This year was filled with unprecedented events that truly shook the world off its foundation. Even with this crazy year, there were a couple of mainstays that gave people comfort and warmth in a time where that feeling was almost gone. One of those mainstays was the 2020 MLB Wild Card series and this article will highlight all the teams participating, the highlights, lowlights, sweeps, and everything in between.
The Toronto Blue Jays lose in the American League Wild Card Series to the Tampa Bay Rays
There is not much to say with this team. Coming into this series, everyone thought they were going to get their butts kicked, and they absolutely did. They laid down and basically told the Tampa Bay Rays to do whatever they wanted with them. I think Blue Jays fans wanted to see some fight in their team and, like always, the Toronto Blue Jays disappointed with moments such as Hyun-jin Ryu getting chased out of a game within two innings even though he is their star pitcher or their hitting core doing something remarkable like HITTING THE DANG BALL. This series was a learning experience for this team and if they ever want to be back here, they need to learn from what happened, get back up, dust themselves off and be back here again. If they don’t learn from what happened, I can only say — Godspeed Blue Jays fans.
Cleveland Indians lose in the American League Wild Card Series to the New York Yankees
My god, this team just choked in the playoffs AGAIN. How did this series even end like that? It’s like this entire team just collapsed the second someone said playoffs. Shane Bieber went from looking like a Cy Young award winner to looking like he forgot where the ball is supposed to go on any given pitch. James Karinchak went from having a last name that looks like someone wrote out how a sneeze is supposed to sound like to giving up a back breaking, soul crushing grand slam to Gio Urshela. Not to mention that the entire team just forgot how to play baseball that second game against the Yankees and let them come back and win not only the game but the series. This year was supposed to be a chance for the Indians to show that they are a legit team who can go all the way, yet it’s the same narrative that a big market team like the Yankees will crush opponents in their path with their bats. Lindor is most likely gone after this season, and the front office will start to dismantle piece by piece until you are stuck rebuilding once again. This year was crucial, and you just reinforced stale narratives that you have shoved down our throats seemingly forever. Who knows what the future holds, but they better hope that they still have a chance in the next couple of years.
Minnesota Twins lose in the American League Wild Card Series to the Houston Astros
The Minnesota Twins? Let’s be honest here, they should just rename the team the Minnesota TS because by god there is no “win” here. They have 18 consecutive postseason losses which is now a record spanning ALL AMERICAN SPORTS. They had such a beautiful opportunity to dunk on the biggest cheaters in baseball history, but they looked that chance in the eye and then blinked. They didn’t lose this series because of an injured Josh Donaldson, even though that certainly didn’t help. This was a team round failure. It’s clear that once the bat stops playing their advantage, the entire team melts like an ice cream cone on a hot day in Arizona. The Minnesota Twins could have been baseball’s heroes; however, they are baseball’s morons. Looks like some things don’t change even in a pandemic.
The Chicago White Sox lose in the American League Wild Card Series to the Oakland Athletics
Look at the Chicago White Sox, so generous to just gift a series win to the A’s. How do you lose a series when in the first game Lucas Giolito almost gets a NO HITTER? Of course it makes sense to lose a series when your manager is Rick Renteria, and he decides to burn through BASICALLY EVERY GOOD OPTION BY THE FIFTH INNING. This team is young with good players that have loads of potential, but the only thing holding this team back from its glory is their stinking manager. Thank god the White Sox decided to fire his big fat behind coming into the 2021 season and now the White Sox can only go one way: UP.
Milwaukee Brewers lose in the National League Wild Card Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Let’s be honest here Brewers fans, there was no way you were going to win this one. Additionally, both Devin Williams and Corbin Burnes were left out of the active roster due to injury. This series should have just been handed to the Dodgers to spare any Brewers fans more unnecessary pain. The Dodgers were coming into this series as the number one seed in the National league, and they had a roster that was basically crafted by the gods, but we had to give the Brewers the opportunity to go against them. That is just cruel and unusual. My god, MLB do you not have any shame for your actions. I mean there were young fans who had to see their beloved team get crushed by the Dodgers. They are already Brewers fans which is enough pain.
St. Louis Cardinals lose in the National League Wild Card Series to the San Diego Padres
I mean it is very unfortunate for the Cardinals to have lost like this. They had to go against a virtual gauntlet of double headers to even sneak into the playoffs. Despite winning their first game as the underdogs of the Wild Card, they still lost the series. Sadly for the Cardinals, Slam Diego came back to their senses and absolutely rocked the Cardinals back into their land of mediocrity. The funny thing was that the Cardinals had a shot to win this series. First, the Padres didn’t have Lamet or Clevinger on their active roster. Second, they had an early win and could have used that momentum. Unfortunately, the Padres bullpen also woke up and decided to have their fun and snuffed out any hope for the Cardinals. The Cardinals are right back where they belong: the land of mediocrity and false hope.
The Chicago Cubs lose in the National League Wild Card Series to the Miami Marlins
How do the Cubs with their inept roster lose to Miami? Is 2020 this bizarre? The Cubs literally imploded. Every facet of their game just shut off. Their hitting was atrocious against a team who isn’t exactly known for their pitching. I mean, this is ridiculous. Their pitching and fielding were fine but nothing up to the standards that Cubs fans want. It’s like after they won the World Series in 2016, they stopped caring. I think it’s time to dismantle that squad. They aren’t producing what they used to and Bryant, Baez, and Schwarber should become free agents after next year. Time to let go of the past and build towards the future or this team will be stuck in the mud for the next 100 years.
Cincinnati Reds lose in the National League Wild Card Series to the Atlanta Braves
Jesus H. Christ, did that just happen to the Reds? The Reds actually just went into the postseason and didn’t score a SINGLE RUN AT ALL. Literally 22 SCORELESS INNINGS against the Braves. How does this happen to a professional sports team? You guys just made the Atlanta Braves look unstoppable, you know how hard that is to do?! This was going to shake things up in the front office, and, oh boy, it did. Dick Williams resigned as Cincinnati Reds President, which he should have done because this showing was abysmal. If they ever want a shot back here, things need to change and quick. The hitting core looked useless, and the pitching and fielding were the only things keeping the scores from looking like a basketball game. They better shape up or ship out.
