Second wildcard looks like a go for this season

[Strav]

so this is official now: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd ... b&c_id=mlb

[J-Roc]

Eventually the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th spot catches up with this argument.

Unless there's something expressly distinct about 5??

Yep, add more spots, up to 8 like other leagues, and the bar would be lowered into the Jays territory.

[Jatt]

Eventually the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th spot catches up with this argument.

Unless there's something expressly distinct about 5??

Yep, add more spots, up to 8 like other leagues, and the bar would be lowered into the Jays territory.

8th is Jays territory?! Hardly, this format might as well be called "The Blue Jays Rule" since it's going to work in their favor the most. This franchise has been crippled for 15 years having to deal with being in the A.L. Beast.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story ... son-format

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Over the last five years, they've won more games than the Giants. Over the last nine years, they've won more games than the Tigers. If you ride the time machine all the way back to 1998, they're one of 16 teams with a winning record.

But what's the difference between the Toronto Blue Jays and the other 15 teams on that list? All those other 15 teams have played at least one postseason game since 1998.

And the Blue Jays? They've played zero.

cont....

[Mattd97]

Eventually the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th spot catches up with this argument.

Unless there's something expressly distinct about 5??

Yep, add more spots, up to 8 like other leagues, and the bar would be lowered into the Jays territory.

8th is Jays territory?! Hardly, this format might as well be called "The Blue Jays Rule" since it's going to work in their favor the most. This franchise has been crippled for 15 years having to deal with being in the A.L. Beast.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story ... son-format

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Over the last five years, they've won more games than the Giants. Over the last nine years, they've won more games than the Tigers. If you ride the time machine all the way back to 1998, they're one of 16 teams with a winning record.

But what's the difference between the Toronto Blue Jays and the other 15 teams on that list? All those other 15 teams have played at least one postseason game since 1998.

And the Blue Jays? They've played zero.

cont....

we still only make the playoffs once since the world series wins with these rules. with the extra spot last year, who makes the playoffs? it helps the sox and yankees just as much, and dont think for a second they made the changes so toronto can succeed, they did it so there will rarely be a year when both boston and new york wont be in.

[satyr9]

we still only make the playoffs once since the world series wins with these rules. with the extra spot last year, who makes the playoffs? it helps the sox and yankees just as much, and dont think for a second they made the changes so toronto can succeed, they did it so there will rarely be a year when both boston and new york wont be in.

This point has some validity, but the 5th spot helps make things fun at the very least. In how many of those years would the Jays have been within 4 games of a playoff spot at the trade deadline with an extra spot? How would that have affected who knows how many summers for Jays fans? How many offseasons would've been altered by the need to shoot for 90ish wins rather than 95? The 5th spot does not equal playoffs, but it does end 15 years of having to be a top 3 team in baseball or you're not going to even get to think about the playoffs after July.

Long-term this is easily the best thing for Tor, TB, and Bal if they ever get their act together and it's not even close.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

This point has some validity, but the 5th spot helps make things fun at the very least. In how many of those years would the Jays have been within 4 games of a playoff spot at the trade deadline with an extra spot?

Games back of the 2nd wild card:
2011- 9
2010- 4
2009- 12
2008- 3
2007- 5
2006- 3
2005- 13
2004- Let's not talk about it
2003- 7
2002- 15
2001- 5
2000- 7
1999- 3
1998- 0