Only 60 games in a season seem to be too short and it is not the baseball season that we usually know. However, a 60-game season could create some excitement and some teams could be the dark horses to be playoff contenders. It will be very interesting since fans also love to see underdogs make some impacts.
It's great to know that baseball is back. But, it’s just not the same baseball season we know. So, how about a longer time span? 80 games. Looking back to the last 3 seasons, what happened after 80 games? Which teams would be in the playoff? Any surprises?
2017 (80 games)
The situation would be really entertaining in the American League. Three teams did tie for one wild card spot after 80 games and we would be able to see the real case on determining A, B, C Designations. We see the Los Angeles Angels on the list, so we could see Mike Trout in the tiebreakers. It must be really exciting, right?
In the meantime, the 2016 World Series Champions Chicago Cubs were behind the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cubs wouldn’t even be in the postseason.
2018 (80 games)
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox would have a tiebreaker for the AL East title. The Mariners would play in the wild card game, the first playoff appearance since 2001, Ichiro’s rookie season.
The Dodgers and Phillies would have to fight for the second wild card spot. Diamondbacks would be the NL champions for the first time since 2011.
2019 (80 games)
There would be lots of tiebreaker games in 2019, if only 80 games in the season. The Indians and the Rangers would fight for the second wild card spot in a tiebreaker. Meanwhile, in the National League, three clubs would fight for two wild card spots. The Nationals were just 40-40 after 80 games played and they were still behind the Braves and the Phillies.
A baseball season is usually a marathon. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season will be a sprint. A 60-game regular season will be really interesting to watch. There will be probably a lot of contenders in a short season. Nonetheless, when we looked at the last 3 seasons, some teams (let’s just say rebuilding teams) would not be playoff contenders in a 60-game season or in an 80-game season. But some playoff favorites or some teams that are favored to win the World Series may not be able to clinch a playoff spot if a season is only 60 games or 80 games. For example, Washington Nationals, the 2019 World Series Champions, would not be in the playoff if the season were short. Thus, teams must be ready once the season starts. They will not have enough time this season.
The 2020 season will be truly a different season. No All-Star game, no home run derby. Maybe no pitchers can get more than 10 wins? Maybe we will see some players with a .400 batting average at the end of the season? It is really unusual, but it could be very entertaining. Some playoff favorites will be out of the postseason if they are not 100% ready once the season starts, meanwhile, some teams could be really dangerous in a short season or they could even go further in October. In a short season, something could happen.
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