MLB schedules Game 162 for every team at same time

[soxhop411]

@CBSSportsMLB:
MLB schedules Game 162 for every team at same time for maximum drama http://t.co/qAgHzkk1qO http://t.co/Puw0vdiFEA

In an effort to boost the drama and excitement of the final day of the regular season, MLB has scheduled Game 162 for all 30 teams at the exact same time this year according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. All 15 games on Oct. 4 will begin at 3pm ET.

"If a game impacts another game, they're all occurring at the same time, so no team would be put into a lame-duck situation because their fate already had been decided by an earlier result," said Tony Petitti, MLB chief operating officer.

"If we do have games coming down to the wire, we want to make sure we maximize that day."

 

[CaptainLaddie]

Honestly, this is a decent idea.  Worst case scenario: it doesn't mean anything.  Best case?  You have five or six teams trying for the four wildcard spots scoreboard watching.

 

[GRPhilipp]

Was literally a single person concerned about this issue?

(Snark directed towards MLB, not sox hop)

 
That seems like a disproportionately grumpy response to a small, harmless, innovative change.  What's the problem?  It could create drama.  Sure, there's no guarantee of that in any particular year, but well, that's sports.  It doesn't hurt anyone other than perhaps some broadcasters.  Why should MLB's leaders limit their thinking to only responding to complaints?  They are the first league to do this (right?) but I suspect they won't be the last.
 
Zooming out a bit, this and the other changes by Manfred (I'm assuming it's correct to give him credit) seem to show that he is far more open-minded and fan-friendly than Selig was.  Yet he seems to take a lot of flak for every change he has made or even publicly entertained a willingness to consider.  So far, I'm a Manfred fan, but there sure don't seem to be many others. 

 

[Soxy]

Soccer has been doing this forever. It's a great idea.

 

[Pozo the Clown]

This brings back "fond" memories of the '95 postseason when the short-lived Baseball Network televised each and every post season game at exactly the same time (one game per market, of course).  It's been 20 years since that fiasco, no need for a revival.

 

[Granite Sox]

Soccer has been doing this forever. It's a great idea.

 
I love it.  10 playoff teams, with another 4-5 probably scrambling to gain that second WC spot creates engagement for about half the league during the last week of the regular season.
 
I even think that announcing it before the season starts will help keep the kids interested all season long.
/Cafardo

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

This brings back "fond" memories of the '95 postseason when the short-lived Baseball Network televised each and every post season game at exactly the same time (one game per market, of course).  It's been 20 years since that fiasco, no need for a revival.

 
How are these two things even remotely connected?  Four playoff games at the same time, when they could have been staggered and all aired nationally, is a bad idea.  Fifteen games, none of which were likely to be national broadcasts (and would be competing with NFL games to boot), being played simultaneously doesn't really change a whole lot for viewers unless you're an MLB.tv/Extra Innings addict.

 

[charlieoscar]

MLB has scheduled Game 162 for all 30 teams at the exact same time this year according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
 
Well, duh, I don't think it could be for 29 of the 30 teams.

 

[Infield Infidel]

I'm a fan, it's works really well for soccer. even in the years when there isn't much at stake it's still neat to watch multiple games simultaneously.
 
I'd rather they have one time slot for AL and another for NL, with the interleague game in the slot that makes more competitive sense, since this format is best at a bar or with multiple TVs. Happy hour could be fun though.  

 

[loshjott]

Soccer has been doing this forever. It's a great idea.

 
Pretty much the same thing in the NFL too on a smaller scale, where they will switch game times between 1 and 4pm ET in week 17 when it matters for playoff races.

 

[the1andonly3003]

now if they could only create drama for the bad teams by threatening them with relegation to AAA!

 

[Frank Fenway]

now if they could only create drama for the bad teams by threatening them with relegation to AAA!

Worst two teams get sent to AAA?

 

[AbbyNoho]

I bet you it will rain that day. 

 

[Rasputin]

I'm a fan, it's works really well for soccer. even in the years when there isn't much at stake it's still neat to watch multiple games simultaneously.
 
I'd rather they have one time slot for AL and another for NL, with the interleague game in the slot that makes more competitive sense, since this format is best at a bar or with multiple TVs. Happy hour could be fun though.  

 
I like this idea. There's nothing like September with MLB.tv or extra innings. There's pretty much always two games to watch, the Sox and whatever is the most compelling other game. Sometimes there's more. I love being able to occasionally have a ridiculous marathon of compelling games. Splitting them into AL and NL would be a decent compromise that would allow a doubleheader at least.
 

now if they could only create drama for the bad teams by threatening them with relegation to AAA!

 
I have often toyed with the thought of splitting the majors into two fifteen team leagues, or more likely 16/14 or something. You split those in half or in fours then you could really do the relegation thing. Of course, that would have made the worst to first to worst thing impossible, but hey, it has other benefits.

 

[Rasputin]

I bet you it will rain that day. 

 
I'm pretty sure it is raining somewhere pretty much every second of every day.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Agreed with II. Would love a different slot for AL and NL (the league with the earlier WC games would play early afternoon, with other league and interleague at early evening or late afternoon)
 
Maybe 1:30 and 5 or something like that.

 

[the1andonly3003]

I would rather bust up the minor league system by turning all teams getting the chance to play up to the majors...teams can still draft and create an "academy" system like they do in football, seems to work in Europe...having all teams play at the same time (are they really? http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/#date=10/04/2015 games are starting 5 minutes apart!) doesn't really create any drama....let's say Angels and Rangers are stuck in the middle of the standings, what drama is there? jockeying for draft position?

 

[theapportioner]

Worst two teams get sent to AAA?

 
Top two teams play against, uh, Japan?

 

[the1andonly3003]

 
Top two teams play against, uh, Japan?

champions of Arizona Fall League, Japan, MLB, Australia, etc!

 

[AbbyNoho]

 
I'm pretty sure it is raining somewhere pretty much every second of every day.

 
I only make bets I'm sure I can win!

 

[singaporesoxfan]

Much as the outcome was awful, game 162 of the 2011 season with the ends of the Sox-Orioles and Rays-Yankees games being meaningful made for good drama. I'm a fan of this idea.

 

[E5 Yaz]

 
I only make bets I'm sure I can win!

 
That explains your being single

 

[dynomite]

I'm a fan, it's works really well for soccer. even in the years when there isn't much at stake it's still neat to watch multiple games simultaneously.

I'd rather they have one time slot for AL and another for NL, with the interleague game in the slot that makes more competitive sense, since this format is best at a bar or with multiple TVs.

Agreed, no downside to the idea. Didn't turn out the way we wanted, but in 2011 Game 162 the simultaneous Sox/O's and Rays/MFY drama was absolutely thrilling.

Could be a good opportunity for MLB Network as well (broadcast multiple games on a split or quad screen, etc.).

 

[Al Zarilla]

Agreed, no downside to the idea. Didn't turn out the way we wanted, but in 2011 Game 162 the simultaneous Sox/O's and Rays/MFY drama was absolutely thrilling.

Could be a good opportunity for MLB Network as well (broadcast multiple games on a split or quad screen, etc.).

2011 might have been thrilling, but I was much happier with the 1990 outcome with Toronto losing as the Red Sox won the AL East on Brunansky's catch.