This is a special feature for WBN from Reginald Armstrong.
For decades, Memorial Day Weekend has marked baseball’s first true measuring stick– a critical checkpoint where contenders and pretenders begin to separate. By this point, clubs have played 50-55 games, allowing early assessments of postseason viability.
Yet, baseball’s history is filled with stories of teams defying the odds, proving that even deep deficits aren’t insurmountable. The 1978 Yankees, trailing by 14 games in July, ignited an electrifying comeback, culminating in Bucky Dent’s legendary playoff-clinching homer over Fenway’s Green Monster. As legendary Yankee broadcaster Bill White called it- “Deep to LEFT…”– it became a moment forever etched in baseball lore.
The 1993 Braves, behind 10 games in mid-July, stormed past Barry Bonds’ Giants by a single game-driven by their historic rotation of Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz. And in 1995, Ken Griffey Jr.’s Mariners erased a 13-game August gap, stunning the Angels to claim the AL West.
But despite these dramatic resurgences, baseball’s expanded postseason format has diminished the value of regular-season dominance. Over the last seven years, five division winners have been eliminated in the first round, raising legitimate concerns about competitive balance. The 107-win Giants (2021), 111-win Dodgers (2022), and 101-win Orioles (2023) all suffered early exits- despite proving their superiority over a 162-game marathon season.
Proposed Playoff Restructuring
To restore the integrity of the regular season, MLB should refine its playoff format:
Interleague Play: The Lost Tradition
There was a time when the All-Star Game was a sacred moment, where AL and NL stars clashed for the first time and/or on rare occasions, fueling pride and intrigue. Cincinnati’s Pete Rose versus Detroit’s Willie Horton, LA’s Steve Garvey facing Baltimore’s Brooks Robinson- these matchups were events fans eagerly anticipated.
Interleague play eroded that mystique, blending leagues too frequently and making once-exciting rivalries routine. The World Series used to be the ultimate showdown– a final, thrilling collision between distinct league styles. Now, interleague matchups throughout the season have diluted that exclusivity.
Restoring Key Baseball Traditions
Balancing Progress and Integrity
Some modern innovations have strengthened baseball- the pitch clock, for example, was long overdue. Players like Mike Hargrove, notorious for his elaborate batter’s box rituals, epitomized the need for efficiency. With the pitch clock and the requirement that batters remain engaged, game times have now settled at a much more reasonable pace- averaging around two-and-a-half-hours, rather than the prolonged three-and-a-half to four-hour marathons of previous years.
The introduction of the universal DH was one of the most significant adjustments in recent years, fundamentally altering the National League strategy. Previously, NL managers had to account for pitchers hitting, leading to pinch-hit maneuvering, bunting strategies, and double-switch decisions that created a distinct style of play. While the DH modernized offensive production and reduced pitcher injury risks, it also erased a layer of managerial complexity that made NL baseball unique.
However, other changes feel forced. Oversized bases have inflated stolen base success rates, making it laughably easier compared to past eras. Imagine Rickey Henderson, Lou Brock, or Vince Coleman with today’s pizza-box bases- they’d have shattered records even further.
Baseball is a simple game:
At its core, the sport thrives on its rhythm, strategy, and timeless rivalries– it doesn’t need excessive engineering.
As Memorial Day Weekend arrives, let’s celebrate baseball for what it truly is– a beautiful, evolving, yet historically rich game. And as MLB navigates modern changes, it must ensure that legacy and integrity are never sacrificed at the altar of progress.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend.
