MLB: Why It Would Be Terrible If the Pirates and Indians Met in the World Series

The Pittsburgh Pirates are not a good team. The Cleveland Indians are not a good team. Both have exceeded the extremely low expectations of the "experts" and fans.

Five National League teams have a better record than the Pirates (49-44). Four of those teams are clearly better than the Pirates.

Five American League teams have a better record that the Indians (49-44). Four of those teams are clearly better than the Indians.

Most fans buy into the fact that once the playoffs begin, anything can happen. It's true. Pirates fans and Indians fans are slowly becoming convinced that their teams have a chance to make the playoffs.

In 2010, the Pirates finished a dismal 27th in attendance, averaging just under 20,000 fans a game. This year, the Pirates are 21st in attendance, averaging 23,577 paid customers a game.

The Indians were last in attendance in 2010, averaging 17,435 fans a game. In 2011, the Tribe is 26th, averaging 21.106 fans a game.

Two teams with the sixth-best record in each league might have a chance to become World Champions. As Chester A. Riley used to say, "What a revoltin' development."

The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals won the pennant with the league's fifth best record. The 2000 New York Yankees won the World Series with the league's fifth best record. The 1987 Minnesota Twins won the World Series with the league's fifth best record, and the 1973 New York Mets won the pennant with the league's fifth best record.

The fact that the Pirates and Indians have become competitive is wonderful. It creates interest, it makes fans feel good and, of greatest importance, it generates revenue.

They are competitive. They must improve to become real contenders, but in 2011, that is not necessary because with the current playoff format, they are contenders.

Parity exists in baseball today. There are no solid teams. The Philadelphia Phillies and defending World Champion San Francisco Giants, the National League's top two teams, are offensively challenged.

The Phillies are batting .249/.322/.380 while the Giants are hitting .242/.309/.362. They have great pitchers, which is why they are best teams.

The Phillies average a respectable 4.27 runs a game, which is seventh best in the league. The Giants score an average of 3.66 runs a game, which is worse than only the San Diego Padres' 3.34 runs a game.

In the American League, the Red Sox have suffered severe injuries to the starting staff, the Yankees are seeking pitching help and the Texas Rangers are showing signs of becoming a power house.

If the Pirates and Indians make the playoffs, it will merely once again confirm the fact that excellence in baseball is unimportant. The Phillies presently lead the Pirates by 9.5 games. That margin will increase by the end of the season, but the Phillies may have to beat the Pirates in a short series to win the pennant.

The Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers will easily have better records than the Indians. That is because they are better teams, but once again, proving they are better over 162 games counts less than withstanding a fluke in which a worse team gets lucky in a short series.

There have been many World Champions who probably were the best team in baseball.

The 2006 Cardinals, the 2000 Yankees, the 1987 Twins and even the 1954 New York Giants might fit that category, but the difference is that until the playoffs started in 1969, the team with the league's best record played for the World Championship.

Having the league's best record no longer guarantees a trip to the World Series.

It is sad, but the fans and Bud Selig love it.