When Losing Pleased the Dodgers
When Los Angeles Played San Diego, the Loser Made the Playoffs
Losing to the Padres pleased the Dodgers because "...they protected their precious pitching staff today." "The game appeared to be anticlimactic...."
Pennant races no longer exist. Since the latter part of the 20th century, baseball teams play to make the playoffs, either by winning the division title or having the best record among the second place teams. In 1996 and in 2005, bizarre consequences occurred as a result of the wild card.
The Team That Lost Still Could Win
Entering the final day of the 1996 season, Los Angeles and San Diego each had 90 wins. They would be playing each other in a game that would break the tie, but the loser would still have a chance to win the World Series. It should have been a crucial game, one that was for “all the marbles” between teams tied for first place, but that was not the case. The winner would win the division and the loser would "win' the wild card. Lose the game. Win the wild card. Just what the American public loves -- losers who win.
Similar to an Exhibition Game Because No One Cared Who Won
Now, no one should have the temerity to question the fact that everyone follows the rules and always tries to win at all costs, but what effect does knowing that losing doesn’t matter have on the integrity of the game? Los Angeles' manager Bill Russell started ace Ramon Martinez, which sounds good, but Russell knew that his team would be in the playoffs whether they won or lost, so he allowed Ramon to make only 11 pitches as a tune up for his playoff start. Padres' manager Bruce Bochy didn't even start ace Joey Hamilton, giving the ball to Bob Tewksbury. What should have been the most important game of the season became similar to a March exhibition game.
Los Angeles Was Pleased Despite Losing the Division Title
San Diego won 2-0 in eleven innings on a Chris Gwynn double, which pleased the Dodgers. You read that right. Losing to the Padres pleased the Dodgers because “…they protected their precious pitching staff today.” “The game appeared to be anticlimactic….” The Dodgers played the Cardinals, who won 88 games in the first round of the playoffs while the Padres, as a consequence of winning the division title, played the Braves, who won the most games (96) in the National League. This doesn’t seem right, but who cares? Los Angeles and San Diego were both swept in the first round.
Isn't Every Game Important?
Sometimes, playing a game isn’t even necessary to win, as was demonstrated in 2005. Fans are told repeatedly that every game is important and that a win against the last place teams (there are usually three last place teams) count as much as wins against first place teams. The Red Sox discovered how true that was in 2005. The Yankees won 95 and lost 67. So did the Red Sox. But the Yankees were the division winners and the Red Sox were the wild card because a playoff game was not needed. No, why add another playoff game a day before the playoff games begin? Since the Yankees had won the season series, they were the division winners. Yes, every win counts the same. Ask our little friends from Animal Farm.
Who Won the 1994 World Series?
Having three divisions and a wild card has been a financial success. Baseball attendance records have been set, fans with short memories don't recall who won the 1994 World Series, and the team with best regular season record hasn't won the World Series since 1998. Let's go Cardinals.
References:
Friend, Tom. "Another Gwynn Give Padres Title; Padres 2 Dodgers 0." New York Times. 20 September 1996, p. C7.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/
