Sports Time Radio

Back in 1994 when Major League Baseball added one wild card team to the playoffs there where quite a few people that didn’t like the idea. Then when there was a second wild card team added in 2012 here where still plenty of people who didn’t like the idea. Well I’m not sure how those same people feel about the wild card now, but you have to admit that it’s keep quite a few teams in the playoff race and it’s give fans of those teams a reason to continue to go to games and root them on.

Let’s face it barring a huge run from a team four out of the six division are pretty much decided. It seems as though the only divisions still up for grabs are the National League East and the National League West. No matter who ends up winning the National League west they’re going to get at least two teams into the playoffs this season.

Now when it comes to the two teams that are going to get those wild card spots; well three of those four spots are still more or less up for grabs. In the National League the Los Angeles Dodgers or the San Francisco Giants will get one of the wild card spots. The Giants are currently leading the National League West by one game after beating the Dodgers last night. That loss put the Dodgers in the wild card spot where they have a 13 1/2 game lead on the team that would claim the second wild card spot. That’s why I think it’s I’m comfortable saying that either the Giants or the Dodgers will be playing in the wild card game. Now who they end up play is still in question.

Currently the Cincinnati Reds are holding onto that second wild card spot, but they have just a 1/2 game lead on the San Diego Padres. Besides the Padres the St. Louis Cardinals are just 1 1/2 games out of that wild card spot while the Philadelphia Phillies are 2 games out of a wild card spot and you can’t count out the New York Mets who currently have the longest wining streak in baseball with 5 win is in a row. That winning streak has moved the Mets to within 4 games of that second wild card spot.

So we have five teams competing for just one playoff spot. That should make for a pretty interesting stretch run and hopefully this keeps the fans of these teams going to games.

Now over in the American League there are also five teams competing for the wild card spots, but in this case you could say that both of those wild card spots are still up for grabs.

The New York Yankees are currently in possession of the top wild card spot while the Boston Red Sox have the second wild card spot and are just 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees. The Oakland A’s have had their struggles lately and those may cost them a chance to win the American League West, but he A’s still find themselves just 3 games out of a wild card spot. Right behind the A’s in the wild card race are the surprising Seattle Mariners who are just 4 games out of that second wild card spot. You also can’t count out the Toronto Blue Jays who are 5 games out of that second wild card spot.

It’s to the point in the baseball season where ever win and loss matters to these teams as they try and get into the playoffs. A long winning streak by any one of these teams could solidify a playoff spot and give them he chance they need.

Of course the problem with getting a wild card spot is it’s just one game. If you just so happen to have a bad day or your starting pitcher is a little off the next thing you know you’re out of the playoffs. At the beginning of the season he Yankees and the Dodgers where trendy picks to meet in the World Series. Right now they would both be playing in the wild card game in their respective leagues. Imagine if both the Yankees and the Dodgers where knocked out of the playoffs after just one game; it could actually happen.

Now once you get into the playoffs anything can happen. There have been six teams that have made the playoffs as a wild card team and went on to win the World Series. The first was the Florida Marlins in 1997. The Anaheim Angels did it in 2002 while the Marlins managed to do it again as a wild card team in 2003. The Boston Red Sox did it in 2004 while the St. Louis Cardinals won it all as a wild card team in 2011 and the San Francisco Giants did it in 2014. The last team to win the World Series as a wild card entry was the Washington nationals who won it all just two years ago in 2019.

Is it possible will see a wild card team accomplish this feat this season? Let me know which of the teams that are currently competing for the wild card spots that you think has the best chance to win the World Series. Please feel free to give me one team from each league.

Schaumburg Stu is coming off a 3-1 weekend last weekend and he got off to a good start with his picks for this weekend. Schaumburg Stu correctly had the Kansas City Royals beating the Chicago White Sox last night. As for today Schaumburg Stu has the Chicago Cubs beating the Pittsburgh Pirates. Then on Sunday Schaumburg Stu has the Cubs and the White Sox combining to get more than 11 1/2 hits in their games. Also on Sunday Schaumburg Stu has the Los Angeles Dodgers beating the San Francisco Giants on ESPN Sunday night baseball.

Don’t forget to listen to the Sports Time Radio podcast. The podcast airs live on BlogTalkRadio.com and on Friday’s you can hear Schaumburg Stu make his picks. Now if you somehow miss the live edition of the podcast don’t worry; all you have to do is head over to TuneIn.com and you cam listen any time you want to.

You can also find me Twitter @Burketime if you want to look me up.