Opinion

The MLB postseason and World Series still have to unfold before a true gauge can be had of the 2016 free-agent market, but it's late enough in the 162-game marathon of a regular season to speculate.

Perhaps the No. 1 reminder at this time of year is how paramount starting pitching is. It's what tends to separate the contenders from the pretenders as the MLB's elite gears up for a pursuit of pro baseball's top prize.

NEW YORK — Masahiro Tanaka made it through the regular season without needing Tommy John surgery, so that's something. He made it through his final regular-season start with his hamstring intact—another positive.

The last time the Toronto Blue Jays tasted the postseason, Bill Clinton was a first-year resident in the White House. The Wesley Snipes-Sylvester Stallone vehicle Demolition Man was No. 1 at the box office. And Tag Team's "Whoomp! (There It Is)" was climbing the charts.

The National League playoff field is now set after the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the NL West with a victory over the San Francisco Giants Tuesday night. The only factor left to determine over the remaining handful of days is seeding.

Along with the Dodgers, the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs will have a chance to chase down World Series glory. The biggest surprise is that the hyped Washington Nationals didn't qualify for the postseason.

Buckle up, fans of the New York Mets. Your team is about to take you on a World Series ride.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Not this year. Not this group. Not this manager. Anybody who tells you that he predicted back in March that the 2015 Mets would win the National League East is probably lying to your face. Even supposed Mets “homers” weren't allowing themselves to get caught up in any hype at the end of last winter.

With just days remaining in MLB's regular season, the American League playoff race is getting down to the nitty-gritty with only eight teams in the running to grab one of five postseason spots.

When an actor gives a poor performance on Broadway, unflattering reviews and an unsatisfied audience usually follow.

That is the natural order of consequences. All an actor can do in response is prepare and come out the next time, and give a better performance. That is the extent of what fans and critics can ask.

Even though free agency in Major League Baseball is one of the most exciting times of the year for fans and players, it's also one of the most painful and arduous if you fall into the former category. 

There's so much hearsay and speculation about where an impact hitter or pitcher could end up that it only leads to heartbreak when the dreaded "mystery team" shows up to spoil everything. 

In baseball, as in life, money makes the world go 'round. It's a business, as players, agents and owners never tire of reminding us.

But something has shifted—there's a new currency in the game, a new blueprint for success. And it prioritizes prospects, player development and homegrown talent over limitless checkbooks.

Mike Bauman of MLB.com charted this sea change in 2013:

Before we inject some Debbie Downer realism into the Los Angeles Dodgers' champagne-soaked celebration, let's pause to appreciate what they've accomplished.