SEATTLE -- A quick status report on the state of the AL wild card race:The Rangers began play Wednesday with a chance to trim Minnesota's lead to 2.5 games with 11 left to play. And also: With a chance to climb within a game of .500.It doesn't sound right, teams fighting for both .500 and a playoff spot at the same time, but, hey, welcome to the new world.Commissioner Rob Manfred -- obviously caught up in the thrall of this "chase" -- showed up in Seattle Wednesday afternoon and I felt compelled to ask him if this was good for baseball.