After a – pardon the pun – wild (card) game last night between the Rockies and Padres, the postseason is officially ready to kick off in Major League Baseball. Perhaps the biggest thing to note this year is that there finally is some new blood in the water.
While the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels are familiar faces, the Cubs, Indians, Phillies and of course, the Rockies, offer a breath of postseason fresh air. Analysts like to note how important big market teams are to MLB playoffs because of TV ratings, but it’s exciting to see the Rockies make their first postseason apperance. It’s great that the Cubs get another chance to erase Steve Bartman, and that the Indians and Phillies finally make it back to the playoffs after years of coming up empty. It’s also exciting to root against the Yankees and Red Sox while pulling for the underdog Rockies and Indians. There’s also plenty of star power to go around and some youthful exuberance on the Rockies and Tribe.
Forget the TV ratings for a minute. This year’s playoffs offer a little something for everyone and that’s only good news for the game. Part of the reason the NFL is so popular is because of its parity. This year’s MLB playoffs stuck a nice balance of new and old, and because of that, I’m truly excited.
