Texsox Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 While we're waiting. I like the idea of shortening the season and adding another round of playoffs. With the playoff bonus pool money it would mean less games for the same or more money for players, which is a win. If this CB agreement achieves the goal of more competitive teams the tighter grouping makes sense to differentiate the really good from just good. If every team is between 75 and 90 wins, one injury in June could knock a really good team from in to just out of the current playoff possibility. The who makes the playoffs drama can happen at 154, 145, 158, or 125 as easily as 162. With interleague play there isn't anything magical about 162. The season was lengthened to make more money for the owners. Let's shorten it back to make more money for players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wegner Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 A shorter season will suck if our Sox go back to making the playoffs once a decade...or they continue to get bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnetennba Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Anything more than a 3 game Wild Card round and I am opposed. I have always disliked the dual Wild Card format so I want a change there, but adding more teams just dilutes the post season IMO. I don’t like the idea of shortening the season. I love that baseball is constant for six months, almost every night. Perhaps chop off a series at the beginning of April when most of the country is still chilly and or gross, but more than that, no thank you. Off days during the regular season are bad enough as a fan, I don’t want even more days w/o baseball. Unless MLB wants to make every game accessible to any fan anywhere at any time, less baseball is a bad thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppysox Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 No thanks. Additional playoff rounds just diminish further the importance of the regular season. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 45 minutes ago, poppysox said: No thanks. Additional playoff rounds just diminish further the importance of the regular season. It's better than your idea of the best team in each league just advancing straight to the World Series. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppysox Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 5 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said: It's better than your idea of the best team in each league just advancing straight to the World Series. I see nothing wild about the best team in each league representing my preferred league in the WS. I have already stated it would never happen because the playoffs are a moneymaker. I would much rather see the Yankees the same number of times I see the Tigers. Also, it doesn't strike me as particularly fair that the Cubs vs Sox and the Cardinals vs Royals count in the overall standing. In short...the watered-down playoff system has greatly watered down my interest in the WS when the Sox are not in it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 13 minutes ago, poppysox said: I see nothing wild about the best team in each league representing my preferred league in the WS. I have already stated it would never happen because the playoffs are a moneymaker. I would much rather see the Yankees the same number of times I see the Tigers. Also, it doesn't strike me as particularly fair that the Cubs vs Sox and the Cardinals vs Royals count in the overall standing. In short...the watered-down playoff system has greatly watered down my interest in the WS when the Sox are not in it. So in order to fix it, you want to give the Sox less of a chance to make it to the World Series. Makes sense. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppysox Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 3 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said: So in order to fix it, you want to give the Sox less of a chance to make it to the World Series. Makes sense. If you had better reading comprehension you would realize I said it wouldn't happen. I did say I prefer to send the best team to the World Series. I said I prefer to play all teams the same number of games rather than this imbalanced thing we have with division championships. I don't base my preference on what gives the WS a chance to make watered-down playoffs...the current team has a very real chance to be the best team in the league...I have no desire to get beaten out by some .500 team that gets lucky in a 5 game series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 1 minute ago, poppysox said: If you had better reading comprehension you would realize I said it wouldn't happen. I did say I prefer to send the best team to the World Series. I said I prefer to play all teams the same number of games rather than this imbalanced thing we have with division championships. I don't base my preference on what gives the WS a chance to make watered-down playoffs...the current team has a very real chance to be the best team in the league...I have no desire to get beaten out by some .500 team that gets lucky in a 5 game series. I read what you said. It might have been you didn't think of unintended consequences, but if you shrink the playoffs, the teams that don't make it have a zero chance at winning the World Series. That means only two teams have a chance to win instead of 10, or whatever MLB settles on. Your idea means less chance of the Sox winning a series on an annual basis. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppysox Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 3 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said: I read what you said. It might have been you didn't think of unintended consequences, but if you shrink the playoffs, the teams that don't make it have a zero chance at winning the World Series. That means only two teams have a chance to win instead of 10, or whatever MLB settles on. Your idea means less chance of the Sox winning a series on an annual basis. I care about winning the World Series. I don't care about the teams that are not trying to win. You guys preach about not wanting teams to be uncompetitive then set up divisions where 3 or 4 of the best teams compete while in another division the winner just needs to show up. We will never go back to the old days but this idea of half the teams being in the playoffs is not the best way to find out who has assembled the best team IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 7 minutes ago, poppysox said: I care about winning the World Series. I don't care about the teams that are not trying to win. You guys preach about not wanting teams to be uncompetitive then set up divisions where 3 or 4 of the best teams compete while in another division the winner just needs to show up. We will never go back to the old days but this idea of half the teams being in the playoffs is not the best way to find out who has assembled the best team IMO. All you do is make it easier for teams to tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppysox Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 1 minute ago, southsider2k5 said: All you do is make it easier for teams to tank. I make it easier for the Sox to win it all when they are the best team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 (edited) 14 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said: All you do is make it easier for teams to tank. Yeah, the fringe contenders definitely just punt the season. You would have maybe 4-5 teams actually trying if only the best team went straight to the World Series (can't even say playoffs). Would actually make the league less competitive haha Edited February 2, 2022 by Bob Sacamano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunt Ritual Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Bring back the reserve clause while we're at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Just now, Bob Sacamano said: Yeah, the fringe contenders definitely just punt the season. You would have maybe 4-5 teams actually trying. Unless you were expecting to be a 100 win team, or really close to it, there would be no reason to play an honest season. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 29 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said: Unless you were expecting to be a 100 win team, or really close to it, there would be no reason to play an honest season. Yeah you might have teams head into the season thinking they have a chance, only to sell off at the trade deadline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iWiN4PreP Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 7 hours ago, Texsox said: While we're waiting. I like the idea of shortening the season and adding another round of playoffs. With the playoff bonus pool money it would mean less games for the same or more money for players, which is a win. If this CB agreement achieves the goal of more competitive teams the tighter grouping makes sense to differentiate the really good from just good. If every team is between 75 and 90 wins, one injury in June could knock a really good team from in to just out of the current playoff possibility. The who makes the playoffs drama can happen at 154, 145, 158, or 125 as easily as 162. With interleague play there isn't anything magical about 162. The season was lengthened to make more money for the owners. Let's shorten it back to make more money for players. You are right financially, it would be a boom for owners (and if they do it right, for players as well). It's honestly, probably a good strategy for the general fan/public. You are also 100% right that if they can find a way in the CBA to influence more competitive teams, then a larger playoff tournament might actually be OK/work, but I highly doubt that we see teams becoming THAT competitive over this CBA. Drama will still happen, and in your scenario it will probably happen more often. But for me, as a diehard loving baseball fan, I live for every single MLB game in the season. I love the season meaning something. The idea of half the league making the playoffs and taking away games from the season kills that for me. I would hate this down to every bone in my body as baseball is the only sport I follow/love. It would honestly make me consider not following baseball long term. So I am very anti extended playoffs even in light of a sound argument for it as I think it will water down the regular season, which, for me, is truly why I am a baseball fan - for the deep, enduring regular season. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWINFan Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 There is no need to expand the playoffs even though I'd like to see the regular season shortened some. Expanded playoffs only give owners another excuse not to build a balanced team. Getting to the playoffs should come as a reward for having an excellent season. Five teams from each league get to the post season. If a team can't make it to the damned playoffs under that system, it stinks. MLB can take this idea and shove it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSox59 Posted February 3, 2022 Share Posted February 3, 2022 Shortening the season would be a travesty. Expanding the playoffs further would be dumb. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Parkman Posted February 3, 2022 Share Posted February 3, 2022 (edited) I don't think that the playoffs should be expanded any more than they already are. 8 or 10 teams is a fair amount. I actually like that wild card teams have to burn their best pitcher in the play in game. I think that 4 teams are too few, but anything more than ten are too many. Edited February 3, 2022 by Jack Parkman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted February 3, 2022 Share Posted February 3, 2022 3 minutes ago, Jack Parkman said: I don't think that the playoffs should be expanded any more than they already are. 8 or 10 teams is a fair amount. I actually like that wild card teams have to burn their best pitcher in the play in game. I think that 4 teams are too few, but anything more than ten are too many. If you forced me to tolerate 12, I'd do it, that's not going to make a big difference and usually you're still adding a team in the upper 80s of wins. I'd be disappointed about losing the 1-game play in because as unfair as that is, it's ridiculously good TV. If we start getting to 16, that's more than 1/2 the league, so statistically a below .500 team getting a wild card (not a division) seems like it might become normal then? That seems excessive to me, and that's where I figure this is heading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Parkman Posted February 3, 2022 Share Posted February 3, 2022 58 minutes ago, Balta1701 said: If you forced me to tolerate 12, I'd do it, that's not going to make a big difference and usually you're still adding a team in the upper 80s of wins. I'd be disappointed about losing the 1-game play in because as unfair as that is, it's ridiculously good TV. If we start getting to 16, that's more than 1/2 the league, so statistically a below .500 team getting a wild card (not a division) seems like it might become normal then? That seems excessive to me, and that's where I figure this is heading. If we get to a point where teams with win totals in the 70s make the playoffs then we have a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 3, 2022 Author Share Posted February 3, 2022 The unknown is what competitive balance leads to. Basically no one wants to see a 100 win team and a 55 win team anymore, we want those wins to be redistributed. What spread does that lead to? Let's take the AL east from last year and take away 24 wins from the top teams and give them to Baltimore. After TB 94 Bos / NY 86 Tor 85 Balt 76 If every division looked like that would we perhaps want 14 teams? The three division winners receive a bye week at the end of the season (last week in September) while the four runner ups play to a winner. (Two three game series) Or top two in each division and one wild card. Again using last year Bos v. Cleveland* and Yankees v. Seattle After those two winners play off that winner would have played Tampa Bay while the Sox and Astros played. *easily the worst aspect of this plan. Toronto or Oakland deserves a playoff spot before a losing record Cleveland team. But again, once competitive balance steps are taken, the Sox wouldn't win 93 games, it's better if some of those wins are redistributed across the division. After running through this I think 12 is my max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mighty Mite Posted February 3, 2022 Share Posted February 3, 2022 I'm for a shorter season but not for becoming the NHL and NBA with half of the teams in the playoffs. We will probably see MLB expanding to 32 teams and when they do I'm afraid we will probably see 16 teams in the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted February 3, 2022 Share Posted February 3, 2022 1 hour ago, Texsox said: The unknown is what competitive balance leads to. Basically no one wants to see a 100 win team and a 55 win team anymore, we want those wins to be redistributed. What spread does that lead to? Let's take the AL east from last year and take away 24 wins from the top teams and give them to Baltimore. After TB 94 Bos / NY 86 Tor 85 Balt 76 If every division looked like that would we perhaps want 14 teams? The three division winners receive a bye week at the end of the season (last week in September) while the four runner ups play to a winner. (Two three game series) Or top two in each division and one wild card. Again using last year Bos v. Cleveland* and Yankees v. Seattle After those two winners play off that winner would have played Tampa Bay while the Sox and Astros played. *easily the worst aspect of this plan. Toronto or Oakland deserves a playoff spot before a losing record Cleveland team. But again, once competitive balance steps are taken, the Sox wouldn't win 93 games, it's better if some of those wins are redistributed across the division. After running through this I think 12 is my max. I’d say the statement that no one wants to see 100 win and 55 win teams is one I very much disagree with. What I want to see in terms of the bottom - is for it not to be the same teams winning 55 games every year. I get it that teams need to rebuild and sell off players sometimes, but that should be a 3 to 4 year process. The Cubs sold guys off and started a rebuild and in year 5 they made the NLCS. The Astros sold guys off and in year 5 won the wild card. The White Sox sold guys off and in year 4 made the short season playoffs and in year 5 made the playoffs legitimately. These things have to happen sometimes, when your franchise is old and has very little talent around. Teams can absolutely use tools to get out of those rebuilds more quickly. The Mets are way into the luxury tax, so much so that under the old CBA it would cost them draft picks. But, if they traded Cano, it would probably get them back draft picks and save them 1.4 times his contract. So Cano to the Pirates along with the Mets top 2 prospects - the Mets save money and get back two draft picks, the Pirates add talent and heck if Cano ever stays healthy maybe he could even be moved at a trade deadline for a minor piece? The White Sox are up against the luxury tax and Keuchel had a bad year, so package Keuchel with Burger or someone like that, send him to Pittsburgh. Pitt gets a prospect and a guy who might be tradeable, the White Sox get luxury tax space. Why aren’t these bottom feeding teams doing that? Money. The other big thing I want to put a stop to is teams like Cleveland and Oakland rebuilding. 2020 Cleveland made the playoffs, they made them for what 5 consecutive years, they had a star at SS, homegrown player - and traded him away for being too expensive. That’s terrible for a fan base. I once said that Joe Mayer staying In Minnesota was bad for the white Sox and good for baseball - guys like Lindor leaving playoff teams who have low salaries is terrible for baseball. Oakland is a regular playoff team, they missed narrowly last year after one of their players had his face broken, and now rather than adding a couple players to get past the Astros they’re talking about rebuilding? Come on, without adding anyone the Fangraphs projection put them right in the Wild Card race. In a year or two, fine they lose Bassitt and Chapman and maybe that’s the point where they have to rebuild, but now? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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