Grotewold wrote:

Pending Grotewold mistress Amy K. Nelson wrote:Source: if wild card added, 1st round MLB playoffs possibly could change. From 2-2-1 to 2-3, div winners open on road

It's happening, per realken, for this year only

That's just insane. Higher-seeded teams should get the first home games as a reward for winning more games.

How in the flying fuck was that approved?

The first two games will also begin in the 6th inning with the home team leading 4-0

Just when I thought this playoff disaster couldn't get any worse.

That said, this isn't the Ryan Howard fiasco all over again...

major league baseball is fucking stupid. the game was in great shape heading in to this past winter. then they fucked everything up on all fronts

FTN wrote:major league baseball is fucking stupid. the game was in great shape heading in to this past winter. then they fucked everything up on all fronts

Under our new formula last year, St. Louis stumbles ass-first into the wild card and gets to host the first two games at Busch Stadium. What a fucking crock.

Maybe the squirrle wasnt home then, we would of won!

agreed that it's stupid for the lesser-seeded team to start with 2 home games.

That said, it's not because of the "gate" revenue. All playoff ticket proceeds are split into the player's and owner's pools (until after the "required" games; then all the receipts go only into the owner's pools to prevent the players from extending a series to maximize revenue). and THAT said, the other team would still miss out on the related gameday revenues such as parking and concessions. Which I assume isn't chump change.

They changed it because the schedule was already set up and they needed to eliminate an off-day? Why the fuck didn't they change the format before they made the schedule?

mcare89 wrote:

FTN wrote:major league baseball is fucking stupid. the game was in great shape heading in to this past winter. then they fucked everything up on all fronts

Under our new formula last year, St. Louis stumbles ass-first into the wild card and gets to host the first two games at Busch Stadium. What a fucking crock.

St. Louis might lose to Atlanta even before playing the Phillies.

Stark Analysis. Pretty long.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/76373 ... eason-plan

Wed., Oct. 3: Last day of regular season.

Thurs., Oct. 4: Off day (left free for tiebreakers, weather makeups, etc.).

Fri., Oct. 5: Wild-card games in each league.

Sat., Oct. 6: One LDS in each league begins -- the series matching the No. 2 seed versus the No. 3 seed (i.e., the matchup that doesn't involve the wild-card teams). The No. 3 seed would play the first two games at home.

Sun., Oct. 7: Game 1 of the other division series -- the series involving the No. 1 seeds versus the wild-card survivors -- beginning (pay attention now) at the home field of the WILD CARDS. Also on this day: Game 2 of the other two series.

Mon., Oct. 8: Game 2 of the 1-versus-4 division series, again at the home of the wild-card teams.

Tue., Oct. 9: Game 3 of the 2-versus-3 LDS. (The No. 2 seed, the team with "home-field advantage," will be home for Games 3, 4 and 5, if necessary.)

Wed., Oct. 10: The No. 1 seeds finally go home to host Game 3 of their LDS against the wild cards. (As with the other series, Games 3, 4 and 5 will be played in the ballpark of the higher seed.) Also that day: Game 4 of the other LDS (if necessary).

Thurs., Oct. 11: Game 5 of one set of LDS/Game 4 of the other (if necessary).

Fri., Oct. 12: Game 5 of the 1-versus-4 LDS (if necessary).

Sat., Oct. 13: ALCS begins.

Sun., Oct. 14: NLCS begins.

Wed., Oct. 24: World Series begins.

What the heck are travel days? They don't have them in the regular season. Why is everyone all of the sudden a baby on October? Best of 5 series? Play 5 straight days.

Cards last game was Wednesday the 28th. They'd play the wild card game Friday the 30th. They would've had to start Jackson or Lohse against Minor or Beachy. I think they would've lost that game and both teams might've burned out their pen.

Then they'd play again the next day against a rested Phillies facing Roy. Would've loved to play the Braves again after we just swept them.

Does anyone know if they are keeping the rule where you can't play a team from the same division in the first round?

That's freaking ridiculous. Best final day of the regular season in baseball history, and it all would've been meaningless under this setup. More teams isn't a problem... and the wild card is a good thing until you start diluting it by adding more randomness. You're asking two teams who (presumably) weren't tied after 162 games to decide things in a 1-game playoff... that's bullshit.

TheFrank wrote:Does anyone know if they are keeping the rule where you can't play a team from the same division in the first round?

They aren't. Top seed plays the winner of the WC round. That way the 2 and 3 seeds at least can start their series a day earlier since they know who and where they will be playing.

RichmondPhilsFan wrote:That's freaking ridiculous. Best final day of the regular season in baseball history, and it all would've been meaningless under this setup. More teams isn't a problem... and the wild card is a good thing until you start diluting it by adding more randomness. You're asking two teams who (presumably) weren't tied after 162 games to decide things in a 1-game playoff... that's bullshit.

But it sets up scenarios for similar situations for the 5th seed instead of the 4th. It doesn't eliminate the possibilities of such a final day.

A 1 game playoff is subject to a lot of randomness and factors, yeah. That's why you want to win your division and also why you give a reward to the top record in the league (playing a tired team that came off a WC playoff game).

I like the idea. Don't like the 2-3 format, but that is just for this year and will be fixed for next year.

but doesn't this open it up to a couple more ties on the final day?

I like the shootout in the NHL. I liked it when the NFL went to six playoff teams in each conference. I am not a reflexive purist.

But I hate, hate, hate the idea of this one-game playoff. I know it can happen anyway if two teams tie atop a division, but if you're good enough to qualify for the postseason after a 162-game death march, you should not then be dropped into a single-elimination situation straight off. I think I'd even feel sorry for the Braves or the Red Sox if they lost one of these monstrosities.