~2022 MLB Thread~

[OrangeAfroMan]

I won't say that this is what happens when you have an 87-win team in the WS.  

[longhorn320]

I won't say that this is what happens when you have an 87-win team in the WS. 

Yes we know your view

This is what happens when the lifeless LA Dodgers once again fold in post season

[OrangeAfroMan]

You keep doing that, but it's not about the Dodgers.  It was about the Giants the year before that.  It's about a postseason that has evolved to become less valid and more stupid.  

You would never, in a million years, design the MLB postseason this way from scratch.

[longhorn320]

You keep doing that, but it's not about the Dodgers.  It was about the Giants the year before that.  It's about a postseason that has evolved to become less valid and more stupid. 

You would never, in a million years, design the MLB postseason this way from scratch.

other then the fact that the number of wild card teams should be reduced what suggestion do you have for improving the playoffs

I ask this not really expecting any meaningful dialog but miracles do happen

[OrangeAfroMan]

What made the World Series meaningful and valid (as with the Super Bowl, initially) was that the champion of one league that only played against each other faced the champion of another league.  
.
Considering today, there's 30 teams, I'd have to add 2 teams to get to 32.  Then, ideally, have 2 divisions in each league  of 8 teams.  I'd prefer teams only play against their division foes.  Division champs play each other in a best-of-9 LCS, then the WS.  
If people wanted each team to play maybe a home-and-home series against the teams in the other division of their own league, fine, but limit it at that.
No interleague play.
No wildcards.
.
Use the regular season to yield the best teams.  Let them play.  

[ELA]

I don't disagree that this is a horrible way of determining the champion, but also nobody (apparently except me) watches regular season MLB anymore.  Postseason MLB is amazing.  We aren't solving world hunger here.  If the "best" team doesn't win, who cares?  Regular season MLB viewership is mostly about following your local team.  Good national games still do terrible ratings.  Fans are still going to watch their local teams, no matter what, and ignore national broadcasts, no matter what.  So I'm kind of good, from an entertainment standpoint, which is all this is, in maximizing these high leverage games, with maximum fan involvement, among good teams.

[longhorn320]

What made the World Series meaningful and valid (as with the Super Bowl, initially) was that the champion of one league that only played against each other faced the champion of another league. 
.
Considering today, there's 30 teams, I'd have to add 2 teams to get to 32.  Then, ideally, have 2 divisions in each league  of 8 teams.  I'd prefer teams only play against their division foes.  Division champs play each other in a best-of-9 LCS, then the WS. 
If people wanted each team to play maybe a home-and-home series against the teams in the other division of their own league, fine, but limit it at that.
No interleague play.
No wildcards.
.
Use the regular season to yield the best teams.  Let them play. 

so there would only be 4 teams in the post season

I dont hate the idea but both the owners and the players would never go along with this

Id like to reduce the WC teams to only 1 in each league which would be a compromise

Id also like the play to only be in that teams league with some kind of a round robin arrangement

[MarqHusker]

Plug here for 'Crazy '08' which is one of my favorite sports books of all-time, chronicles the NL season (and Americana) of 1908.   One of the best reads for celebrating the two league, no playoffs, season ends, boom World Series begins.     The season was truly remarkable, and in truth the '08 WS ended in a  wet fart of a series.    Lowest attended, dreadful weather (Cubs over Tigers in 5, book doesn't waste too much ink on it, the fun was  the season itself.

ELA makes great points above, the Cliffs' notes sports fan wants the high leverage action, and not only that, they want it conveniently packaged in a specific way (in  a familiar succession of multiple series format).   I can't deny it, this is the only way I consume college hoops, NHL, and even a rare look at NBA or NFL.

Love these Phily unis tonight, though wish they were the late 70s pullover seams, the buttons don't belong.  One of the five best looks all-time IMO (A's green and yellow, Giants' Orange tops, Brewers' road with powder blues with blue/yellow cap, and of course the NY Giants navies which said 'World Champions' across the front)

[ELA]

I still think the best format to preserve regular season integrity with higher stakes postseason is to increase access, but make it difficult.

That's why I would rather expand to 16, but make it that all series are played at the higher seeded team exclusively, and that the lower seed always has to win 4, but the higher seeded team has to win the number of their seed.  So the 1 seed has to win 1 of 5 at home, the 2 seed has to win twice, and the 3 seed has to win three times, while the 4-5 is a true best of 7.  That 8 seed will never win, and if they do, by winning 4 straight road games at the 1 seed, you tip your cap.  But hope springs eternal, and you can't tell me fan bases wouldn't care about getting those 8 seeds.

That's also my ideal mentality for an expanded CFP, but that's a different thread.

[ELA]

How far out will we have to get before any neutral fans will root for the Astros?  I actually think this may have to run its course, and then they get bad again, and then their next core is the first team that neutral fans root for

[ELA]

I'm for whatever postseason format results in the Phillies wearing these uniforms

[slugsrbad]

I'm for whatever postseason format results in the Phillies wearing these uniforms

Thursday games In Philadelphia

Also.. best game in the series for neutral fans I think.. but a near devastating loss for the Phils.  Hopefully Wheeler regains his velocity and Suarez continues his dominance.  

[longhorn320]

Justin got a win amazing

[ELA]

Justin got a win amazing

He may salvage his career yet