The 2020 playoff is scheduled to run from September 29. There are fewer games in the regular season, but the postseason has more games. It’s going to be a 16-team postseason tournament. An expanded playoff format means that there will be 3 more teams in the playoffs each league. If the postseason tournament starts tomorrow, many fans will be thrilled to see their favorite teams start the playoff journey after long playoff droughts.
The Chicago White Sox lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2008 ALDS. It was the last time that White Sox played in the postseason. In the game 4 of the 2008 ALDS, we see some well-known names. Hall of famers Jim Thome and Ken Griffey Jr. were in the starting lineup. They both went 0-for-4 in that game. In the series, Jim Thome batted .125 with a double and one RBI. Ken Griffey Jr. hit .200 without any RBIs or extra base hits. The game 4 of the 2008 ALDS was Ken Griffey Jr. 's last playoff appearance.
The Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts was the leadoff hitter of the Padres starting lineup in the game 4 of the 2006 NLDS. In the series, the 34-years-old Dave Roberts batted .438/.471/.563. Hall of Famer Mike Piazza entered the game as a pinch hitter in this game. He had a double in 10 at bats in this series. This game was Mike Piazza’s last playoff appearance.
The Florida Marlins won the World Series in the 2003 season. Yes, the “Florida” Marlins. The Marlins haven’t played in the postseason since then. Josh Beckett tossed a shutout in the Yankee Stadium to help the Marlins defeat the Yankees, which won 101 games in 2003, and he also won the World Series MVP. Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez collected 6 hits in this series and got his World Series ring. Miguel Cabrera finished 5th in the Rookie of the Year voting, the 2003 ROY went to his teammate Dontrelle Willis. Miguel Cabrera started at left field in the game 6 of the 2003 World Series. Yes, left field. Miguel Cabrera hasn’t played in the outfield since 2006.
The Philadelphia Phillies won 102 games in the 2011 season, the most wins in a single season in team history. However, the Phillies fell short in the 2011 postseason. The 2011 NLDS between the Cardinals and the Phillies was very intensive. Two Cy Young winners Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay started in the game 5 of the 2011 NLDS. Chris Carpenter tossed a shutout. Roy Halladay allowed only 1 run in 8 innings. The game 5 of the 2011 NLDS was the last playoff appearance of the HOFer Roy Halladay.
It’s highly possible to see that several teams will end their playoff droughts this season. An expanded playoff format does create more opportunities for MLB teams to play in the postseason. With a couple of weeks remaining in the regular season, teams in the playoff race will have to fight hard to clinch postseason berths. In the National League, the Rockies and the Brewers are only 1.5 games behind the Giants. The Mets and the Reds are 2 games behind the Giants. In the AL West, the Mariners are still in the playoff race since they are only 1.5 games behind the Astros.
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