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It takes 162 games to make the playoffs, then 1 game to get dumped in the wildcard.

It makes for an exciting game, but this really should be a best of three series. Baseball is played as a series all year long, why stop doing that when it really matters?

They could play Games 2 and 3 as a doubleheader and it would add only 1 day to the playoff schedule. Sure, it puts the winner at a disadvantage from a rotation standpoint, but that's OK, just a bit extra reward for the division winners.

KJ Duke wrote:It takes 162 games to make the playoffs, then 1 game to get dumped in the wildcard.

It makes for an exciting game, but this really should be a best of three series. Baseball is played as a series all year long, why stop doing that when it really matters?

They could play Games 2 and 3 as a doubleheader and it would add only 1 day to the playoff schedule. Sure, it puts the winner at a disadvantage from a rotation standpoint, but that's OK, just a bit extra reward for the division winners.

Or, they could just go back to one wild card team.

I agree with KJ -- it's a silly format. For this year, however, the Yankees had no chance in any length of a series.

I completely disagree, I love it. It puts the focus on & rewards the Division winners and creates regular season drama to win the Division, as it should be. As much as it will be devastating if the Cubs lose tomorrow, the fact is, they did not win their Division. I feel the set-up sufficiently punishes WC team and rewards Division winners and puts a premium on winning Division. Plus it provides a kick-ass start to the playoffs of win or go home pressure. While I understand your point, whenever I hear this argument, I ask, how do you reconcile a game 163, one-game playoff if there is a tie? Philosphically, I feel it is consistent with game 163 one-game playoff to decide a Division. I'd rather give WC teams a shot "into the playoffs" with a one game scenario rather than to be just sent home like the 103-win 1993 Giants. If the Cubs lose tomorrow, I reserve the right to change my position, however.

COZ

COZ wrote:I completely disagree, I love it. It puts the focus on & rewards the Division winners and creates regular season drama to win the Division, as it should be. As much as it will be devastating if the Cubs lose tomorrow, the fact is, they did not win their Division. I feel the set-up sufficiently punishes WC team and rewards Division winners and puts a premium on winning Division. Plus it provides a kick-ass start to the playoffs of win or go home pressure. While I understand your point, whenever I hear this argument, I ask, how do you reconcile a game 163, one-game playoff if there is a tie? Philosphically, I feel it is consistent with game 163 one-game playoff to decide a Division. I'd rather give WC teams a shot "into the playoffs" with a one game scenario rather than to be just sent home like the 103-win 1993 Giants. If the Cubs lose tomorrow, I reserve the right to change my position, however.

COZ

It would give the division winner an even bigger edge, with 2 or 3 of the wildcard winner's top pitchers having been burned in the wildcard, plus with the DH game the WC winner would be forced to stay with a 5-man rotation through the Divisional round while the other teams all are running out their top 4. For me it is different than a regular season tie in that both teams actually deserve to be in the playoffs, and thus at least an abbreviated series is fair.

As we all know as fantasy players, the shorter the game the more likely it is that luck trumps skill. That said, I was thrilled that Houston won tonight and will be even more so if Arrieta continues his streak of domination for at least one more night.

COZ wrote:I completely disagree, I love it. It puts the focus on & rewards the Division winners and creates regular season drama to win the Division, as it should be. As much as it will be devastating if the Cubs lose tomorrow, the fact is, they did not win their Division. I feel the set-up sufficiently punishes WC team and rewards Division winners and puts a premium on winning Division. Plus it provides a kick-ass start to the playoffs of win or go home pressure. While I understand your point, whenever I hear this argument, I ask, how do you reconcile a game 163, one-game playoff if there is a tie? Philosphically, I feel it is consistent with game 163 one-game playoff to decide a Division. I'd rather give WC teams a shot "into the playoffs" with a one game scenario rather than to be just sent home like the 103-win 1993 Giants. If the Cubs lose tomorrow, I reserve the right to change my position, however.

COZ

Your answer is 100% exactly how I feel. (Even if the Cubs lose tonight , but they won't )

Tonight's Pirates/Cubs game betting line in Vegas has Cubs road slight road favorite saw a -125. Over/under 5.5. Money line as best as I can tell has about 60% flowing towards Cubs. My bet would be a small money line wager on the Pirates I saw +125 as we get towards game time I think that goes up due to how profile Cubs are nationally. Wouldn't surprise me to see+135. Would not be surprised to see a one sided game either way expectations for both teams are really high.

Let's say MLB decides to go best of 3.

How do split home/away?

1-1-1?
That's going to stretch out your overall timetable for the playoffs.

Best record gets 2-1? 1-2?

Navel Lint wrote: Your answer is 100% exactly how I feel.

Cutting and pasting this to the Friday-pitching-change-rule thread, Russell.

COZ

Atlas wrote:Let's say MLB decides to go best of 3.

How do split home/away?

1-1-1?
That's going to stretch out your overall timetable for the playoffs.

Best record gets 2-1? 1-2?

Probably have to go gm1 to dog and DH day to favorite, so deciding game always on favorite's turf.

COZ wrote:

Navel Lint wrote: Your answer is 100% exactly how I feel.

Cutting and pasting this to the Friday-pitching-change-rule thread, Russell.

COZ

Speaking of the wildcard ... great game. Love Arrieta stealing a bag after getting plunked.

Also, Sean Rodriguez made himself looks like a fool. That or he really hates Gatorade.

KJ Duke wrote:

Atlas wrote:Let's say MLB decides to go best of 3.

How do split home/away?

1-1-1?
That's going to stretch out your overall timetable for the playoffs.

Best record gets 2-1? 1-2?

Probably have to go gm1 to dog and DH day to favorite, so deciding game always on favorite's turf.

I like the current system as it also rewards the teams with the best records with facing the WC whose ace probably doesn't get used until Game 3 at the earliest. A best of 3 is too long for the 1 seed to wait.

Not that I'd approve this, but what about a two game series where WC 2 has to beat WC 1 twice to advance? It's the equivalent of a 3 game series and giving game 1 "win" already to the WC 1 team.

I think the system is a joke .Why did we need to add another playoff team?
I get it but just dont think it was needed.
The pirates who now 2 years in a row(yes I am a pirates fan) have had a better record than the other team and get punished for not having a cy young type of pitcher in a 1 game race.
I am all four making it a best of 3 or even 5 game series but this 1 game crap has got to go.

I don't like the current system at all. It is abhorrant to me as a baseball fan. Baseball is not a 'one and done' game.
This system has hurt the Pittsburgh Pirates most of all. Although their fans are gratified to even be in the playoffs, they have to face the likes of Madison Bumgarner, Mr. Hot Pitcher of the 2014 playoffs. Then, face Arrieta, again, the hottest pitcher in baseball in 2015.
Say hello and goodbye, Pittsburgh Pirates.

What's the solution?
Start the season a week earlier and have a five game series for the wildcard teams in October.
Folks will say that it's too cold and there would be rainouts.
Make them up at a later date like all rain outs!
Start the season in as many warm locales as possible.
I am really surprised MLB does not do this anyway. Four more possible playoff games means a lot more money for all.
Eventually, it has to happen. Money is a strong dictator.

Ha! Both typing at the same time, Rog!

Or even better have a real playoff race and shorten the season back to 154 games. Of course your post above tells us why that will never happen.

Good read: http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2015/sto ... -harm-good

COZ

Similar to KJ's idea, how about a best 2 of 3, all played at the WC team with the best record? They could play it on Monday-Wednesday and still keep the rest of the playoff schedule. This would save the need for an extra day of travel and give the team with the better record a bigger advantage than just a one-and-done home game.

Le Grand Orange wrote:Similar to KJ's idea, how about a best 2 of 3, all played at the WC team with the best record? They could play it on Monday-Wednesday and still keep the rest of the playoff schedule. This would save the need for an extra day of travel and give the team with the better record a bigger advantage than just a one-and-done home game.

To add to this they could alternate the home team even though at one location

So for Pirates/Cubs example - all three games at PNC Park
Monday - Pirates home team
Tuesday - Cubs home team
Wed (if necessary) - Pirates home team

COZ wrote:Good read: http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2015/sto ... -harm-good

COZ

Did Theo read my idea on the MB?

I had no idea he threw out the best of three with a DH idea, hadn't heard it anywhere before, but it makes sense. Still, my in-an-ideal-world scenario would be a normal 3-game series in conjunction with shortening the season by a week.

KJ Duke wrote:

COZ wrote:Good read: http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2015/sto ... -harm-good

COZ

Still, my in-an-ideal-world scenario would be a normal 3-game series in conjunction with shortening the season by a week.

Stop dreaming. The owners are NEVER going to give up 8 regular season games and the revenue that comes with it. An extra few playoff games won't make up that revenue difference.

Say what you want about this playoff format, but this has been a FANTASTIC week of baseball action. I'm ALL IN on football, but these baseball games have been so compelling that it's tough to turn off. It's fun to see these home fans just totally worn out after 3+ hours of cheering on their teams.

That Wrigley crowd was wild last night. Did anyone from the NFBC go to that game? Anyone at the Toronto 14-inning game? Must have been wild.

I hear what everyone is saying about changing the "one and done" playoff format, but if you're going to play 162 regular season games and you're going to let 10 teams in the playoffs and you're going to get done before Nov. 15th then you almost have to keep it this way. Or you eliminate this 5th playoff team from each league and then you'd have Cubs fans squawking right now. The only possible solution if you keep all of the above is a 3-game Wild Card series at the home team's park, but that would still extend the playoffs a few extra days and give the divisional champions 4-5 days off. Not ideal that way either.

Oh well. Game 4's today and Game 5's tomorrow should be fun. Enjoy all.