MLB postseason format kinda sucks

[Senser81]

The Cardinals may be one game from the World Series, but they overcame the disadvantage, so what can you do?

HUH? What "disadvantage" did the Cardinals have to overcome? Disadvantage #1 would have been for them not to even make the playoffs, as a non-division winner with the 12th best record in baseball. Disadvantage #2 would have been for them to have played an actual series against the Braves, not a one game crapshoot where anything can happen (usually bad umpiring). Disadvantage #3 would have been for the Cardinals to beat a 10-game superior Nationals team 4 times in a 7-game series. As it stood, the Cardinals had to win 4 games to advance 2 rounds in the postseason. Compared to the NFL postseason, that would be like team playing well for the 1st quarter of a playoff game and most of the 2nd quarter.

 

[Senser81]

If baseball went back to the pre division setup of two leagues with the winners playing in the World Series, we'd all be bored out of our minds because there would be seasons where nothing past the end of August meant anything.

If we had the two league setup this year, the NL would have had the Nationals, Reds, Braves, and Giants all competing into the final week. The only "race" we would have missed out on would have been the Cards and Dodgers 'fighting' for the #2 WC spot.

The AL would have been even closer, with the Yanks, Orioles, A's and Rangers battling in the final week. Again, the only "race" we would have missed out on would have been the White Sox choking away their division to the equally bumbling Tigers.

 

[Senser81]

And while we all sit here and feel bad for Atlanta, please remember that the Braves would not have even made the postseason in something like 90% of all baseball seasons with that record.

So tell me again how they got screwed? I mean jeez, MLB puts these postseason spots on a platter for these teams now. I don't want to hear about being screwed. If you have a top three record in either league, you are guaranteed a playoff spot. If you are a good club, you are making the playoffs, unlike those "good 'ol days" when teams would win 90, 95, 99, 100+ games and go home after 162. So you can't tell me out of one side of your mouth things aren't fair, while out of the other pine for tradition.

Thats missing the point. I'm not saying that teams are "screwed" by not getting into the postseason, I'm saying the postseason format itself kinda renders the regular season meaningless.