A one-game elimination and MLB seemed like something that would never go hand-in-hand.
One-game, winner-take-all, to settle it all after a grueling seven month 162 game season. Crazy right?
To this day, baseball historians and former players will scoff at the elimination Wild-Card game, but make no doubt about it, the one-game playoff might have actually helped capture the younger demographic and save baseball.
If you have friends who look at baseball as your grandfather’s favorite game, or friends who envision nine-innings on a hot summer’s day as America’s old boring past time – last nights beer-slinging, wild walk-off elimination game that hung on one giant mistake by Orioles skipper Buck Showalter as well as what’s in store for tonight’s upcoming east coat v. west coast elimination game between the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants, will convince them otherwise.
2016 marks the fifth-straight season of MLB’s new playoff format with the added win-or-go-home wild card game.
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Last night’s hostile crowd in Toronto at the Rogers Centre will likely be one-upped by the extreme supporters of the reigning National League Champion New York Mets when the lights turn on in Queens tonight as they play host to Madison Bumgarner and the San Franciso Giants, but that’s totally fine. It’s all a testament to the brilliance of Major League Baseball.
The one-game elimination Wild Card game, which made it’s controversial debut in 2012 not only fixed the original flawed wild-card format that was introduced in 1994, but it makes baseball exciting and relevant in a time of need.
By creating the winner-take-all atmosphere, it gives regular season power-houses like the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox a reason to stay ahead of the opposition all season long.
It gives middle-of-the pack teams and their fan bases a reason to never give up on their season until the fat lady sings, because unlike 1994-2012, there’s always a chance to make post-season history.
Take for example the 2016 New York Yankees.
During this years trade deadline, President of Baseball Operations Brian Cashman parted ways with two of the best relievers in baseball and veteran slugger Carlos Beltran in order to bring in young assets and give the future core of the New York Yankees an extended cup of coffee.
Pre-2012, the Yankees and their fans would have packed it in on August 31st and came out to the ballpark on occasion to see some of the young guys play or come back for another storied Yankees pre-game ceremony in which they honored past Yankees legends.
But with the current wild-card format, the middle-of-the-pack Yankees and their fan base had post-season aspirations up until the 7th inning of Game 159. There was passion. There was belief. And there was interest up until three-games remained in the regular season.
Why?
Let’s look at the 2014 San Francisco Giants.
After clinching the second National League Wild-Card slot on one of the last remaining days of the 2014 season, the Giants went on to eliminate the Pittsburgh Pirates in a one-game elimination before advancing onto the NLDS and eventually winning the World Series.
I was personally in attendance for last year’s wild card elimination game in the Bronx between my home-town New York Yankees and the Houston Astros, and even though Dallas Keuchel stifled the Yankees lineup all night, what I remember most, was how the crowd–for that one night–made the stadium shake like the old ball park used to across the street.
It was baseball on the younger demographic’s terms.
High stakes, drama, electricity and desperation to win that one game and advance to the next round.
Call me crazy. But the one-game wild card might have officially saved basebeall.