Yesterday Rob Manfred announced that the expanded playoff field is probably not just a 2020 phenomena, but one that is likely to be adopted long term. Most of the responses I saw from people were opposed to the expanded playoff field for one reason – bad teams would get into the playoffs.
By bad they mean teams under .500. And I don’t know that I agree with them.
There are a few reasons:
1) Fan interest will be stronger later into the season. Us diehards fans are not the demographic whose interest needs to be cultivated. But there are a lot of fans whose interest wanes when their teams are no longer in the hunt. This would potentially keep them engaged longer, which I think is a good thing.
2) With more teams able to make the playoffs, the activity at the trade deadline (if they can move it back a month) would be so much more fun! Whereas it only made sense for a few teams to really engage the trade deadline, this would create a greater need for teams to solidify their teams for a run to the postseason.
3) More teams will be tempted to dip into their minor league system and bring up their top prospects to make a run to the playoffs, and that is not only fun, but also helps us deepen our rosters.
4) Expanding the playoffs might make it more likely MLB expands the number of teams in the league, which would be a good thing for Portland. I so badly want an MLB franchise close to home, and maybe this would be a step closer.
So bring on the expanded playoffs! Though you could make a case that it is only being done for rich owners to get richer, I think it will make for a more fun baseball season and a better baseball experience here in the PNW.
EFL Standings for 2020
| EFL | ||||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB | RS | RA |
| Kaline Drive | 27 | 23 | .550 | — | 222.1 | 198.0 |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes | 28 | 23 | .543 | 0.3 | 263.7 | 253.8 |
| Haviland Dragons | 26 | 24 | .526 | 1.2 | 241.7 | 227.2 |
| Peshastin Pears | 25 | 26 | .481 | 3.5 | 263.2 | 270.0 |
| Cottage Cheese | 24 | 26 | .476 | 3.7 | 258.8 | 272.5 |
| D.C. Balk | 23 | 27 | .457 | 4.6 | 232.2 | 253.0 |
| Bellingham Cascades | 22 | 28 | .446 | 5.2 | 245.3 | 285.1 |
| Canberra Kangaroos | 21 | 29 | .414 | 6.8 | 247.7 | 296.4 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines | 21 | 30 | .404 | 7.4 | 239.9 | 292.4 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 18 | 32 | .359 | 9.5 | 225.1 | 300.3 |
| Portland Rosebuds | 15 | 36 | .299 | 12.7 | 236.7 | 363.9 |
Kaline: DNP, 2-0 (30PA: .3IP)
| AVG: 0.280 | OBP: 0.400 | SLG: 0.600 | OPS: 1.000 |
| ERA: 0.00 | WHIP: 0.000 |
This is the type of offensive day for which the Drive and their fans have been longing…but it happened on an off day! Hunter Renfroe and Willy Adames (hitting against Red Sox pitching, mind you) combined to go 3 for 10 with a HR apiece, and Wilmer Flores added two more hits, including a 3B. It was good for the Drive to have a strong offensive day on an off day, to increase their confidence in a low-risk way. If there is anything the Drive need to be able finish this masterpiece they’ve been painting practically all season, it is a renewed offense. Yesterday certainly helped.
Flint Hill: W2, L0 11-6 (48PA; 5.7IP)
| AVG: 0.220 | OBP: 0.313 | SLG: 0.415 | OPS: 0.727 |
| ERA: 3.16 | WHIP: 0.526 |
The hitting line was better than what you see, though not a lot better, due to some of those 0-fers not being allocated. Like the Drive, the Tornadoes have got to awaken their bats if they want to overtake the Drive not just in wins (which is now the case) but also in winning percentage. Julio Urias went into Coors Field and gave up only 2 runs in nearly 6 innings of work to lead the way, and some strong, stored up IP took care of the second game played to lead to a 2-0 day. Anthony Rendon led all hitters going 2 for 4 with a 2B and a HR.
Haviland: W(-1), L1 (-2)-0 (37PA; no pitching)
| AVG: 0.152 | OBP: 0.216 | SLG: 0.273 | OPS: 0.489 |
Yikes. That is not what Haviland wanted or needed on an off day. Unlike the Drive hitters, the Dragon hitters used their off day to demonstrate their ineptness as hitters. Gary Sanchez was the lone bright spot (that hasn’t been the case very often this season), going 2 for 4 with a 2B and a HR. Brandon Lowe was hitless but had 3 BBs, so that is something, but the Dragons are in need of a good night tonight in order to stave off the feelings of impending dread that might have crept in just a tiny but this morning now that they are further behind the Drive than they have been in a few weeks.
Peshastin: “W,” 0-7 (33PA; 3IP)
| AVG: 0.161 | OBP: 0.212 | SLG: 0.194 | OPS: 0.406 |
| ERA: 3.00 | WHIP: 2.000 |
Maybe the Pear hitters are like pitchers who are throwing no-hitters? If you talk about their performance it is likely to dissipate, if not completely disappear? After averaging more than 7 runs a game through the entire month, yesterday’s performance dropped the Pears below 7, though still in first place this month. It’s too bad the Orioles waited so long to bring Ryan Mountcastle up to the bigs, because his performance over the course of the entire season would be putting him into the conversation for Rookie of the Year. Last night he went 3 for 6 to boost his season slash line to .348/.406/.573, which we all know are Hall of Fame numbers. Perhaps he is sliding into the conversation for number one pick next season?
Cottage: DNP, (-1)-1 (54PA; no pitching)
| AVG: 0.286 | OBP: 0.333 | SLG: 0.490 | OPS: 0.823 |
That pretty good offensive line meant almost nothing yesterday, due to the overwhelming number of surplus PAs the Cheese are carrying this month (100). Which is too bad, because Alex Verdugo, Corey Seager and Brandon Nimmo combined to go 9 for 14 with a 2B, 3B and 2 HRs.
DC: DNP, (-1)-(-3) (20PA; 4.9IP)
| AVG: 0.300 | OBP: 0.300 | SLG: 0.450 | OPS: 0.750 |
| ERA: 0.00 | WHIP: 0.408 |
Another team without a game yesterday, the Balk were able to erase some runs from their many replacement innings pitched. Danny Jansen collected as many hits (3) as the entire rest of the team collected, and Pete Alonso hit a HR. Several relief pitchers made their way to the mound, and didn’t allow a single run while giving up only one hit and one BB.
Bellingham: L, 2-7 (34PA; no pitching)
| AVG: 0.235 | OBP: 0.235 | SLG: 0.324 | OPS: 0.559 |
Cascade hitters were led by the new kids on the block (well, the kids who returned to the block, I suppose) Justin Turner and Bo Bichette, who combined to go 4 for 10, all of the hits singles. The Cascades are an interesting study in team dynamics, because while these two studs were down with injuries, they team was offensively on fire, scoring runs like crazy. You would think that the return of these two players would amplify that, but as soon as they came back all the other hitters decided to take a break.
Canberra: DNP, (-1)-(-5) (40PA; 5.3IP)
| AVG: 0.206 | OBP: 0.325 | SLG: 0.294 | OPS: 0.619 |
| ERA: 1.70 | WHIP: 0.566 |
Like the fallen tree, Ryan was inspired yesterday by Ron’s words. He decided that it was in fact not ok for his dear old dad to pass him in the standings, and sent Blake Snell to the mound to set things right. This morning? The Roos sit and additional .4 games ahead of the Wolverines, and Ryan is smiling in his empty apartment while cradling his softball bat and whispering, “My precious!” Snell went 5.3IP and gave up only one run, and Mauricio Dubon was the only player to collect more than one hit, and Kyle Tucker (HR) was the only player to get an extra base hit.
Old Detroit: W1, L1 11-13 (30PA; 1.7IP)
| AVG: 0.240 | OBP: 0.300 | SLG: 0.440 | OPS: 0.740 |
| ERA: 0.00 | WHIP: 0.588 |
The Wolverines had just an ok day, sending 7 batters to the plate and one reliever to the mound. The problem is they had 2 games, so their smallish output wasn’t enough to stave off replacement innings pitched. Rafael Devers went 2 for 4 with a HR to lead the Wolverine hitters on the day.
Pittsburgh: “W,” 6-6 (25PA; 9.4IP)
| AVG: 0.292 | OBP: 0.320 | SLG: 0.667 | OPS: 0.987 |
| ERA: 5.74 | WHIP: 1.277 |
The Alleghenys produced the third best offensive line on the day, led solely by Byron Buxton (3 for 4 with 2 HRs) and Dominic Smith (3 for 5 with a 2B and a 3B). Unfortunately, they also produced the worst pitching line on the day, though it was better than replacement innings (silver lining for ya, Mark). Casey Mize gave up 3 runs in 3 innings, and Kendall Graveman also gave up 3 runs but in one third of an inning.
Portland: “L,” 8-4 (24PA; 7IP)
| AVG: 0.300 | OBP: 0.417 | SLG: 0.800 | OPS: 1.217 |
| ERA: 3.86 | WHIP: 1.571 |
The Rosebuds achieved peak 2020, but having an excellent day and still managing to hang a loss on their record, just to make sure they end up with the first pick in 2021. Bryce Harper went 2 for 3 with 2 HRs and 2 BBs, and Nick Margevicius and Dakota Hudson combined for 7IP and 3ER – however, Hudson left after his 2 scoreless innings and is getting an MRI on his elbow today. Fingers are crossed in Portland, I am sure!
Combined MLB + EFL Standings for 2020
| AL East | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 33 | 18 | .647 | — |
| New York Yankees | 29 | 21 | .580 | 3.5 |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes | 28 | 23 | .543 | 5.3 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 26 | 23 | .531 | 6 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 22 | 29 | .431 | 11 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines | 21 | 30 | .404 | 12.4 |
| Boston Red Sox | 19 | 32 | .373 | 14 |
| NL East | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Atlanta Braves | 29 | 21 | .580 | — |
| Miami Marlins | 25 | 23 | .521 | 3 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 24 | 25 | .490 | 4.5 |
| New York Mets | 23 | 27 | .460 | 6 |
| D.C. Balk | 23 | 27 | .457 | 6.1 |
| Canberra Kangaroos | 21 | 29 | .414 | 8.3 |
| Washington Nationals | 18 | 29 | .383 | 9.5 |
| AL Central | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Chicago White Sox | 33 | 17 | .660 | — |
| Minnesota Twins | 31 | 21 | .596 | 3 |
| Cleveland Indians | 27 | 23 | .540 | 6 |
| Bellingham Cascades | 22 | 28 | .446 | 10.7 |
| Detroit Tigers | 21 | 28 | .429 | 11.5 |
| Kansas City Royals | 21 | 29 | .420 | 12 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 18 | 32 | .359 | 15 |
| NL Central | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Chicago Cubs | 30 | 20 | .600 | — |
| Cincinnati Reds | 25 | 26 | .490 | 5.5 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 22 | 24 | .478 | 6 |
| Cottage Cheese | 24 | 26 | .476 | 6.2 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 23 | 26 | .469 | 6.5 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 15 | 34 | .306 | 14.5 |
| AL West | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Oakland A’s | 31 | 19 | .620 | — |
| Kaline Drive | 27 | 23 | .550 | 3.5 |
| Haviland Dragons | 26 | 24 | .526 | 4.7 |
| Houston Astros | 25 | 25 | .500 | 6 |
| Seattle Mariners | 22 | 28 | .440 | 9 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 21 | 30 | .412 | 10.5 |
| Texas Rangers | 18 | 32 | .360 | 13 |
| NL West | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 36 | 15 | .706 | — |
| San Diego Padres | 32 | 19 | .627 | 4 |
| San Francisco Giants | 25 | 24 | .510 | 10 |
| Peshastin Pears | 25 | 26 | .481 | 11.5 |
| Colorado Rockies | 22 | 27 | .449 | 13 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 19 | 32 | .373 | 17 |
| Portland Rosebuds | 15 | 36 | .299 | 20.7 |