Here's a list of teams that have made it since then: Yankees, Braves, Marlins, Indians, Padres, Mets, Diamondbacks, Angels, Giants, Red Sox, Cardinals, White Sox, Astros, Tigers, Rockies, Phillies, Rays. That's 17 teams in the last 14 years. I don't see how things are so different now. Add in that we now have 6 divisions and a wild card, the chances have been increased that any organization can get into the playoffs and go on a hot streak and win it all. The Yankees happened to get hot at the right time this year. Would everyone be so venomous if the Yankees lost out in the ALDS and the Twins kept up their hot streak to get to the World Series?