Oct 15 2009
Has the Wild Card Diluted World Series Excitement?
As I was fact checking my last post to make sure that the Red Sox were indeed the only team to win more than one World Series in the decade, I noticed something interesting. Since the Wild Card and three division set up made it through a full season (the idea was meant to start in the 1994 season, which was strike-shortened), it looked like the World Series have been more one-sided.
In the 14 years that the Wild Card has been in place, the team that lost the World Series has won a mere 18 games, or 1.29 games per series. There have been 5 World Series sweeps in those 14 years, or 35% of the series. Additionally, only 3 of the World Series have gone the full 7 games, or 21% of the series.
On the other hand, in the 14 years leading up to the Wild Card era, the team that lost the World Series has won 26 games, or 1.86 games per series. Over those 14 years there have been only 2 sweeps, or 14%, and 5 went the full 7 games, 35%.
So it’s up to you to decide if it’s significant or merely a minor variation that will diminish as the Wild Card era continues? Personally, I don’t know if I’m ready to say that it’s had that much of an effect, but I do know the only time I want to see a sweep in the World Series is when my Braves are sweeping someone (which hasn’t happened since they were in Boston in 1914).
Again, here’s a summary:
Wild Card Era: Losing Team 1.29 wins/series, swept 35% of the time, won three games 21% of the time
Previous 14 years: Losing Team 1.86 wins/series, swept 14% of the time, won three games 35% of the time
