4 years ago today

[notoriousgod71]

was the epic final day of the 2011 MLB season.

 

How history would have been changed under the current playoff format.

[Otto von Ballpark]

And let's not forget the Twins were walk-off winners that day too, to avoid 100 losses!

[Otto von Ballpark]

As for the other stuff going on that day, yeah, if the current playoff format was in effect, Tampa/Boston  and St. Louis/Atlanta would have just been playing for home field advantage in their respective wild card games.  Although who knows, the wild card games might have been pretty exciting too.

 

The 2011 postseason actually featured 4 series that went the distance, including the World Series.  No postseason had featured more than one such series since 2004, and no World Series had gone 7 games since 2002.  I think the excitement of those "do or die" games is what really prompted the additional wild card, to guarantee two such games every October no matter how the regular season or postseason plays out.

 

The 2011 season ending drama is probably just as likely to re-occur under the new system, except now it will be shifted down to the 2nd wild card spot.  This year's AL is shaping up to have that chance.