One of the hard things about failing to make the playoffs (if the collapse continues, obviously) is that the season is so long. Other leagues have similarly long seasons when it comes to time, but when you're clinging to hope each and every game out of the 162, it is mentally exhausting as a fan. Every game, day after day. The hopes get built up so much, the light is at the end of the tunnel, and then nothing. It would be hard to think about having to then go back to square one and watch the team win games, lose games, maybe build a lead, lose the lead, build the lead, etc., all over again. I feel different with football (I don't care about the NBA as much, and in the NCAA, you can still make the tourney with a "good" season) because, while each individual game means more, there are only 16 games to worry about. Plus, you don't have prolonged slumps by good teams in football, which is something that can make a baseball season that much more frustrating. Hopefully, we'll outplay the Phillies by 2 games the rest of the way and see what happens in the playoffs.