Major League Baseball Has A Problem

[packs]

I'd prefer watching a team win the World Series rather than watch a team that everyone thinks should have won the World Series be declared the winner.

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by packs

I'd prefer watching a team win the World Series rather than watch a team that everyone thinks should have won the World Series be declared the winner.

It's fairly similar to hockey now, yes a couple more teams (but it's not like those teams were close to under .500.

In football you can be 7-9 and get in the Playoffs.

And....like hockey just get in the Post Season and you have the same shot the #1 seed has. Now settle it on the ice.......or grass.

The winner is the winner, hockey & baseball playoffs are TREMENDOUS.

This Post Season:

Phillies fans doing Atlanta's fans Chop

Twins fans taunting the opposing teams pitchers counting down the pitch clock.

Harper's f%&k up, then puts up 2 home runs and his staredowns of Arcia.

The battle of Texas coming up.

Just enjoy it!

[GaryPassamonte]

It seems that some of you are 'whining" because you disagree with my point. Baseball has traditionally had the distinction among the other major professional sports of valuing the regular season more. 162 games and 8 months is a long haul. Having a majority of the top seeds bounced in the first rounds of the playoffs is not "fair" to the teams that excelled all year.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

It seems that some of you are 'whining" because you disagree with my point. Baseball has traditionally had the distinction among the other major professional sports of valuing the regular season more. 162 games and 8 months is a long haul. Having a majority of the top seeds bounced in the first rounds of the playoffs is not "fair" to the teams that excelled all year.

If fairness was the goal, MLB should go back to pre-LCS rules. Two league winners play in the world series.

We all know there will only be more playoff games though, because $$$$

[GaryPassamonte]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

If fairness was the goal, MLB should go back to pre-LCS rules. Two league winners play in the world series.

We all know there will only be more playoff games though, because $$$$

I agree.

[gonefishin]

Here's a take:

Play your ass off in the play offs! If you're the best, prove it on the field. These weren't one and done games.

If one of the "best teams" giving up 6 runs in one out in the first inning should make me feel bad and demand change - something is wrong!

Do like NASCAR - have a regular season Champion so they can be recognized - and then move on and crown a World Champion.

It's all about the money - look for ways to have more games and generate revenue. Create "Wild Card" teams, change the format and go from a sudden death game to the best 2 out of 3, heck make it 7 out 13. Follow the money!

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

It seems that some of you are 'whining" because you disagree with my point. Baseball has traditionally had the distinction among the other major professional sports of valuing the regular season more. 162 games and 8 months is a long haul. Having a majority of the top seeds bounced in the first rounds of the playoffs is not "fair" to the teams that excelled all year.

Then eliminate the wildcard spots and call it good--after all, those teams could not prevail in their own division. Or better yet, just take the teams with the best 3 records in each league, give the one with the best record a bye and go from there. I am sure either of those will go over big with the fans.

I really have a hard time questioning this fairness argument. The Brewers and Rays were given all home games and couldn't win one. The Orioles and Dodgers were given byes and home field advantage and still got swept, and the same nearly happened (and should have) to the Braves. What more of an advantage does "fairness" require?

The World Series has been won by a wildcard team almost 25% of the time. Again, a World's Champion that couldn't even win its own division. Does anyone cry for the team that finished ahead of them as being "unfairly" treated or claim that it is a "problem" that the game only gets it right 3/4 of the time?

[packs]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

It seems that some of you are 'whining" because you disagree with my point. Baseball has traditionally had the distinction among the other major professional sports of valuing the regular season more. 162 games and 8 months is a long haul. Having a majority of the top seeds bounced in the first rounds of the playoffs is not "fair" to the teams that excelled all year.

Couldn't they have avoided being bounced if they won?

[GaryPassamonte]

Originally Posted by packs

Couldn't they have avoided being bounced if they won?

Of course, but that's not the point. That is the obvious.

[jayshum]

While there have clearly been upsets this year (and last), let's not forget that Houston had a bye last year and then swept their ALDS and ALCS series to get to the WS. This year, Houston had a bye and then beat the Twins 3-1. Is 2 years just too small of a sample size to draw any conclusions from given how often there are upsets in playoff series anyway?

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by GaryPassamonte

Having a majority of the top seeds bounced in the first rounds of the playoffs is not "fair" to the teams that excelled all year.

Having a hard time seeing this point.

Top seeds:

1. get a few days off to rest and heal any injuries that comes from a long season
2. get to set their pitching lineup
3. can watch & study their opponent who doesn't get to do the same
4. have home field advantage
5. get to play the weaker seed

then it comes down to head to head performance as it should.

you can't win with all those advantages, no one to blame but yourselves.


and prety sure Baseball has the least amount of postseason teams of the Big 4 sports. Once they start letting in .500 and below teams into the playoff then let's revisit.

[butchie_t]

All a better record has ever guaranteed is home field advantage. If better record team stinks up the series and loses, oh well. Too bad for them. To the victors go the spoils.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Shoeless Moe

Having a hard time seeing this point.

Top seeds:

1. get a few days off to rest and heal any injuries that comes from a long season
2. get to set their pitching lineup
3. can watch & study their opponent who doesn't get to do the same
4. have home field advantage
5. get to play the weaker seed

then it comes down to head to head performance as it should.

you can't win with all those advantages, no one to blame but yourselves.


and prety sure Baseball has the least amount of postseason teams of the Big 4 sports. Once they start letting in .500 and below teams into the playoff then let's revisit.

Arizona is only 3* games over .500 (84-78) - same record as Miami, which also got itn.

*-I'm constantly hearing that someone with 6 more wins than losses is 6 games over .500, while, in fact, they are only 3.


.

[jayshum]

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2...liminated/amp/

[Peter_Spaeth]

The present format makes for very exciting baseball. I would not change it. If the team with the best regular season record loses early, so be it.

[Mark17]

I agree with the people who say there's no problem. The teams that win in the playoffs, win.

For those who think it's a problem, it starts with the division alignment. For example, the Twins are in a consistently weak division, where a record slightly above .500 is all it takes to make the playoffs. Meanwhile, in some other divisions, several much better teams have to scratch and claw just to get a wildcard berth, meaning, no games to rest, no home field advantage, etc.

It isn't "fair" that some teams, year after year, have a much easier path to winning their division and making the playoffs, but there isn't much that can be done to "fix" it.