Wild Card Surprises

Wild cards were first introduced to the MLB in 1994 to include more teams in the postseason. In 2011, the MLB changed the wild card policy to include two wild card teams who would then play in a one-game playoff to see who advanced in the playoffs. This policy was implemented for the first time in the 2012 season. Here’s a look back at different wild card teams and their records since the rule was first implemented in 1994.

Florida/Miami Marlins: 6-0

Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels: 3-0

Boston Red Sox: 6-6

St. Louis Cardinals: 4-2

New York Mets: 3-2

San Francisco Giants: 2-1

Houston Astros: 3-2

Detroit Tigers: 2-1

Baltimore Orioles: 2-2

Colorado Rockies: 2-3

Seattle Mariners: 1-1

New York Yankees: 1-4

Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves: 0-2

Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers : 0-1

The last wild card team to win a World Series was the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011. The current wild card leaders for the 2013 playoffs are the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Indians in the American League. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds are the leaders in the National League. With about ten games left in the regular season, the Texas Rangers still have a chance to claim a playoff spot while the Washington Nationals have some ground to make up.

Vladimir Guerrero Announces Retirement

With 16 MLB seasons under his belt, the curtains are drawing to a close on Vladimir Guerrero’s baseball career. The former All-Star and American League MVP announced this week that he has decided to retire.

Guerrero hasn’t played in the MLB since 2011 with the Baltimore Orioles. He spent the first half of the 2012 season in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system but asked for his release which he was granted. During his 16 seasons in ‘The Bigs,’ Guerrero split time between the Montreal Expos (1996-2003), the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2004-2009), the Texas Rangers (2010), and the Baltimore Orioles (2011).

His career numbers include playing in 2,147 games with 2,590 hits, 477 doubles, 46 triples, 449 home runs, and 1,496 RBIs. He also garnered the American League MVP award for the 2004 season with the Angels. He is a nine-time All-Star and in 2011, surpassed Julio Franco for the most hits by an MLB player from the Dominican Republic.

Guerrero plans to focus on his family including his 14-year-old son who also plays baseball.