Analyzing MLB's New Postseason: Home Field and Rest Benefits
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - And of course, we saw the four best teams
00:07 in Major League Baseball
00:08 from a win number perspective this year,
00:11 as you include the Rays,
00:12 the top wildcard team in the American League,
00:15 all get bounced the RS
00:17 in the only series they played this October.
00:20 Those four teams were the only four teams
00:23 to win more than 90 games this year in Major League Baseball.
00:26 The Braves, the best, 104.
00:28 Baltimore, second best, 101.
00:30 LA, won 100 games for the fourth consecutive full season.
00:34 Even Tampa DRS, only one win shy of 100,
00:37 finishing with 99.
00:39 And all of those teams are now out
00:42 after the only series they played.
00:44 So Donnie, how will you assess
00:46 this new post-season format in MLB?
00:48 - Baseball is different than any other sport here, Ben.
00:51 Coming down the stretch in must-win scenarios here,
00:54 we saw the Kansas City Royals
00:55 repeatedly take down the Houston Astros
00:57 when the Royals didn't need that game,
00:59 and the Astros absolutely did.
01:01 So if we're looking towards playoff base,
01:03 but I had to even it up, you leave it the same.
01:05 It's a simple analysis.
01:07 You play in the regular season
01:09 to get that home field advantage,
01:11 so a deciding game is going to be in your building.
01:13 And as anybody, anywhere, at any time,
01:15 would you rather play an elimination series
01:18 or get walked into the next series
01:20 where you're healthy, you're rested
01:22 in front of your home crowd,
01:24 and also have the pitching rotation
01:26 set up in your favor when the other team
01:28 had to expend the rotation
01:29 and probably can't throw their top two guys
01:31 by the time they get to you here?
01:33 It's an unbelievable advantage.
01:34 I can't believe people are crying about,
01:36 you gotta change it up in Major League Baseball.
01:38 Go into the clubhouse of the Atlanta Braves
01:40 now that the season is over,
01:41 let 'em digest the season, and two weeks ago,
01:43 hey guys, we're gonna give you
01:44 100 plus victories yesterday,
01:46 and you get a first round bye.
01:47 Will you take it?
01:48 No.
01:49 Let's be the sixth seed and go on the road repeatedly,
01:51 because obviously that's better.
01:53 That's ludicrous here.
01:54 You want home field advantage, you want rest,
01:56 and you have limited chances
01:58 for yourself to get eliminated.
02:00 You get a free pass to round number two.
02:02 That is the biggest advantage in sports.
02:05 Knock it off here, knock it off.
02:07 (upbeat music)
02:09 (upbeat music)