Oh boy Bob Costas is gonna be mad now (more wild cards in MLB postseason?)

Estil

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Aj71m2Svto31YBtHIONHasgRvLYF?slug=ap-expandedplayoffs

Please let me know the minute Mr. Costas writes a column about this proposal to add more wildcards in MLB; after all he thinks what we have now is already two too many and personally I do kinda miss the REAL pennant races MLB had prior to 1994.

Blacklabelsociety

I like 8 teams. I think that is the right amount. I hated the 4 team scenerio before 1994 because you would have teams that won 100 games and not make the playoffs.

Hallco

<< <i>and personally I do kinda miss the REAL pennant races MLB had prior to 1994. >>

CEOBIDMC

i think the current format is just fine.

DIMEMAN

They should go back to the original. The National League played all National League. The American played the American. At the end of the season the top National played the top American in the World Series. Let the 162 game season decide who goes. Not 3 and 5 game series. It delutes the whole thing. You can sneak in and get hot and win the whole thing when you shouldn't even have been there!

vladguerrero

<< <i>At the end of the season the top National played the top American in the World Series. >>



That's a good idea.

Pigs

<< <i>i think the current format is just fine. >>



I agree, too many games to keep track of in the first round. It won't even be worth popping champagne after the first round win. Useless.

Estil

I like Mr. Costas' original proposal in his book Fair Ball where he says we should move the Houston Astros to the AL West to balance out the divisions, and have only the division winners qualify with the top seed in each league getting a bye and home field for the LCS, and the two seed getting home field for the LDS. This will make six true pennant races of five teams per division, just one less than what the NL had in their two divisions from 1969-92.

Connecticoin

I think the current 8 teams is about right as well. 12 would cheapen the regular season, and make the entire season too long.

Garabaldi

I think they should also play into December, bring the fences in and lower the mound.

PowderedH2O

Why even have divisions? How about top 4 in each league?

stown

<< <i>I like Mr. Costas' original proposal in his book Fair Ball where he says we should move the Houston Astros to the AL West to balance out the divisions, >>



Yeah, it makes total sense to have a team two hours ahead and over 1,500 miles away from their division rivals.

57loaded

<< <i>more wild cards = more playoffs = more $$$

in the next 100 years, we'll have ...

national league play in series

national league division series

national league championship series

national league north american championship series

national league western hemisphere championship series

world series

p.s. all series will be a best of 9 games >>



and of course the regular season

linky for OP

maybe more....but one can't expect to play the world series in mid-november. one thought was to have one more wild-card team in each league qualify. the two wild cards then play one game... from there you have what we have now. and NO regard for playing a wild card team and the diivision winner of the same division first round.

WinPitcher

Estil

Baseball had problems with the two 15 team leagues scheduling wise IIRC and that is why the Brewers moved to the NL.

I too am a purist and the NL winner playing the AL winner prior to 69 was great because they only had 16, then 18 and then 20 teams.

With the expansion the alignments and so forth the added rounds were needed. I do not want to see it expanded further mind you

I think the first round should be a 2/3, the second 3/5 and the WS the 4/7. But money can be made so we will see more dilution.

Only when more money won't be made will we see it differently. I suppose the current format is as far as I want to see it.


Steve

Connecticoin

<< <i>

<< <i>I like Mr. Costas' original proposal in his book Fair Ball where he says we should move the Houston Astros to the AL West to balance out the divisions, >>



Yeah, it makes total sense to have a team two hours ahead and over 1,500 miles away from their division rivals. >>



So you would rather stay in a division with 6 teams?

Estil

<< <i>

<< <i>I like Mr. Costas' original proposal in his book Fair Ball where he says we should move the Houston Astros to the AL West to balance out the divisions, >>



Yeah, it makes total sense to have a team two hours ahead and over 1,500 miles away from their division rivals. >>



The Texas Rangers are like that now--what's your point?

stown

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>I like Mr. Costas' original proposal in his book Fair Ball where he says we should move the Houston Astros to the AL West to balance out the divisions, >>



Yeah, it makes total sense to have a team two hours ahead and over 1,500 miles away from their division rivals. >>



The Texas Rangers are like that now--what's your point? >>



1) It puts the players in a competitive disadvantage with time changes and excessive travel.
2) Local ratings suffer, which means less money for the team and league. (edited to clarify: West coast games typically start at 9-9:30 locally and key demo plummets after 2nd inning.)
3) Fans - See above

As for the Rangers, the above are just a few reasons why they have historically fielded bad teams and a lack luster fan base.

Tabe

<< <i>I think the first round should be a 2/3, the second 3/5 and the WS the 4/7. But money can be made so we will see more dilution. >>


The problem with shorter rounds is that they favor lesser teams. Or, rather, they benefit lesser teams. And they don't reward teams with depth.

Tabe