So, after a season that started late and was extended a few days because of the lockout, we've reached the postseason. The first postseason using the new format, with six teams making it in each league and the wild card round being best-of-three. Yet, unlike the NBA and NHL's seemingly endless playoffs, they'll still be over in a reasonable amount of time. Game 7 of the World Series is scheduled for Nov. 5, so the entire postseason will take less than a month!
I, for one, am very curious to see how the new format will work out. There are some things that I definitely like about it. The best-of-three certainly beats the winner-take-all Wild Card Game. I also like that there's now a distinct advantage to finishing with one of the two best records in your league. It means your opponent has used at least its top two pitchers just to get to the Division Series while you get to set your rotation.
However, I'm not crazy about the amount of rest the top two seeds get. Yes, they can set up their rotation any way they want, but that means the back-end starters will go a long time between starts. And, obviously, so will the position players. It's definitely a delicate balance between getting rest and getting too much rest.
The season being extended a few days pushing the start of the postseason back also resulted in a very interesting schedule. There's no off day between Games 4 & 5 of the Division Series or between Games 5 & 6 of the LCS. If the LCS goes seven, they'll play five consecutive days. And the World Series is starting on a Friday, with Sunday and Thursday as the off days.
This schedule was obviously a direct result of the lockout. They took away off days and adjusted accordingly so they could still end the season relatively "on schedule," but I wonder, if this schedule works out ratings-wise, could the Friday World Series start potentially become permanent? (They started the World Series on a Saturday for years until switching to the midweek start in 2007.) Anyway, you know, at the very least, the Wild Card Series will move to midweek next year.
As for this year's Wild Card Series, I think the four home teams should all win. They're the higher seeds for a reason. I'd like to say the Padres have a chance against the Mets, but that just doesn't seem likely. I do think Seattle will push Toronto and Tampa Bay will push Cleveland, though. Will both AL series go to a Game 3?
Guardians-Rays: When Tampa Bay was just 5 1/2 games out in early September, that was before the Rays' brutal stretch run that included a three-game series in Cleveland just last week. The Guardians took two out of three in that series. And, frankly, I don't think this one will be much different. Not when Cleveland can start Bieber and Civale (with Quantrill ready for Game 3), then go to Clase to close.
Blue Jays-Mariners: Seattle's 21-year playoff drought finally comes to an end! If you're looking for somebody to blame for the Mariners' fortunes over the past two decades, look no further than Sue Bird. She played her entire 21-year career in Seattle and the Mariners didn't make the playoffs once. She retires and Bam! I kid, of course, and I'm actually excited to see the Mariners on the postseason stage. I don't think they'll last very long, however. The Blue Jays are simply a better team. And they're looking for some playoff redemption after their performance in Tampa two years ago.
Mets-Padres: Obviously the 101-win Mets would've preferred to win the NL East and get the first-round bye, but the Braves clinching the division when they did certainly worked to their advantage. Jacob deGrom was lined up to start the final regular season game on normal rest of the division was still in play. It wasn't, so they were able to set up their 1-2 punch for Games 1 & 2. Although, the Padres have Yu Darvish and Blake Snell lined up to face Scherzer and deGrom, so they actually match up pretty well with the Mets' dual aces. These are the most evenly-matched teams facing each other in the Wild Card Series. I can see it going three, I can see the Padres sweeping, and I can see the Mets sweeping. Ultimately, I think it does go to a Game 3, which the Mets win.
Cardinals-Phillies: It took there being a third wild card in each league, but the Phillies finally snapped their postseason drought! Unfortunately, their stay probably won't be that long. The Cardinals aren't just a great story. They're also a very good team that I think is being somewhat overlooked. The National League has three 100-win teams, but I really think St. Louis can go far. Kinda like Atlanta last year.
That would give us Division Series matchups of Astros-Blue Jays, Yankees-Guardians, Dodgers-Mets and Braves-Cardinals. And, frankly, those two NLDS both sound outstanding!
What's funny about the potential Dodgers-Mets matchup, of course, is that the Dodgers-Mets NLCS so many people considered "inevitable" for much of the season is now impossible. Only one of them can make the NLCS. Although, the one that does could very well win the pennant. Except, again, don't underestimate the Cardinals. In fact, I think they're gonna beat the Braves. And they'll play the 111-win Dodgers, who'll take full advantage of their depth, having the home field, and the fact that the Mets won't be able to start Scherzer and deGrom until the series shifts to Citi Field for Game 3.
Don't get me wrong. I think all four of my NLDS participants can not only win the pennant, they can all win the whole thing! As it is, I've got a Dodgers-Cardinals NLCS. And, as great as it would be to see Albert and Yadi ride into the sunset after one final World Series ride, the Dodgers are simply too good. They continue their trend of making it to the World Series in even years.
In the American League, the Yankees and Astros have seemed to be on a collision course all season, and there's no reason to believe they won't face each other in the ALCS once again. Dropping to the 2-seed obviously meant they won't have home field in that series, but it gives the Yankees a much more favorable (for them) matchup against Cleveland, rather than dealing with Toronto, a division rival that always gives them trouble. The Blue Jays won't give the Astros as much trouble as they would the Yankees. Houston advances to its sixth consecutive ALCS. They're turning into the baseball version of the Patriots!
Call me crazy, though. Because I think the Yankees actually want to play the Astros! They've got a Texas-sized chip on their shoulder. And they want to finally beat that team who's consistently gotten the better of them, including this season, when the Yankees' only leads in seven games were the final score in their two walk-off wins. If the September Yankees show up, they can beat them. If the August Yankees show up, they've got no chance!
Chalk one up to nostalgia in the 2022 World Series. Because I've got those two old rivals, the Dodgers and Yankees, meeting in the World Series for a record 12th time, but the first time in 41 years. And, just like in the strike-shortened 1981 season, the lockout-delayed 2022 season will end with the Dodgers beating the Yankees for the Commissioner's Trophy.
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