Expanded Playoffs are a "go"

[Perfect Zero]

Per Ken Rosenthal:

Sources: Additional wild cards a "go" for this season. Playoffs to expand from eight to 10 teams. Announcement tomorrow. <s>#</s>MLB

I have heard that this will be a one off elimination game, and that divisional teams can now play each other in the first round if they are seeded that way.

Personally, I don't mind it if it means that there is only one game for a wild card birth. It actually makes it worthwhile to win the division outright, and there can now be some justification for a "wild card champion."

[Money99]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

Per Ken Rosenthal:



I have heard that this will be a one off elimination game, and that divisional teams can now play each other in the first round if they are seeded that way.

Personally, I don't mind it if it means that there is only one game for a wild card birth. It actually makes it worthwhile to win the division outright, and there can now be some justification for a "wild card champion."

I agree. I know many don't like this new setup, but I think it's going to be great. I can't wait to watch those one-game showdowns.
When they first expanded the playoffs, a lot of people were skeptical but now everyone loves them. I think we need to give this format a chance too.
The more baseball the better.

[areobee401]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

Makes winning the pennant mean something and one game playoffs have a history of being great games. I'm glad they finally gave this idea the green light.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

When they first expanded the playoffs, a lot of people were skeptical but now everyone loves them. I think we need to give this format a chance too. The more baseball the better.

I think that the animosity to it comes from people that don't want to see half of Baseball in the playoffs. I don't want to see that either; the NHL and NBA playoffs are jokes. However, for one extra game that makes it much more important to win the division; I'm for that.

[DrJones]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

I'm curious about the following:

1. Will game 163's (one-game playoffs) still be played for teams tied atop a division?

2. What happens if 2 teams are tied for the 2nd WC spot? Is there a Game 163 to get into the WC1 vs WC2 game, or are tiebreakers (H2H) used?

[Money99]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

I think that the animosity to it comes from people that don't want to see half of Baseball in the playoffs. I don't want to see that either; the NHL and NBA playoffs are jokes. However, for one extra game that makes it much more important to win the division; I'm for that.

Couldn't agree more.
I'm a hockey fan, but I dislike how more than half the league gets into the playoffs.
And because hockey has turned into pinball on ice, luck has a much larger role in who wins the Cup compared to skill.
MLB and NFL have a great system. The best teams almost always win.

[rdub78]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

Dont mind this, but to add this a month before the season is just pathetic.

This should have been made official either months ago, or implemented next season.

[55]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

So, The Show is out of date before it even comes out now? Great.

[decga]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

Wow an addtl one game playoff. What a waste of time IMO? Any team can beat each other in one game. This doesn't benefit anyone. Now if it was a best of three I would be all for it.

[Money99]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

Wow an addtl one game playoff. What a waste of time IMO? Any team can beat each other in one game. This doesn't benefit anyone. Now if it was a best of three I would be all for it.

I see your point, but the same could be said for the Superbowl, BCS championship or every round of the NCAA tournament.

I think the excitement of a one-game showdown outweighs most of the negatives.
Besides, this only puts more emphasis on winning a pennant so teams don't have to worry about having a bad night and then waiting 4 months till next season starts.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

Wow an addtl one game playoff. What a waste of time IMO? Any team can beat each other in one game. This doesn't benefit anyone. Now if it was a best of three I would be all for it.

The idea is to punish the wild card teams, not to give them any advantage in the playoffs. Having a three game playoff would allow the winning team to put their number one starter on the mound for the next round.

[Majingir]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

So, The Show is out of date before it even comes out now? Great.

Nobody knows for sure if that's the case.

But if it is....it'll be just like NHL,WWE lol.

For the AL:
7 times in past 10 seasons, the WC team finished within 3 games of their division leader

90.3 is the average amount of wins the runner up to the WC team had(past 6 seasons, runner up to WC has had 87-90 wins).

Only once in the past 10 years has the 3rd place team in the WC race finished with 90+ wins)

[DrJones]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

Couldn't agree more.
I'm a hockey fan, but I dislike how more than half the league gets into the playoffs.
And because hockey has turned into pinball on ice, luck has a much larger role in who wins the Cup compared to skill.
MLB and NFL have a great system. The best teams almost always win.

Bah. Total myth.

The 2011 Giants won the Super Bowl with the 10th best record in the NFL.
The 2011 Cardinals won the World Series with the 8th best record in MLB.
The 2011 Mavericks won the NBA Championship with the 5th best record in the NBA.
The 2011 Bruins won the Stanley Cup with the 6th best record in the NHL.

Since 1981 (the first year I started following pro sports):

The team with the best regular season record in MLB has won 5 out of 30 championships.
The team with the best regular season record in the NFL has won 9 out of 30 championships.
The team with the best regular season record in the NHL has won 10 out of 30 championships.
The team with the best regular season record in the NBA has won 13 out of 30 championships.

While you're correct that more crappy teams make the playoffs in hockey and basketball (a necessity for the NHL because of how much they depend on gate revenue), how many truly undeserving teams have actually won titles in the NHL or NBA over the last 30 years? Can you name me a "luckier" team than say, the 2006 Cards or 1987 Twins, who both won titles (with home-field advantage!) while numerous teams with better W-L records missed the playoffs entirely?

[Sportsforever]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

Wow an addtl one game playoff. What a waste of time IMO? Any team can beat each other in one game. This doesn't benefit anyone. Now if it was a best of three I would be all for it.

Win your division and you don't have to worry about it...

[DrJones]

Re: Expanded Playoffs are a &quot;go&quot;

Dont mind this, but to add this a month before the season is just pathetic.

This should have been made official either months ago, or implemented next season.

I think it would've made more sense to wait until 2013, when the Astros move to the NL to balance out the divisions, but it could be worse. IIRC, the NBA changed its playoff format (best-of-5 first round became best-of-7) midway through the 04/05 season.