Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

[TripleCrown9]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

The decision could go any direction. They added it before the season even started, before Spring Training even, and people think it was last minute. If they do it after the season, everyone would say they should have added it before the season (especially if their team misses the postseason). Last minute would be a week before the postseason starts. People would say the same thing if they did it next year, prior to the season is last minute, after the season is too late.

I love the decision, and think it will make the Playoffs better over time, as teams that were on the bubble will also get a chance.

[umpire]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

I like it. Anyone that is going to cry about it isn't a winner. Short, sweet and to the point. How it should be. NBA take note.

its not about crying its about implenting something just for money and just cause people "disagree" does not mean its cry about winner/losers

if baseball was smart they would stop the 162 games a year...

[lnin0]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

its not about crying its about implenting something just for money and just cause people "disagree" does not mean its cry about winner/losers

if baseball was smart they would stop the 162 games a year...

Sorry. I think you are talking about something else. My point was if you don't want your season decided by one game then you should be winning more during the season so you don't end up in the WC game.

To your point, as to why they implemented it. I personally think it has more to do with expanding the fanbase by involving more cities in the playoffs each year. If they were doing it for money alone then why not go the NBA route and drag the playoff out for months. The fact they made this a single game elimination tells me they are more concerned about building excitement for baseball and the playoffs.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

I absolutely hate it.

But, I would find it infinitely more tolerable if it's a best of 3.

And yeah, I know "win your division and its no big deal", but you can say WC5 should just be the WC4 if they want a playoff spot that badly.

[Cardot]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

I absolutely hate it.

Why? While it may not be everyone's preferred format, it seems to me that everyone should like it better than what we had. The purists should be happy that winning a division has more value now. And those that want expanded playoffs and more teams in contention later in the season should also be happy.

[rdub78]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

If we had it last year the awesome last day doesn't even happen as the Red Sox and Rays woulda been in anyways as well as the Braves and Cards.

[Cardot]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

If we had it last year the awesome last day doesn't even happen as the Red Sox and Rays woulda been in anyways as well as the Braves and Cards.

Yeah, last year it came down to a couple tight races between 4th and 5th. But in any given year, the tight battle could just as easily be between 5th and 6th, and the argument would be flipped. Another example that comes to mind is the AL East race in 2010 between the Yanks and Rays. Not all that exciting since both teams were locks for the post season. But that race would have been much more exciting with the 2012 playoff rules.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

Why? While it may not be everyone's preferred format, it seems to me that everyone should like it better than what we had. The purists should be happy that winning a division has more value now. And those that want expanded playoffs and more teams in contention later in the season should also be happy.

I talked about it when the possibility was brought up a couple months ago.

Absolutely hate adding teams. I know the pace has been slow with baseball as far as adding teams to the playoffs, but in this era of increased money and media, I fear that the pace will be quickened.

I also don't like that it takes away the rarity of the one-game playoff. I loved those special times where they'd play one game to break a tie. Now? They're going to play two one game playoffs every year, even if WC4 is ahead of WC5 by 7 games and they lost their division via tie because they lost their head-to-head with the divisional winner 10-9 or something.

And it all comes down to one stupid game? That's the worst freakin' part. One game playoffs should only be used to break ties. Bottom line. I liken this to the stupid play-in game that the NCAA has for their tournament every year.

Like I said earlier, you can say "oh, just win the division then", but you can also say "sure, just become the main wild card then" instead of adding a team. I know a lot of the optimism for this plan is centered around giving the divisional winners a benefit, and that's true, but best record overall in your league is more deserving of a "special benefit" than winning your division, and they get that by having home field.

If this was really about divisional leaders getting more of a benefit and putting the WC at a "true disadvantage", they'd do something. Like, say, 4 home games to 1 home game (would be a logistical nightmare probably) for the LDS. Or, expand to seven games in the LDS and give games 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 to the team with HFA.

It's definitely about keeping more teams involved later in the season.

[rdnk]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

As a 15-year-old Blue Jays fan, my hatred for the '87 Tigers knew no limit.

You guys walked into the biggest bear trap of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI3rdh3QdqE

Anyway, expanded playoffs should make a fun stretch run, especially in the NL. I get the feeling in the AL the WC teams will just be 2/3 of NY, BOS and Tampa. A Yankees Red Sox one game playoff would be ratings gold.

[phenom1990]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

Mixed feelings on expanding to 5 teams, I would've preferred they made the LDS a best of 7 over this; but it's not the biggest deal to me.

[umpire]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

Sorry. I think you are talking about something else. My point was if you don't want your season decided by one game then you should be winning more during the season so you don't end up in the WC game.

To your point, as to why they implemented it. I personally think it has more to do with expanding the fanbase by involving more cities in the playoffs each year. If they were doing it for money alone then why not go the NBA route and drag the playoff out for months. The fact they made this a single game elimination tells me they are more concerned about building excitement for baseball and the playoffs.

No i quoted your for the reason i disagree and there no grauntee your going to be able to win more games in teh seasson that just luck if you do. it has to do with money.

[Cardot]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

I also don't like that it takes away the rarity of the one-game playoff. I loved those special times where they'd play one game to break a tie. Now? They're going to play two one game playoffs every year,

I definitely agree that sports can dilute themselves. But even though these 1 game "Play-Ins" between the wild-cards will be annual events, it sounds like it will be exciting to me. But I guess time will tell.

even if WC4 is ahead of WC5 by 7 games and they lost their division via tie because they lost their head-to-head with the divisional winner 10-9 or something.

True, but we can come up with all sorts of scenario's that are unfair with any playoff format. Especially with so many divisions. Personally, I wouldn't mind contracting to two...or no divisions in each league, but that doesn't seem to be on the table, so I will leave that for another thread.

And it all comes down to one stupid game? That's the worst freakin' part. One game playoffs should only be used to break ties.

The purists don't even want them in the post-season at all. So 1 game is better than that.

[rdub78]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

First off, we shouldn't be surprised that MLB is doing this -- they're in the entertainment industry, and need to compete with NFL, NBA, etc., and other leagues that allow lots of playoff teams in. Furthermore, you can't blame them for taking the real drama of a 1-game playoff and fabricating it.

However, this is going to kill a lot of races. For instance, remember all that drama during the last week last year? GONE. All 5 teams would have known they were in the playoffs, MAYBE the Angels could have caught the Rays, but other than that, it was already decided.

You're going to see the division races decided, as always, but now the Wild Card will also be wrapped up early. There's rarely 6 or 7 good teams that might make a 5-spot playoff fight interesting, as 5 teams make a 4-spot playoff fight interesting.

Say what you will, you just can't force me to be excited about a fabricated one-game playoff.

[jhendricks316]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

I say yes because the MLB has the fewest % of teams make the playoffs yearly. The new system does a better job of rewarding good teams that don't win their division.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

I say yes because the MLB has the fewest % of teams make the playoffs yearly. The new system does a better job of rewarding good teams that don't win their division.

The problem is that more teams doesn't equal better playoff play. However, the reward is not in the "good teams that don't win their division," rather it's rewarding the teams that do win their division so that they don't have to play the dreaded eliminator game.