JK: The split season plan created by the owners was a colossal failure and deprived fans of real and true pennant races. It was created to make quick, false races in the two months left in the season, but pennant races take time to build and having terrible teams like the Mets in contention, or the Royals, with an overall record below .500, make the first round, was ludicrous.
Source: Did the 1981 strike save baseball? Author of new book says yes | MLB | Sporting News
Ah yes, I remember that August and trying to figure out how a team playing .400 was gonna sneak it. It was all we had then.