2023 World Series provides reminder of how the Wild Card has worked for three decades

The 2023 World Series is set and it’s far from what prognosticators and fans had expected when the season began on March 30.

The Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks make for the most unlikeliest of foes in Major League Baseball’s final when considering not only did these teams combine for 174 wins in the regular season, fewest of any Fall Classic combatants, but that both lost 100 games two years ago.

This pair of underdog Wild Card clubs who defeated the reigning pennant winners — on the road in Game 6 and 7, no less, a first in MLB history — will face off in the best-of-seven beginning today in Arlington, Tex. 

Do these teams belong here? Absolutely. MLB crafted a playoff format that rewards the top three teams that did not win their division with entry into October’s tournament. Are the Rangers and D-backs the two best teams in the sport? It’s hard to think they are after watching the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays in the American League play much better than Texas through the 162-game marathon. In the National League, four clubs played better than Arizona, including Atlanta who won 20 more games.

Josh Jung responds when asked if whether or not the Rangers would have gotten to the World Series had they not taken the path of the road Wild Card team to start. The D'backs and Rangers play Game 1 of the Fall Classic Friday at 7 pm on Fox SA. (MLB) #GoAndTakeIt pic.twitter.com/F5nfgM8OdS

— Chuck Miketinac (@MaxSportsSA) October 25, 2023

But this is why they play the games in the postseason. Anything is possible.

When the Wild Card was first introduced in 1995, the first team to ever be accused of lucking into the postseason was the Colorado Rockies. They’ve done it a total of five times since that first year, more than any other in the National League. Without this option, there simply would not have been their appearance int the 2007 World Series. A lot of other teams would have suffered too. 

Were it not for the Wild Card, the Marlins would have never won a ring in 1997 or 2003. The Los Angeles Angels, winners in 2002 as the Anaheim Angels, would still be in search of a World Series ring for the 64th consecutive season. There would be no Commissioner’s Trophy for the Washington Nationals in 2019. And the Curse of the Bambino may still be haunting the Boston Red Sox without winning it all in 2004.

Happy 15th Anniversary to Game 163!#Rockies won 14-of-15 games to end 2007 with the NL Wild Card thanks to Matt Holliday most definitely touching home plate. pic.twitter.com/r9hCE4lWf9

— DNVR Rockies (@DNVR_Rockies) October 2, 2022

In the 29 seasons with the Wild Card, 16 different clubs have reached the World Series without having won their division. Had it never been created, we would have had a lot more championships from perennial powerhouses like the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers. Instead, they’ve won just one apiece over the last 15 years.

The Diamondbacks may lack the star power of the Philadelphia Phillies, but they deserve their moment in the spotlight after winning the National League Championship Series. Though they didn’t finish the regular season winning 14 of 15 games to secure a spot in the playoffs, the D-backs are doing the unthinkable like the 2007 Rockies. An afterthought entering September, both clubs won critical games when it mattered most. 

Zac Gallen on roasting the Phillies fan on X yesterday:

"I just figured, if they want to talk junk to me, I'll say one back. And I feel like, being from there, I knew how to hit them the hardest."😂 pic.twitter.com/ERXiRy3pbc

— PHNX Diamondbacks (@PHNX_Dbacks) October 26, 2023

You might even think 23-year-old Corbin Carroll is as worthy of the NL Rookie of the Year Award, not to mention deserving of some consideration as NL MVP, as 22-year-old Troy Tulowtizki was in ’07. And you wouldn’t be wrong. Brandon Pfaadt in his age-24 season is pitching an awful lot like age-23 Ubaldo Jiménez, maybe even a notch better. Both bullpens eventually came together, but not until late in the season. Arizona’s addition of Paul Sewald at the trade deadline has allowed Ryan Thompson and Kevin Ginkel some assurance to manager Torey Lovullo in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Manny Corpas did the same as the closer for Clint Hurdle during Rocktober while Brian Fuentes provided the bridge for the final frame or more.

No one would mistake the Rangers for the Rockies though, especially when looking at their payroll. Two starting pitchers are making $40 million or more this season and their middle infield duo of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien were signed in free agency for a combined $500 million. (If you noticed Jon Gray on the Texas roster, you wouldn’t be faulted for making such a mistake.)

Torey Lovullo on the statement the Diamondbacks have made in the playoffs:

"We take it personal when we watch some of the comments on television or read some of the things where everybody wanted to be re-seeded … so the Braves can pick on the lowly Diamondbacks." pic.twitter.com/fxAAjb67au

— PHNX Diamondbacks (@PHNX_Dbacks) October 8, 2023

“I think this team has a chip on its shoulder,” Lovullo said of being the third NL Wild Card. “We’re a good baseball team. We do things right. We do it in a very uncommon way. We care about things that other teams probably don’t care about or talk about, and it’s showing up every single day for us.”

The 2023 World Series may not be the marquee matchup for which everyone had hoped, but it’s baseball. The last bit of this wonderful game we’ll get until pitchers and catchers report in February, so let’s cherish it.