Playoffs

Winners of the last five championships: Boston (2nd place, AL East, 98 wins), Florida (2nd place, NL East, 91 wins), Anaheim (2nd place, AL West, 99 wins), Arizona (1st place, NL West, 91 wins), New York (1st place, AL East, 87 wins). These teams have won 100 games in the last five years: New York (101 wins, 2004), St. Louis (105 wins, 2004), New York (101 wins, 2003), Atlanta (101 wins, 2003), San Francisco (100 wins, 2003), New York (103 wins, 2002), Oakland (103 wins, 2002), Atlanta (101 wins, 2002), Seattle (116 wins, 2001), Oakland (102 wins, 2001), Not one of those teams won a championship. Do we really believe that they weren't as good a team as the teams that won the championship?

For a look at the standings, click here for 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000.

The playoff tournament is a great way to decide who gets to take home the big trophy and who gets to wear expensive jewelry. It's very exciting. But do we honestly think that it perfectly measures the overall quality of the teams? Does the best team always advance, or can an inferior team catch a break or two and beat a better team in a five-game LDS?

All the teams that make the playoffs, in baseball, are very good. But the best team doesn't necessarily win the championship. Yes? Each of the top four or five teams has about an equal chance of winning the big prize. And the lesser wild card teams also have a chance to win the big prize.

You'll never hear a GM or a player say this. But that doesn't mean the fans may not realize this is true. The playoffs are more or less a crapshoot of the NBA lottery variety.