FanPost: Let’s solve the NEW MLB PLAYOFF format issues by ending the Wild Card Series

[loudmarlinsfan]

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[Guest]

Sorry but as a fan who traveled to Philly I fully disagree. Win more games and you get home field. Win even more and you get to rest and be showcased. It should be hard to advance when you’re barely over .500, and if fans don’t attend a home game because of the time then the fans are terrible and deserve less.

[Guest Kommenter]

Just eliminate the second and third wild card slots, they were only added to bring more revenue and these teams, like the Marlins, only embarass themselves and their fans. Having 12 teams out of 30 in the playoffs is ridiculous. If the Marlins really wanted home field advantage, they should not have choked in August and Skip should not have been so accepting. Wins matter at every point in the season, not just September.

 

While I am a big fan of the author, his proposal is way too complicated and convoluted. No one is going to understand it.

[Guest Leo Armbrister]

The Phillys went to the world series from the playoff spot. So I disagree that the wild card teams should be eliminated.

[Hans Herrera]

In general, it is extremely difficult to comply with both short-rest for top seeds and home games for the lowest WC seeds. The long-distance traveling between games makes it almost impossible.

 

One comment: The Monday after the regular season needs to be an off-day, in case of Postponed / Suspended games. We saw some chaos this year due to the weather in NYC.

 

Monday off. Tuesday WC #5/#6 games, winners play #4 on Wednesday. Thursday #2/#3 series starts. Friday #1/WC series starts, and it would be the same rest as during the ASG.

 

Another solution is that the MLB makes the calendar a bit "flexible", which means, if during the current format a team wins the WC in only two games (Tue & Wed), then the next series starts on Friday.

[Guest]

I would suggest is to reduce the number of regular season games to accommodate expanded wild card playoffs and expand divisional round to best of 7 as opposed to best of 5. Also eliminate divisions and take best 6 teams from each league. No scheduled breaks between travel days in playoffs. I prefer the current format to your suggestion but I do agree MLB doesn't need to be afraid to put every playoff game in primetime windows. NBA would never schedule a weekday matinee playoff game.

[Guest]

How bout two wild card one off games. 2nd v 3rd WC team play day one at 2nd team field. Day two 1st vs winner WC play at 1st WC field. Then day three 2nd and 3rd div winners play, and day four start 1st div winners starts game 1 of 5 or 7 vs winner WC one offs.

[Hans Herrera]

I think reducing the regular season games is the better solution for several reasons: Weather, extended playoffs, fatigue, etc. Just take one week off the current schedule, something like 156 games.

 

I do not agree with eliminating the divisions, though.

[Guest]

Having teams make it to the playoffs that don't even crack 90 wins is pathetic. Makes the regular season not important. I would make the wildcard round one and done. Make it harder for lesser teams to make all the way to the WS. No validation for the regular season.

[Guest]

How about the top seeds still get their 5 days off, but then all games are played at home. No away games. That would provide an incentive to be top seed. They can go to the regular format in the Champion Ship series and of course the World Series. Just a thought.

[Guest]

Agree with your idea. There needs to be an incentive and reward for the top teams, since winning the World Series is the ultimate goal. Or maybe the teams with the better record would get 5 of 7 possible home games... in a 2-2-3 format.