Division Champions or Wild card: Do you care?

[champaignchris]

For the record:

 

In the 13 years since the wild card format started...

 

The wild card team has represented the National League in the World Series 7 times.

 

The team with the league's best record has represented the National League 5 times.

 

(Those overlap once... the '07 Rockies were the wild card team and were tied for the best record in the league with the D'backs.)

 

The team with the best overall record in the majors has won the World Series twice.

 

While these figures scream "sample size," I also think it's true that who wins in the playoffs has more to do with pitching match ups, which players and teams are playing well entering the playoffs, and a little luck than playoff seeding and home field advantage.

[SouthSideRyan]

Nitpick, the Rockies were a half game worse than the D-Backs last year.

[NCCubFan]

I'm thinking that not having to face Webb/Haren/undefeated Randy Johnson in a short series might be more important than home field advantage.

I don't think so. The Cubs can beat those pitchers at home.

[David]

I'm thinking that not having to face Webb/Haren/undefeated Randy Johnson in a short series might be more important than home field advantage.

I don't think so. The Cubs can beat those pitchers at home.

 

I think they can beat them, period. But I'd still rather not face them (well, Webb and Haren)...

[NCCubFan]

I'm thinking that not having to face Webb/Haren/undefeated Randy Johnson in a short series might be more important than home field advantage.

I don't think so. The Cubs can beat those pitchers at home.

 

I think they can beat them, period. But I'd still rather not face them (well, Webb and Haren)...

I'd rather face them than have to play all three postseason series with the majority of games on the road.

[David]

So would I.

[Electron Blue]

If we end up winning the World Series I would only slightly care -- i.e. it would seem (at least to the media, perhaps) as a fluke in the playoffs, since we weren't the best outright team in the division.

 

But if we fail to win, or even make it to, the Series, I would especially hope we had a Division Crown to look back on. Sure it doesn't actually matter, but I happen to like the sound of "Chicago Cubs, Central Division Champions: 2003, 2007, 2008."

 

Call me crazy :)