So the World Series begins tonight after what I rather think are completely unnecessary delays built into the schedule to satisfy television. I'm beginning to question, as many analysts are doing, the whole playoff structure right now. OK, the wild card races add excitement, as does the playoff structure, but do we need, for example, to drag this thing out so that there are so many delays premised on each series going the full length and providing built-in rest periods to realign rosters and pitching match-ups? Not to mention the unconventional local starting times for many of the games.
I don't want to sound like a cantankerous old fart, but teams play every day during the season with one off-day a week. Before expansion, the season ended and the World Series started a day later. Now, with all the delays, the likelihood is the deciding game will be played in Kansas City in the first week of November. How does this make sense?
This year, the wait has been especially troubling, as neither series went to a seventh game. It has been so long between games that probably most people don't care who wins. The schedule also works to the disadvantage of hot teams, as the deeper you go, the harder it is to maintain the streak.
This year, the Cubs were the hottest team in baseball from the end of September through the NLDS, winning 13 of 14 games. Maddon had always maintained that they were a better team the fewer off-days they had. They advanced on Tuesday and had to wait until Saturday to play the first game of the NLCS. Did this affect the team?
As far as a rooting interest is concerned, this one is a problem. Ordinarily, I will root for the NL team from the bluest state that is not the Cardinals or the Mets. This year, however, Kansas City is from Missouri, which automatically disqualifies them from any affection. Besides, the whole series will be a nightmare if only because Joe Buck and Harold Reynolds will simply drone on forever about how they play good old-fashioned hard-nosed baseball, etc., etc.
The Mets present similar barriers to admiration, not merely because they are the Mets. There hottest player, Daniel Murphy, is a gay-bashing Bible-thumper, who has suspiciously or fortuitously blossomed into the reincarnation of Babe Ruth. I mean, you have got to pull for this guy to fail. He has seven homers in the post-season, half his regular season output and close to 15% of his career output. Weird!
Anyway, I suspect I shall just watch this show and wait until next year.
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