So it’s a bit early to be talking about the playoffs (Especially if you are a Rays fan) but one thing that few people know about is that there are many murmurs about a revamped playoff system happening next year. The current playoff system we have is potentially on its final year. Despite all the epic playoff moments and memorable games, the owners want a change----more playoffs basically. Part of the union talks (which are going well, especially when compared to the NFL and eventually the NBA) include adding playoff teams for Major league Baseball by the end of the season. While the amount of games will most likely not decrease, the amount of playoff games might increase. There has been one major potential format being discussed vigorously.
In my opinion, MLB’s playoff system is the absolute best, as it gives the regular season the most value and pretty much guarantees the teams that do make the playoffs truly deserve it. Only 27% of the teams in MLB make the playoffs, which is a much lower number when compared to the likes of NBA (53%), NHL (53%), and even the NFL (37%). The inclusion of the Wild Card way back in the early 90s made things much more exciting as a non-division winner still had a chance at the World Series, as long as they can fend off all the other non-division leaders. A few of the lowbrow Wild Card teams have actually won it all: 1997 Florida Marlins and the teams between the years 2002-2004 (Angels, Marlins again, Red Sox during that infamous year). With the Wild Card, even in an extremely tough division you have a shot at winning it all, and furthering enhancing the unpredictability and insanity that is playoff baseball.
The scenario of the Wild Card format they have discussed is adding a second Wild Card, and having that team play the first Wild Card for the final spot in the playoffs—to go up against the team with the best record in said league. For example, in the AL let’s say this year the Yankees, White Sox, and Rangers win their division. Take the two teams with the best records that didn’t win the division (Red Sox and Orioles, just an example) and have them play each other for the final playoff spot. Now, the secret reason is so the higher markets still have a shot at winning and entering the playoffs, because this previous decade produced minimal television ratings in the World Series because all these smaller market teams were entering/winning the World Series (Giants, Rangers, Rays, Astros, Angels, Tigers, etc.). I personally blame the awful marketing, but that’s another article—one I had already written.
P.S. the Wild Card idea back in the 90s was mostly pushed by the higher-market teams for the same reason.
The other reason is because some of the most epic baseball ever seen has come in the form of an elimination game in order to reach the postseason. Examples: Shot Heard Round the World (One of the best games ever, followed by one of the best calls ever), Bucky (****ing) Dent, the 2007 Rockies-Padres instant classic, and the 2009 Twins-Tigers one-game showdown. They can’t decide between one-game playoff or a three-game playoff, that’s the one lingering issue.
In my opinion, if you can cut the season down to 152 games or less, than a three-game playoff should definitely happen, and all of it should come within the same week to not give the other playoff teams too much time to relax. Remember, baseball is all about momentum, and it can easily get disrupted by too much relaxing or off time. Just ask the 2007 Colorado Rockies. Now, I have absolutely no issue with our current format, cruel as it may be. But, if they want one extra Wild Card, I don’t see any major issues with that—it would still be 33% of the teams in baseball making a run at the World Series, still slightly better than the other sports. But, if the owners refuse to cut the amount of regular season games, then the playoff should just be one game, so that way the World Series can mercifully remain in October.
If I were running this show though, I would make the Wild Card much more expansive for that final playoff spot. Instead of just the top 2, I would have the 8 best non-division winning records in the league compete in a quick-paced tournament similar to March Madness of the NCAA for that final playoff spot. Imagine all the middle-ground teams scrumming for a shot to take on the #1 seed. How much more fun would that be? There is nothing like baseball desperation, and with 8 teams competing for 1 slot—and some usually never even dreaming of reaching the playoffs nowadays (Like the Blue Jays, Royals, Indians, Brewers, Nationals) there will be no greater effort or desperation feel in sports. To add to that it gives teams in much tougher divisions (AL East, NL West, AL East, AL East…….) a final no-holds barred shot to enter the playoffs.
Now the only way for my format to work is to cut down on the amount of season games, at least down to 132. That way it gives more weight to the ballgames, and we can still have our Fall Madness before reaching the Fall Classic before Halloween. But as long as money is put before love of the game, the cutting of games will never occur. While I don’t have a problem with 162 games, this is a much faster society than before, and, we shouldn’t add any playoff games without cutting back on the regular season. Unless that is, we start the season even earlier, perhaps earlier March. Meanwhile we can start spring training shortly after Groundhog’s Day. But, you know baseball and their inability to make drastic changes. We still don’t fully have instant replay.
Bottom Line: Adding Wild Card teams can definitely help the sport, but we can’t overkill it in an already-long season. Otherwise, MLB will become the NBA, which has become a bit more boring over the years with its extensively long playoff system and inclusion of weakling teams that sneak in when they don’t deserve it. Our format is perfectly fine, but we must, then a 5th seed and a one-game playoff would definitely add more tension to the best playoffs in all professional sports. If it were up to me, I would cut the season and ante up on the Wild Card system by including a gladiator-style match-up for the final spot, resulting in many potential classic matchups (Just imagine the Indians and Orioles desperately fighting to remain in the tournament to finally have a chance to end their droughts). But although my idea has minimal weight and less of a chance of becoming reality, a fifth seed can definitely add some more insanity to October Baseball.
No comments:
Post a Comment