One huge reason: tiebreakers are usually played 24 hours after the end of game #162. Asking teams to create a "playoff roster" for one game on that short notice, while they're also packing their bags and trying to fly somewhere on short notice, is kinda nuts. Also, it'd lead to all sorts of anomalies like leaving off half your starting pitchers, since you won't really need them for a one-game playoff.

Hoffman isn't a choker. He didn't have very good stuff his last 2 games. Maybe his age has finally caught up to him?

I find extremely ironic that Tony Gwynn Jr. got to him Milwaukee. Son of the most famous Padre ever gets to probably the best pitcher the Padres have ever had. Great storyline.

RE: Last night's game: Do you think the play at the plate will fuel calls for instant replay for plays at the plate?

I don't think Hoffy is a choker as much as he is done. Right off the start of the inning he was throwing a lot of 84 and 83mph fastballs. Thats not going to get it done. I'm not sure what his deal was but since I've been living in San Diego I've watched a lot of "trevor time" and I've never seen him throw that many fastballs. Usually he will throw that nasty change up there over and over.

at some point last night, someone (SD's Ted Lightener maybe) said hoffman is 4 for 6 is playoff save situations. this makes him 4 for 7. maybe this just indication of the tough competition, but that's not so great.

Yeah, that's always bothered me too. I'm not sure of the justification, but it appears to me that they want to keep the "playoffs" as one entity, thus these playoff-like games are part of the regular season since it is determining who will enter the playoffs, and who won't. This was also the way it was long ago when the only playoffs was the World Series, and obviously the games to make the World Series aren't a playoff since the playoffs is only the World Series, therefore, ergo sum, they are a part of the regular season.

Seems like semantics to me.

Kuiper, however, complained on his morning show about how many pitchers the Rockies threw out there, that it didn't seem right. He and Kruk has been advocating this season (at least) for an active roster type of designation like the NHL in September, that would limit the number of players accessible to you.

Obviously, as noted above by someone, you can have abuses like not carrying any starting pitchers other than your starter. The way to mitigate it is to have the teams set their playoff roster that would carry over to their first round series as well. You would then be only able to cut out one or maybe two starters at most.

Trevor's no choker, can't be a closer for so long and so successfully and be a choker (then again, there's Benitez :^). I would say that it's age more than mental attitude. But he's never had much of a fastball, 84 is probably what he has thrown a fastball for since his MLB career started, probably. It's his breaking pitches that made him superior to most closers.

I believe Hoffman threw hard when he was younger. Now that his fastball is mid-80s at best, it makes his continued success (the last couple games notwithstanding) even more incredible. For the record, I don't think he's a choker either.

What a game! THAT was baseball, even if played in the Rock-o-dome. How 'bout ol' Matt Herges going 3 innings? Has he finally gotten his head together?

Regarding the stats in the tie-breaker game, Chipmaker in a Yahoo Answers column put it logically (expected from a chiphead): "This is not a postseason game. Those are tallied separately. This is an extension of the season, since the question of which team gets the NL wildcard berth was not resolved. As with a tie at the end of the ninth, they keep playing until they have an answer."

Hoffman is just getting old. 15 seasons and 40 years old is a long time, even with a low-80s fastball. SD should probably treat him more kindly...I don't think they eased up on his appearances at all.

I heard someone on the radio (Steve Phillips?) say the problem is there's not enough separation in the velocity btwn Hoffman's fastball and changeup. I don't buy it. Look at his overall season -- still pretty damn good. Is he old and prone to wear down in Sept? Not according to his stats this year: 8 games, 7 baserunners, 10 Ks, one earned run (the blown save vs. Milwaukee). I have a feeling he'll be around at least another year or two to torment the Giants.