even worse.

[Hendu]

Originally Posted by Dibbs

I think this proves the 1 game play in is a terrible idea. Braves deserve a shot in a 5 games series.

Even worse if I heard correctly, the Nationals have to open IN St Louis? The best team in the majors all year has to open on the road??? Wow, they need to get this fixed asap.

I disagree about the play-in. Win your division or you have nothing to complain about. The wild card should be at a huge disadvantage to the division winner.

I do agree that the 2-3 format is stupid. The worse team should not get to open at home and potentially put the team with a better record on the ropes before they get to play a home game.

Originally Posted by SoxSpeed22

Yeah, it was a lousy call, but the Braves fans should be flinging cans at their own players for giving the Cards all of those runs with their defensive mishaps.

Yup. Those 3 errors were horrible. And the lack of hitting with RISP.

At least Chipper got a make-up call in his final at-bat.

[Dibbs]

Originally Posted by Hendu

I disagree about the play-in. Win your division or you have nothing to complain about. The wild card should be at a huge disadvantage to the division winner.

I disagree. It is conceivable a 95 win team could lose a 1 game playoff with an 85 win team. If anything, with this new format, they should eliminate divisions altogether. Top three records get a series, and the 4th and 5th teams battle it out for a 1 game playoff.

I just think this 1 game playoff is not fair, despite being good for ratings.

[sox1970]

Originally Posted by Dibbs

I disagree. It is conceivable a 95 win team could lose a 1 game playoff with an 85 win team. If anything, with this new format, they should eliminate divisions altogether. Top three records get a series, and the 4th and 5th teams battle it out for a 1 game playoff.

I just think this 1 game playoff is not fair, despite being good for ratings.

I've been saying this for years.