During this time of the sporting year, much emphasis is placed on the idea of knockout tournaments. More specifically, the tournament that the NCAA puts on each year for college basketball. There are many such competitions, but the one that is the most popular is the one that is presented by Division I. The Final Four is a source of contention every time it rolls around. Bracket selections are made and various competitions are held to be crowned the best tournament prognosticator. It is a sports tradition as honored as time itself, and it just so happens to coincide with the start of the baseball season.<\/p>\n
For the purposes of this series of pieces, we will be examining sixteen of the best teams<\/a> in MLB history. They have been seeded according to their overall records and have been placed in corresponding spots in the bracket. Utilizing Back to Baseball\u2019s simulation tool<\/a>, we can see who would defeat whom in a hypothetical matchup. Much as with real-life tournaments, this will be followed by eight, then four, and so on. Some of these games are tight, while others show clear-cut dominance on the part of one squadron. One unfortunate caveat is that this particular simulation tool only goes back to 1921. However, we can still get a good look at the state of baseball over the past century or so. Without further ado, here is the MLB Sweet Sixteen.<\/p>\n Kicking off the MLB Sweet Sixteen, we find a game that ended up a lot closer than one might think. The Philadelphia Phillies<\/a> boasted the solid contact bats of Chase Utley and Placido Polanco, with Ryan Howard bringing the punch. Meanwhile, Ichiro Suzuki, Mike Cameron, and John Olerud were among the offensive highlights of the Seattle Mariners<\/a> squad. But this one came down to pitching, as Roy Halladay and Freddy Garcia brought the proverbial heat. The Mariners squeaked out a 2-1 victory at home thanks to homers from Cameron and Bret Boone.<\/p>\n The 2001 Mariners? 1927 Yankees? 2018 Red Sox?<\/p>\n Who\u2019s the greatest team of all time and why? #TheRundown<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IFynKnGI4O<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) September 14, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe MLB Sweet Sixteen<\/h2>\n
1-Seed: 2001 Seattle Mariners (116-46) vs. 16-seed: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies (102-60)<\/h3>\n
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