I don't think it'll be permanent - going from 10 teams to 16 permanently seems a major jump. I think it's just trying to allow for those teams who may need a week or two to get their sea legs to still have a chance to compete, especially those where a lot of their big hitters and pitchers missed (most of) ST and will need shorter outings to hold up. I really hope it's not permanent.Really don't like this. Feels like it really cheapens the regular season and if this is instituted permanently there will be some truly mediocre World Series winners who just got hot in the playoffs.
I'd like to see a hybrid of what we have now crossed with a soccer-style system where winning the regular season is seen as a huge accomplishment to be celebrated. Some kind of Supporter's Shield type thing for the best team over 162 games. It'd be an uphill battle to make players and fans care about it and the World Series would probably always be bigger, but I still think it's better than virtually throwing away the results of the whole season in favor of a tournament.
How would you do byes with a 16-team bracket?Byes for teams with best records?
Top two teams in each league get a bye.How would you do byes with a 16-team bracket?
So the idea being floated is that division winners get to pick their opponent?
I know these are unique circumstances, but has there ever been in an example, in any sport, of playoffs being expanded and then later contracted again? I think this paves the way for MLB to make some BS statement next year about how the expanded playoffs were overwhelmingly received positively (regardless of whether they are or not) and so they’ve decided to continue with that (assuming they can pay off the players sufficiently to get them to agree).I don't think it'll be permanent - going from 10 teams to 16 permanently seems a major jump. I think it's just trying to allow for those teams who may need a week or two to get their sea legs to still have a chance to compete, especially those where a lot of their big hitters and pitchers missed (most of) ST and will need shorter outings to hold up. I really hope it's not permanent.
Then the other 6 teams play and give you 3 winners....and you have 5 teams left.Top two teams in each league get a bye.
That plan isn't for this season.So the idea being floated is that division winners get to pick their opponent?
Sounds like a solid plan; so after the Yankees blitzkreig their way to a 60-0 record, they'll pick the winner of the Little League World Series as their first round opponent.
Leaving 12 teams to be whittled down to 6 after round 1 and then more byes? When you have a total number that's already in the proper geometric sequence of a single elimination tournament bracket (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64), you stick to it, no?Top two teams in each league get a bye.
Right, because the LLWS was cancelled this year...………...but it's on the table for 2021...…………...That plan isn't for this season.
Easy solution: Hybrid 3 team series. Each game 1 team hits, one team pitches (and has their own catcher(s), the remaining team fields. The teams with the two highest run totals at the end get to advance.Then the other 6 teams play and give you 3 winners....and you have 5 teams left.
Is a three game series meaningful? Well, yeah, I suppose if the 45-15 Yankees drop 2 of 3 to the 27-33 Red Sox, it will be meaningful, but you'll have a hard time convincing me that outcome is anything other than random. They might just as well play home run derby to determine who advances.More meaningful games mean better ratings, more attendance, and more revenue - stuff that MLB needs more than ever. I get that it waters down the field, but it's the same deal in two of the other three major sports.
There are legit chances of upsets, much like hockey and I think that's more compelling as a fan, unlike the NBA where 2 teams can basically sleep walk through the first two rounds.
Baseball has never cared about crowning the best team in a season, this is the sport that awarded home field advantage for the WS based on the results of an exhibition game for a while.Is a three game series meaningful? Well, yeah, I suppose if the 45-15 Yankees drop 2 of 3 to the 27-33 Red Sox, it will be meaningful, but you'll have a hard time convincing me that outcome is anything other than random. They might just as well play home run derby to determine who advances.
It's going to be pretty random and meaningless who wins the World Series this year already. This makes it worse.
But a little less the two years ago, the best team did win. So it does happen sometime.Baseball has never cared about crowning the best team in a season, this is the sport that awarded home field advantage for the WS based on the results of an exhibition game for a while.
NMIs a three game series meaningful? Well, yeah, I suppose if the 45-15 Yankees drop 2 of 3 to the 27-33 Red Sox, it will be meaningful, but you'll have a hard time convincing me that outcome is anything other than random. They might just as well play home run derby to determine who advances.
It's going to be pretty random and meaningless who wins the World Series this year already. This makes it worse.
No first round byes, Manfred just confirmed that.The Yankees wouldn't be playing in the first round. The first round is for wild card teams. It doesn't bother me at all.
Because the season is already a shit show, and ultimately no one is ever going to recognize this years World Series champ as a true WS winner, so why not bring more interest to the sport with something that creates more playoff games.God this is so stupid. Half the teams make the playoffs? What's the point?
Moving forward I'm against expanding the playoffs, but for this season I love it. There is nothing typical about this season, it's only going to last about as long as short season single A season. Anything that might keep as many fan bases as possible interested and engaged in this season is fine by me. IF (big if) they can pull this season off it's going to give baseball a much needed boost. Also with only 60 games, pennant races (such as they will be) and playoff runs should see more teams bunched up in the standings which I think will add to the drama as the this particular season winds down. I'm looking forward to it.God this is so stupid. Half the teams make the playoffs? What's the point?
I mean, I don't *hate* it.Easy solution: Hybrid 3 team series. Each game 1 team hits, one team pitches (and has their own catcher(s), the remaining team fields. The teams with the two highest run totals at the end get to advance.
The change in format also filters into the odds of making subsequent rounds: The Red Sox, D-backs and Angels are also the teams whose odds of making the division series (the “Elite Eight” of this bracket) went up the most; the Dodgers, Yankees, Astros and Twins all saw their division series odds go down by at least 8 percentage points apiece.2 A similar story goes for making the league championship series and even the World Series — MLB’s middle class got a boost, while the elite teams took a hit.
If it's a one and done I don't have a problem with it. This year is already the biggest dumpster fire ever so who cares. If it gains traction and MLB turns into the NBA or NHL where the regular season is just completely worthless it's horrible.God this is so stupid. Half the teams make the playoffs? What's the point?
Theoretically it helps the Sox the most (on paper, anyhow, at least according to 538)with 538 analysis, the middling teams get double their odds to get in under their projections, in some cases even a bit more than double.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/winners-and-losers-in-mlbs-new-playoff-format/