Wild Cards

For starters, Congrats to the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals who became the 10th Wild Card team in baseball history. In doing so they eliminated the Milwaukee Brewers for the second time in the playoffs adding fuel to their rivalry. Let me also say that I love the MLB WC which has saved baseball for many fans. The 1985 Mets may have won the title a year earlier, but at 98-64 in the pre-wild card days had to watch the playoffs with the 2nd best record in ALL of baseball. The 1993 Giants won 103 games, but finished a game behind the Braves in the N.L. West AND missed the playoffs entirely. So, yes I'm really glad the wild card exists. However, I've long felt the road needs to be a little tougher. In 17 seasons (and 34 wild card teams) ten such teams have made it to the World Series. Many experts claim it's because the Wild Card teams are playing do-or-die games until the bitter end and they stay sharp. Incredibly, there have been four teams to go all the way from Wild Card to World Series Champs (1997 & 2003 Marlins, 2002 Angels, 2004 Red Sox), while there have only been four seasons where both Wild Card teams were both eliminated in the LDS (1995, 1998, 2001, 2009). Clearly the road isn't that disadvantageous.
National League
2011 St. Louis Cardinals
2010 Atlanta Braves LDS 1-3
2009 Colorado Rockies LDS 1-3
2008 Milwaukee Brewers LDS 1-3
2007 Colorado Rockies WS 7-4
2006 L.A. Dodgers LDS 0-3
2005 Houston Astros WS 7-7
2004 Houston Astros LCS 6-6
2003 Florida Marlins WS 11-6
2002 San Francisco Giants WS 10-6
2001 St. Louis Cardinals LDS 2-3
2000 New York Mets WS 8-6
1999 New York Mets LCS 5-5
1998 Chicago Cubs LDS 0-3
1997 Florida Marlins WS 11-5
1996 L.A. Dodgers LDS 0-3
1995 Colorado Rockies LDS 1-3

Overall, the N.L. has produced seven Wild Card pennants and two World Series titles. In the N.L.D.S. the WC teams are 33-34. In the N.L.C.S. they are an astonishing 33-19. However, if you're not named the Marlins, the N.L. Wild Card team often runs out of gas by Series time going 12-21 in the Fall Classic.

American League
2011 Tampa Bay Rays LDS 1-3
2010 New York Yankees LCS 5-4
2009 Boston Red Sox LDS 0-3
2008 Boston Red Sox LCS 6-5
2007 New York Yankees LDS 1-3
2006 Detroit Tigers WS 8-5
2005 Boston Red Sox LDS 0-3
2004 Boston Red Sox WS 11-3
2003 Boston Red Sox LCS 6-6
2002 Anaheim Angels WS 11-5
2001 Oakland A's LDS 2-3
2000 Seattle Mariners LCS 5-4
1999 Boston Red Sox LCS 5-6
1998 Boston Red Sox LDS 1-3
1997 New York Yankees LDS 2-3
1996 Baltimore Orioles LCS 4-5
1995 New York Yankees LDS 2-3
As you can see the Wild Card serves as a perfect fall back plan for the Boston Red Sox and the rest of the A.L. East. The division has won 13 of the 17 A.L. Wild Cards. The Angels won the only All-Wild card World Series in 2002, starting a three year run in which the World Series winner was a Wild Card entrant.
In the A.L.D.S. the WC team is 37-31. When it comes to the A.L.C.S. they are 24-28 while going 9-7 when they advance to the World Series.

There is talk that a second Wild Card team will be added and the two teams would meet in a single elimination game. I like this scenario especially if its played close to the division series. That way the teams will exhaust a quality pitcher and have to travel before another series. I also think the best team should play the worst regardless of which division the teams are in. The World Series should not be determined by the all-star game it should not ever be given to a Wild Card team, unless they are playing another Wild Card team in the Series. The WC team should have as few home playoff games as possible and have extra incentive to NOT be the Wild Card winner.