The MLB Playoffs are underway, and the customary chaos that comes with it is beyond its normal capacity. Numerous top teams, such as the 104-win Braves and 101-win Orioles have already been eliminated, and fans are calling for the new format to already be revoked.
In both the AL and NL Wild Card series, the losing team was eliminated via a sweep, essentially losing the first two games of a three game series.
The AL Central champion Minnesota Twins, who came in as the underdog, took down the Toronto Blue Jays, who scored just one run in the two games. Very opposite of that, the Rangers obliterated the Rays in both games, scoring a combined 11 runs compared to the Rays’ lowly one run.
In the NL, the underdog Arizona Diamondbacks, who just barely got into the playoffs, used their elite-level defense to sweep the Brewers. Finally, the red hot Philadelphia Phillies mopped up their interdivisional rival, Miami Marlins, despite losing the 13-game season series 6-7 in 2023.
This marks the first time in the new format’s history where all Wild Card games resulted in sweeps.
“These two-game sweeps bring a lot of excitement into the game. Anyone has a chance and anything can happen, which is what I love most about playoff baseball,” NHS junior Andrew Faircloth said.
The next round, known as the Divisional Series, is what triggered so many MLB fans to be upset with the new rules. While the AL and NL Wild Card games are played, the top seeds (1 and 2) have a resting period of, at maximum, 5 days.
The best team in the MLB during 2023, the Atlanta Braves, lost to their interdivisional rival Philadelphia Phillies, managing to win just one game during the best-of-five series. The Diamondbacks, who lost the season series to the Dodgers in 2023, defeated Los Angeles in the NLDS while scoring a total of 19 runs.
“We’re all disappointed that our Dodgers didn’t hit or pitch well. That’s why we lost the Series to the Diamondbacks,” said Magic Johnson, stake owner of the Dodgers.
Later, the Orioles lost their ALDS being swept by the Rangers and the Astros defeated the Twins in four games. This poses the question of the majority of top teams, aside from the Twins, losing in the Divisional Series due to a little extra rest.
While a good amount of fans believe rest is ok, it is not normal for baseball organizations to have multiple days off in a row, seeing they play 162 games and pitchers get at maximum 5 days in between starts. This can throw off the entire starting rotation and even the players’ abilities and rhythm on the field.
“MLB teams rarely get more than 5 days of rest per month, let alone a week before the biggest series of the year. Why should that all of a sudden change now? I don’t like it at all,” said William Burns, former NHS student and Nighthawk varsity pitcher who now plays at Harvard.
The MLB was said to “penalize the best teams,” by giving them five days off, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Paul Newberry. Playoff baseball has always been about winning at the right time, and in small sample sizes like the past two years, yet crazed fans are upset about rest days designed to help prevent injury.
Regardless of the fans’ opinions in 2023, the show must go on. The “Red October” Phillies look to continue their overall dominance in the playoffs, and the Rangers look to beat the notorious Astros and crown themselves the new champs of the AL. Tune in on FOX Sports and TBS to catch the rest of the postseason.
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