When it comes to his presence in the sports world, Nate Silver first made his name as a writer and analyst for Baseball Prospectus.
So it was a little bit curious to see the former FiveThirtyEight editor-in-chief, of all people, share the tired trope that the upcoming World Series matchup between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks isn’t “compelling.”
Not only that, Silver took his take a step further, calling for MLB to contract its playoffs to prevent such a matchup from happening. Under the previous playoff format, the fifth-seeded Rangers would’ve been subjected to a one-game Wild Card matchup (as opposed to the best-of-three series they swept against the Tampa Bay Rays), while the sixth-seeded Diamondbacks wouldn’t have even qualified for the playoffs.
“This is the least compelling World Series matchup in a long time, maybe ever,” Silver wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “MLB made a lot of great and overdue changes this season but it’s time to contract the playoffs and give the regular season more meaning.”
This is the least compelling World Series matchup in a long time, maybe ever. MLB made a lot of great and overdue changes this season but it's time to contract the playoffs and give the regular season more meaning.
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) October 25, 2023
It would’ve been nice to at least know why Silver doesn’t find this particular World Series matchup appealing. While both teams might be Wild Cards, they’ve each enjoyed impressive postseason runs, including Game 7 victories in their respective League Championship Series’.
Moreover, Texas’ roster features six All-Stars, while Arizona’s includes four. The Diamondbacks lay claim to one of baseball’s best pitchers in Zac Gallen, while the Rangers acquired one of the best pitchers of this era, Max Scherzer, at the trade deadline. Altogether, this World Series will feature five of the top 30 players in Fangraphs‘ WAR (Wins Above Replacement) statistic from the 2023 season.
Would a World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies have been more appealing to the casual or even non-baseball fan? Sure. But that’s why they play the games. If the only goal is to create an intriguing matchup, who needs the playoffs? Just put the Yankees and the Dodgers in the World Series every year.
It’s also curious that Silver would argue that playoff expansion has given the regular season less meaning. One could argue the exact opposite, as teams on the fringe of playoff contention — like the Rangers and the Diamondbacks — are more inclined to go for it in the second half of the season as opposed to selling off key players to established contenders at the trade deadline.
Suffice it to say, Silver’s take — which has now been viewed more than two million times — wasn’t a popular one. And many on social media were quick to point out the flaws in it.
“Guy who doesn’t tweet about baseball all season long only to parachute in at the end to say how boring they think the World Series will be” is a great character. We all love that guy. https://t.co/pUzfVTXveJ
— Chris Towers is the Riley Greene Preservation Soc (@CTowersCBS) October 25, 2023
I’ve often said we should just contract the MLB so only the Yankees and Red Sox exist so we can make sure and deliver the most compelling matchup possible to Northeastern television executives and nothing else https://t.co/oWmyh7BBCN
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) October 25, 2023
Alright. The rest of us will just enjoy the World Series that has Corbin Carroll playing against Evan Carter. https://t.co/qDsAPAt3Oy
— Christopher Fittz (@apoplecticfittz) October 25, 2023
Everyone wants parity til they get it. https://t.co/5fbBBGK0nM
— myles brown (@mdotbrown) October 25, 2023
Yeah bro everyone was dying to see the Astros and Dodgers in the World Series again https://t.co/C6lKeBalhB
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) October 25, 2023
professional haterade consumer
Why isn’t it compelling? Because it doesn’t align with what you wanted? Get out, this has been the baseball playoffs. They aren’t contracting anything. Move on. https://t.co/7CMv9YL4Ds
— Gage (@GageEHC) October 25, 2023
Why crap on the two teams that won a wild card series on the road, then started a DS on the road, then won 6-7 of the LCS on the road. They’ve balled out Nate. Sorry you don’t like the format. https://t.co/1QdxczVurN
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) October 25, 2023
“I don’t actually like this sport enough to watch without brand power” is such a weird thing that people insist on bragging about. https://t.co/8FewhDDrzF
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) October 25, 2023
This World Series is going to be fantastic. The only reason people are disappointed is because the networks only show the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Braves, and Cardinals. Four of those teams missed the playoffs entirely. There’s plenty of good baseball players on other teams. https://t.co/pVZWiefhCn
— Jason Burke (@ByJasonB) October 25, 2023
Things that used to have more meaning:
– the regular season
– what Nate Silver thinks https://t.co/IKM1Ml1Tgk— Zach Buchanan (@ZHBuchanan) October 25, 2023
