MLBPA & MLB approve expanded postseason for 2020 (16 teams, eight 3-game series before LDS, no WC games)
- Thread starter DeadlySplitter
- Start date
Really don't like this. Feels like it really cheapens the regular season and if this is instituted permanently there will be some truly mediocre World Series winners who just got hot in the playoffs.
I'd like to see a hybrid of what we have now crossed with a soccer-style system where winning the regular season is seen as a huge accomplishment to be celebrated. Some kind of Supporter's Shield type thing for the best team over 162 games. It'd be an uphill battle to make players and fans care about it and the World Series would probably always be bigger, but I still think it's better than virtually throwing away the results of the whole season in favor of a tournament.
I'd like to see a hybrid of what we have now crossed with a soccer-style system where winning the regular season is seen as a huge accomplishment to be celebrated. Some kind of Supporter's Shield type thing for the best team over 162 games. It'd be an uphill battle to make players and fans care about it and the World Series would probably always be bigger, but I still think it's better than virtually throwing away the results of the whole season in favor of a tournament.
I don't think it'll be permanent - going from 10 teams to 16 permanently seems a major jump. I think it's just trying to allow for those teams who may need a week or two to get their sea legs to still have a chance to compete, especially those where a lot of their big hitters and pitchers missed (most of) ST and will need shorter outings to hold up. I really hope it's not permanent.
That said, it's not like it would be new for a team that looked to have no shot getting hot in the playoffs after barely sneaking in and winning it all. There've been teams recently that did this, including that Cardinals team that won a series against Detroit because Detroit kept shooting themselves in the foot. I think one of the Giants teams was, arguably, one of those that got hot at the right time and made it count.
Plus, let's be honest, whichever team wins it all, the fans of the other 29 teams will always put an asterisk next to that win simply based on the circumstances of the season, even if not everyone admits it out loud. It's a shortened season and anything can happen, which is honestly the best way to keep fans interested, even ones rooting for perennial basement dwellers.
I'd like to see something like this:
https://mwillis.com/major-league-baseball-covid-19-and-the-temple-cup/
https://mwillis.com/major-league-baseball-covid-19-and-the-temple-cup/
So the idea being floated is that division winners get to pick their opponent?
Sounds like a solid plan; so after the Yankees blitzkreig their way to a 60-0 record, they'll pick the winner of the Little League World Series as their first round opponent.
I can't be too upset with the everybody into the post-season pool approach, the owners got to make a buck where they can and the expansion of the post-season and TV money seems as good a source as is available. I''ll watch the extra-games. But it really cheapens an already tainted 60-game schedule .
I know these are unique circumstances, but has there ever been in an example, in any sport, of playoffs being expanded and then later contracted again? I think this paves the way for MLB to make some BS statement next year about how the expanded playoffs were overwhelmingly received positively (regardless of whether they are or not) and so they’ve decided to continue with that (assuming they can pay off the players sufficiently to get them to agree).
FWIW, I also think this is going to happen with the “runner on 2nd in extra innings” rule, as terrible as that rule is.
Leaving 12 teams to be whittled down to 6 after round 1 and then more byes? When you have a total number that's already in the proper geometric sequence of a single elimination tournament bracket (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64), you stick to it, no?
More meaningful games mean better ratings, more attendance, and more revenue - stuff that MLB needs more than ever. I get that it waters down the field, but it's the same deal in two of the other three major sports.
There are legit chances of upsets, much like hockey and I think that's more compelling as a fan, unlike the NBA where 2 teams can basically sleep walk through the first two rounds.
There are legit chances of upsets, much like hockey and I think that's more compelling as a fan, unlike the NBA where 2 teams can basically sleep walk through the first two rounds.
Right, because the LLWS was cancelled this year...………...but it's on the table for 2021...…………...
Easy solution: Hybrid 3 team series. Each game 1 team hits, one team pitches (and has their own catcher(s), the remaining team fields. The teams with the two highest run totals at the end get to advance.
Is a three game series meaningful? Well, yeah, I suppose if the 45-15 Yankees drop 2 of 3 to the 27-33 Red Sox, it will be meaningful, but you'll have a hard time convincing me that outcome is anything other than random. They might just as well play home run derby to determine who advances.
It's going to be pretty random and meaningless who wins the World Series this year already. This makes it worse.
Baseball has never cared about crowning the best team in a season, this is the sport that awarded home field advantage for the WS based on the results of an exhibition game for a while.
But a little less the two years ago, the best team did win. So it does happen sometime.
every top-tier contender should be afraid of losing 2/3 to a .500 team. the D-backs have a good chance to make it in this format and they now have Bumgarner and some other good starters that can get an "upset" over 1 series. Blue Jays with Ryu, etc. or just a couple of crazy slugfests. if we get there it could be a wild 4 days of baseball.
All of the best of 3’s would be at the home of the higher seed. So no traveling. That is a nice advantage.
Because the season is already a shit show, and ultimately no one is ever going to recognize this years World Series champ as a true WS winner, so why not bring more interest to the sport with something that creates more playoff games.
Because I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes permanent after they claim that it was a huge success.
Moving forward I'm against expanding the playoffs, but for this season I love it. There is nothing typical about this season, it's only going to last about as long as short season single A season. Anything that might keep as many fan bases as possible interested and engaged in this season is fine by me. IF (big if) they can pull this season off it's going to give baseball a much needed boost. Also with only 60 games, pennant races (such as they will be) and playoff runs should see more teams bunched up in the standings which I think will add to the drama as the this particular season winds down. I'm looking forward to it.
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It sucks for the best teams in the league. I might feel differently about this if my team was a wild card contender but the reality here is that if the playoffs were a crapshoot before, they're a bigger one now.
with 538 analysis, the middling teams get double their odds to get in under their projections, in some cases even a bit more than double.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/winners-and-losers-in-mlbs-new-playoff-format/
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/winners-and-losers-in-mlbs-new-playoff-format/
If it's a one and done I don't have a problem with it. This year is already the biggest dumpster fire ever so who cares. If it gains traction and MLB turns into the NBA or NHL where the regular season is just completely worthless it's horrible.
Theoretically it helps the Sox the most (on paper, anyhow, at least according to 538)