Baseball Playoff Changes

[CC97]

Howdy

I've tried to figure out a great way to get more teams in the playoffs (because more teams in playoffs = more excitement for small market teams = more interest = more fans = more money). I realise this isn't a problem for our fans in New York, Boston, Atlanta or St. Louis, so please just trust me when I say there is a problem and it needs to be taken care of

With my scenerios I tried to maintain the integrity of the regular season, For one scenerio I have borrowed a page from the text-book of radio host Bob McCowan and awarded the higher seeded team an extra home game in the first round of the playoffs... that's right, 5 at home, 2 on the road... clearly giving an advantage to the higher ranked team, clearly maintaining the integrity of the regular season.

Any additional ideas, comments, please share... Please no "I'm a traditionalist" or "I'm a Yankee/Red Sox fan and love it the way it is" type comments.

Enjoy

CURRENT SCENERIO (season is 162 games):

American Leag

Chi 99-63

LA 95-67

NY 95-67

Bos 95-67

-------------

Cle 93-69

Oak 88-74

Min 83-79

Tor 80-82

Tex 79-83

Bal 74-88

Det 71-91

Sea 69-93

TB 67-95

KC 56-105

National Leag

Stl 100-62

Atl 90-72

SD 82-80

Hou 89-73

-------------

Phi 88-74

Fla 83-79

NY 83-79

Mil 81-81

Wsh 81-81

Chi 79-83

Ari 77-85

SF 75-87

Cin 73-89

LA 71-91

Col 67-95

Pit 67-95

POST-SEASON:

Round One (best 3-of-5/11221):

A: Chicago vs Boston

B: Los Angeles vs New York

C: St Louis vs San Diego

D: Atlanta vs Houston

League Championship (best 4-of-7/1122211):

E: A vs. B

F: C vs. D

World Series (best 4-of-7/1122211):

G: E vs. F

ALT SCENERIO ONE (season shortened to 144 games):

American Leag

Chi 99-63

LA 95-67

NY 95-67

Bos 95-67

Cle 93-69

Oak 88-74

Min 83-79

Tor 80-82

-------------

Tex 79-83

Bal 74-88

Det 71-91

Sea 69-93

TB 67-95

KC 56-105

National Leag

Stl 100-62

Atl 90-72

SD 82-80

Hou 89-73

Phi 88-74

Fla 83-79

NY 83-79

Mil 81-81

-------------

Wsh 81-81

Chi 79-83

Ari 77-85

SF 75-87

Cin 73-89

LA 71-91

Col 67-95

Pit 67-95

POST-SEASON:

Round One (best 4-of-7/1122111):

A: Chicago vs Toronto

B: Los Angeles vs Minnesota

C: New York vs Oakland

D: Boston vs Cleveland

E: St Louis vs Milwaukee

F: Atlanta vs New York

G: San Diego vs Florida

H: Houston vs Philadelphia

Round Two (best 4-of-7/1122211):

I: AL Re-Ranked 1 vs. AL Re-Ranked 4

J: AL Re-Ranked 2 vs. AL Re-Ranked 3

K: NL Re-Ranked 1 vs. NL Re-Ranked 4

L: NL Re-Ranked 2 vs. NL Re-Ranked 3

League Championship (best 4-of-7/1122211):

M: I vs. J

N: K vs. L

World Series (best 4-of-7/1122211):

G: E vs. F

SCENERIO TWO (season shortened to 148 games):

American Leag

Chi 99-63

LA 95-67

NY 95-67

Bos 95-67

Cle 93-69

Oak 88-74

-------------

Min 83-79

Tor 80-82

Tex 79-83

Bal 74-88

Det 71-91

Sea 69-93

TB 67-95

KC 56-105

National Leag

Stl 100-62

Atl 90-72

SD 82-80

Hou 89-73

Phi 88-74

Fla 83-79

-------------

NY 83-79

Mil 81-81

Wsh 81-81

Chi 79-83

Ari 77-85

SF 75-87

Cin 73-89

LA 71-91

Col 67-95

Pit 67-95

POST-SEASON:

Round One (best 3-of-5/11221):

A: New York vs. Oakland

B: Boston vs. Cleveland

C: San Diego vs. Florida

D: Houston vs. Philadelphia

Round Two (best 4-of-7/1122211):

E: Chicago vs. AL Re-Ranked 4

F: Los Angeles vs. AL Re-Ranked 3

G: St Louis vs. NL Re-Ranked 4

H: Atlanta vs. NL Re-Ranked 3

League Championship (best 4-of-7/1122211):

I: E vs. F

J: G vs. H

World Series (best 4-of-7/1122211):

K: I vs. J

[Audiodrama]

I'm a big fan of how the playoff system currently is...but the second alternate playoff system you presented is actually pretty good. It's setup very much like the NFL playoff system, which is probably the best system in sports.

[JQK]

THose systems are a fantastic way to make even the most pointless Regular season games even more pointless...

[CC97]

THose systems are a fantastic way to make even the most pointless Regular season games even more pointless...

Ok, I'll assume Kinger didn't read the post.

[TBGKon]

If it were to change, and I doubt it will, I would vouch for Alt Idea #2, it makes the most sense

[JQK]

THose systems are a fantastic way to make even the most pointless Regular season games even more pointless...

Ok, I'll assume Kinger didn't read the post.

Just because the home team gets 5 games, it makes the regular season worth more?

No. I'm just not seeing it i guess.

[CC97]

THose systems are a fantastic way to make even the most pointless Regular season games even more pointless...

Ok, I'll assume Kinger didn't read the post.

Just because the home team gets 5 games, it makes the regular season worth more?

No. I'm just not seeing it i guess.

In scenerio 1 only and yes... that is a big insentive to finish top 4 -- either 5 at home or 2 at home? compared to the current situation which is either 3 at home or 2 at home. You think getting 3 instead of 2 is better than 5 instead of 2? Alright.

In scenerio 2 the top 2 teams get a bye into round 2, compared to our current "top 2 teams get 3 instead of 2 home games in round one", sounds like a helluva much better incentive to me.

Plus the big picture is you're generating MUCH more interest around the league

[gosioux76]

I wouldn't change how it is now.

For one, as much as I would have liked to see the Twins in the playoffs, I'm not an advocate for adding teams and rounds.

The one thing I've always liked about the baseball playoffs is they don't seem to last forever. I don't tire of it like i do the NHL playoffs. Adding another round of best-of-7 for baseball would just needlessly elongate it.

I'd think scheduling all the extra playoff games for TV would also be difficult, but that I'm not as certain about.

[officeglenn]

I've always kind of liked the baseball playoffs the way they are now. With only 8 of 30 teams in the playoffs, making the playoffs is actually an accomplishment is baseball ... unlike, say the NHL or the NBA, where you can have about a .500 record and make it in as one of the top eight in your conference.

That said, I think the second option here is a good balance between keeping things interesting for fans and keeping things competitive. Two more teams per league would probably not be enough to water down the competition too much, and more playoff revenue coming in in those two cities is good news for all. As Unwind23 said, it does bear a lot of similarities to the current NFL system, which does seem to work quite well.

[yankeeman161]

That's more bizarre than the BCS Championship Formula. MLB needs to add 2 more teams and follow the NFL form of alignment.

[CC97]

That's more bizarre than the BCS Championship Formula.

How do you figure?

[gashouser27]

I don't like the idea of teams with a sub 500 record getting hot for a few weeks and winning a championship

In any sport

[Jigga]

I don't like the idea of teams with a sub 500 record getting hot for a few weeks and winning a championship

In any sport

Then it's up to the teams with better records to beat them, isn't it?

[BCBoy]

I am a big fan of alternate #2.

Because:

1)It is set up mainly like the NFL playoffs

2)Not many .500 teams will make it, maybe 1 or 2. I can deal with that

3)More interest from more cities

4)Teams that don't spend $208 million like the Yankees have a better shot at making the playoffs, fans of lower end team can finally have hope at the BEGINNING of a season that their team can make a playoff run, thus generating more intrest in smaller markets

and finally....

5)Keep in mind that in ALT #2, the regular season is shortened. I like this for many reasons, it will now be harder for hitters to shatter records that were made in the older era's. Even if you are juiced, it will be harder to break the Hank Aaron type records because you have 18 less games (I think that would make a difference) when you have 18 less games per the 15+ years of a players career, in the long run your losing more games.

Less MLB regular season games will compensate for more playoff games, so it won't really elongate the baseball season as a whole.

[pcgd]

I like how it is or Alt number 1.

No byes. Ask any ballplayer if they want a bye or a week off and they'll say no.

[WJMorris3]

Here's the idea I have for the setup.

First things first, we'll allow the three division champions plus two Wild Cards.

All division ties get broken, so this year, the Yankees and Red Sox would have to play a one-game playoff.

The two Wild-Card teams would play each other in a best of 3 series, where the worse team hosts Game 1, and the better team hosts Games 2 and 3.

The survivor of that series plays the best of the division champions, in a best of 7 series split 2-2-3 (better team getting 5 games). Meanwhile, the other two division champs play a best of 7 series split 2-3-2 (better team gets 4 games). Since Boston, New York, and Los Angeles all had the same record, and Boston won more against Los Angeles but Los Angeles won more against New York, Los Angeles would host New York 4 games in this series, while Boston would host Los Angeles 4 games. (Note that there is no longer a restriction saying that a Wild Card team cannot play its division champion in the LDS.)

From there, the two LDS survivors meet in the league LCS (best of 7), with the better team hosting 4 games (2-3-2 split). Whichever league is NOT hosting Game 1 of the World Series will play Game 1 of their LCS first.

The World Series remains a best of 7 affair (2-3-2 split).

While this schedule runs into November, that can easily be avoided by starting the season one week earlier. Here's how it would look based on this year.

ONE GAME PLAYOFFS

Boston at New York, 10/3

WILDCARD PLAYOFFS

Boston/New York loser at Cleveland, 10/4

Cleveland at Boston/New York loser, 10/5

Cleveland at Boston/New York loser, 10/6*

Houston at Philadelphia, 10/4

Philadelphia at Houston, 10/5

Philadelphia at Houston, 10/6*

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

ALWS winner at Chicago, 10/7

ALWS winner at Chicago, 10/8

Chicago at ALWS winner, 10/10

Chicago at ALWS winner, 10/11

ALWS winner at Chicago, 10/13*

ALWS winner at Chicago, 10/14*

ALWS winner at Chicago, 10/15*

Los Angeles at Boston OR New York at Los Angeles, 10/8

Los Angeles at Boston OR New York at Los Angeles, 10/9

Boston at Los Angeles OR Los Angeles at New York, 10/11

Boston at Los Angeles OR Los Angeles at New York, 10/12

Boston at Los Angeles OR Los Angeles at New York, 10/13*

Los Angeles at Boston OR New York at Los Angeles, 10/15*

Los Angeles at Boston OR New York at Los Angeles, 10/16*

NLWS winner at St. Louis, 10/7

NLWS winner at St. Louis, 10/8

St. Louis at NLWS winner, 10/10

St. Louis at NLWS winner, 10/11

NLWS winner at St. Louis, 10/13*

NLWS winner at St. Louis, 10/14*

NLWS winner at St. Louis, 10/15*

San Diego at Atlanta, 10/8

San Diego at Atlanta, 10/9

Atlanta at San Diego, 10/11

Atlanta at San Diego, 10/12

Atlanta at San Diego, 10/13*

San Diego at Atlanta, 10/15*

San Diego at Atlanta, 10/16*

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

ALCS Game 1, 10/19

ALCS Game 2, 10/20

ALCS Game 3, 10/22

ALCS Game 4, 10/23

ALCS Game 5, 10/24*

ALCS Game 6, 10/26*

ALCS Game 7, 10/27*

NLCS Game 1, 10/18

NLCS Game 2, 10/19

NLCS Game 3, 10/21

NLCS Game 4, 10/22

NLCS Game 5, 10/23*

NLCS Game 6, 10/25*

NLCS Game 7, 10/26*

WORLD SERIES

WS Game 1, 10/29

WS Game 2, 10/30

WS Game 3, 11/1

WS Game 4, 11/2

WS Game 5, 11/3*

WS Game 6, 11/5*

WS Game 7, 11/6*

Opinions welcome!

[Pat]

Chris's idea in a nutshell

Idea

1)NBA/NHL

2)NFL

Am I right?

[Cyclopsis Joe]

Personally I like the way it is..We don't need half the league to get in (Scenario A) and we don't need to give 4 teams a bye week to either get rest or get rusty, it's unfair.

[SteveR]

Keep it the way it is. I like:

* the exclusivity of having just 8 of 30 teams

* the uncertainty of the best-of-5 first round

I dunno how you'd fix the logistics, but I'd like to see an extra day between games 4 & 5 of the LDS.

[BaltimoreFan]

I voted for senario #1. I like the idea of having more teams make the playoffs. Plus it would add in upsets which MLB seems to lack. Even if a wildcard wins the World Series it doesn't seem very impressive because there are only 4 teams from each league. The only problem I see is that all rounds were best of 7. I think the first round should be just one game. That would make it very exciting IMO and not stretch out the season. Then round 2 best of 3, and LCS and WS would remain best of 7. I think it would keep casual fans watching if there were more underdogs.

Unfortunately there are too many traditionalists that will never allow this to happen. Also some records may be questioned when you shorten the season, most noteably the single-season homerun record (also after a few years, I could see someone like Fred McGriff who is a few homers short of 500 argue that he was robbed of them by the shorten season). Also I think if the season would be shorten they should start it in the middle of March, so the playoffs could start around the begining of the NFL season. I think alot of people loss interest once football starts up. If the playoffs started slightly before the NFL season more people would probably watch the later round of the playoffs.