Opinion: Manfred Proposes a Playoff Restructure

[ScottyB]

I proposed this a couple of years ago:

 

Regular schedule to 154 games; expand to 32 teams, total 8 playoff teams from each league; 4 4-team divisions each league, 2 conferences each league - 2 divisions each; 2 wild cards each conference; wild card teams may come from same division, based on record (so possible for 3 teams from one division); Conference semi-finals, best of 3; division winners 2 home games; best record division winner plays worst record wild card; Conference Finals, best of 5; Division winners always take first priority for home field advantage, best records second priority (if division winners both eliminated); Championship series, best of 7, conference winner vs conference winner; World series as normal, best record has home field advantage.

[Riverbrian]

I like it

 

I'd vote Yes

 

 

[cardsfan]

Contract the 2 Florida teams or move at least one.

 

If contract 2 go back to 4 divisions and just 2 postseason rounds.

[Twodogs]

I don't know about changing the playoffs, but I do like adding two more teams to make it 32. I mean when you look back in time, not that far ago and teams didnt have Hal of their rosters from foreign countries. Now I have no problem with this, but I do think that because of it there is a glut of talent out there. I mean imagine how many good football players would be sitting around not able to play if 30 to 40 percent of the football players out there were from foreign countries?? I think Montreal really really wants a team back and I think Vegas would be another great fit?? I mean they have the NFL and the NHL now why not take advantage and move in while it's hot??

[laloesch]

I'd prefer adding two teams (one in Charlotte and one in ?), have 2-8 team divisions in each league, have two best of 7 league championship series, and then have the World Series.

 

 

One in Nashville. Move the A's or Rays to Seattle and be done with it.

[laloesch]

I proposed this a couple of years ago:

 

Regular schedule to 154 games; expand to 32 teams, total 8 playoff teams from each league; 4 4-team divisions each league, 2 conferences each league - 2 divisions each; 2 wild cards each conference; wild card teams may come from same division, based on record (so possible for 3 teams from one division); Conference semi-finals, best of 3; division winners 2 home games; best record division winner plays worst record wild card; Conference Finals, best of 5; Division winners always take first priority for home field advantage, best records second priority (if division winners both eliminated); Championship series, best of 7, conference winner vs conference winner; World series as normal, best record has home field advantage.

 

Wait. So 4, 4 team divisions each league, 2 conferences each league, 2 divisions within each? Why the conferences? That part confuses me. I do like where you are going with this in general but the conferences and 8 playoff teams each league i question.

[Matthew Lenz]

 

I personally hate the idea of teams choosing their potential opponents. That just puts the best teams in the league in a real awkward position, heading into the most important part of the season.

Why does it have to be awkward? Just because you pick a certain time doesn't mean it's a sign of disrespect. I would bet that the 2019 Houston Astros would have picked the Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series over the Yankees or Twins. Not because Tampa Bay was a bad team but because the Yankees and Twins offenses were that good.

[Matthew Lenz]

 

I proposed this a couple of years ago:

 

Regular schedule to 154 games; expand to 32 teams, total 8 playoff teams from each league; 4 4-team divisions each league, 2 conferences each league - 2 divisions each; 2 wild cards each conference; wild card teams may come from same division, based on record (so possible for 3 teams from one division); Conference semi-finals, best of 3; division winners 2 home games; best record division winner plays worst record wild card; Conference Finals, best of 5; Division winners always take first priority for home field advantage, best records second priority (if division winners both eliminated); Championship series, best of 7, conference winner vs conference winner; World series as normal, best record has home field advantage.

I don't know how well this would work out but it sounds fun!

[Matthew Lenz]

 

So your telling me no one gets excited when their team gets in as a wild card? and that that 2014 Royals A's match up was so boring you fell a sleep and having the Royals make a run for the title was so very nauseating that you wish it had never happened? OK how about Washington last year?  That was terrible to watch too I suppose?

 

I think the reason they are willing to expand the playoffs is that they have already proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the wild card has brought more drama and excitement that they are willing to double down on the idea.

 

It should keep fan excitement higher for more teams as they won't be eliminated from playoff contention as early.   I don't care how people spin it the playoffs are exciting pretty much no matter who plays and if the under dog wins a game or a series it is even more exciting (i.e. see NFL and NCAA Basketball for reference).

 

If you want to go with the dilution theory then I ask if the other teams are so good how could they lose to a supposedly inferior team. Personally I think this is more fear of change talk than anything else.  Has the current wild card system hurt the playoffs or baseball?  if not I fail to see how expanding a little more would do more damage.

I don't think I said any of this, other than going with the "dilution" theory. Yes, anything can happen in any sport. But that doesn't mean that any and every time should get a shot at competing in the playoffs.

 

Adding games to any sport will never "hurt" the playoffs or that sport. More games = more money.

[Matthew Lenz]

 

Reality TV.  WHY?????  It is also ridiculous for teams to pick their opponents.  And all for gimmicky TV special revenue.  Matchups based on records is fair.  It gives at least a little meaning to the season.

A "gimmicky TV special revenue" to some can also be called marketing to others. Especially in a sport that is desperate for good marketing.

[Matthew Lenz]

 

But for goodness sake, getting to "pick your opponent" sounds like playground rules and is an absolute joke!

God forbid we add a marketing opportunity and a little bit of fun!

[mini_tb]

Can we add ping pong balls?

[USAFChief]

Let's make the regular season 7 games, and the post season 162.

[LewFordLives]

I think the entire proposal is stupid. Why even have a regular season? If they are concerned about ratings then keep working on getting the length of the games down. Who the heck has time to spend 4 and a half hours on a weeknight watching a playoff game?

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Apply the rule to 2017 and 2 sub .500 teams are in the playoffs. That is gross. At least they would have had to settle a 3 way tie of 80-82 teams.

 

Cleveland 102-60

Houston 101-61

Boston 93-69

NYY 91-71

Twins 85-77

KC 80-82

LAA 80-82

Rays 80-82

I don't think I like this playoff expansion either, but I don't know that you can project backwards quite like this. Those 80-82 teams, and the 78-84 teams just behind them, etc., were playing under the old rules and thus may not have had as much motivation to push for a slightly better record.

 

Now, it's certainly possible that it may shake out like this under the proposed system, but it may not happen with the frequency that the recent 2017 example might suggest.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

No. Just no.

[SomeGuy]

 

I don't think I like this playoff expansion either, but I don't know that you can project backwards quite like this. Those 80-82 teams, and the 78-84 teams just behind them, etc., were playing under the old rules and thus may not have had as much motivation to push for a slightly better record.

 

Now, it's certainly possible that it may shake out like this under the proposed system, but it may not happen with the frequency that the recent 2017 example might suggest.

When you are allowing 7 of 15 teams into the playoffs I think you can expect mediocre teams in the playoffs every season. They might not be sub .500 teams very often but I think teams will start to think if they only have to pay for a .500 team then fans will be happy because they made or almost made the playoffs. It sounds like a Pohlad dream scenario.

 

I wonder if Manfred's desire to get MIke Trout into the playoff spotlight had anything to do with this proposal.

[laloesch]

 

Personally, I love change.

If you're going to go for it, then totally go for it.

 

DH? Universal!

 

162 games? Gone! - More like 140

 

Two leagues? OK... that stays.

 

30 teams? Not enough! - Expand to 32

 

Three divisions per league? Gone! - Two divisions of 8, per league.

 

5 Playoff teams? Gone! 6 playoff teams per league - 2 div winners (they get byes) and 4 WC teams that play a best of 3 series. Followed by best of 5, then best of 7 for the AL/NLDS, then 7 for the WS

 

Tanking? Stays! You're never going to solve tanking, and frankly, why do we want to stop it? It's probably your best chance as a small market team, to "pop up"

 

Draft picks? You can trade any of them!

 

Minimum Payroll? Institute it! - Around $100M. Tie revenue sharing to this. This will help with the movement of draft picks because tanking teams will take on other teams' albatross contracts if they also get draft picks. This becomes more of the NFL model of bad teams becoming playoff teams very quickly. Not exactly the same, but closer to it

 

Minor Leagues? Contract out some teams (like 1 per MLB team), but everyone makes a livable wage!

 

Local TV blackouts? Banned!

 

Rip the band aid off. Solve it all in one fell swoop. Season would start at the same time as it does now and be done by mid October.

 

Oh man... I need a cold shower.

then you have to have a hard cap.  If your putting a floor then you have to have a hard cap.  instituting a minimum floor will explode baseball payrolls and put the smaller teams out of business.

[sweetmusicviola16]

Actually with the way Manfred screwed up the Astros cheating scandal he should in no way be entrusted with this. Fire him is a better idea. 

[Diesel]

then you have to have a hard cap. If your putting a floor then you have to have a hard cap. instituting a minimum floor will explode baseball payrolls and put the smaller teams out of business.

80 90 or 100 million dollar payrolls would not come close to bankrupting any teams. Enough revenue gets shared between teams to make this entirely feasible.

[Squirrel]

So everyone is up on the full conversation of this proposal, there is a 2nd thread here on this subject:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/36344-proposed-playoff-expansion-with-a-reality-tv-twist/

[dex8425]

 

Have you seen the TV ratings of sitcoms from the late 70's compared to today?

 

Laverne & Shirley 1978-79: 30.5

 

The Big Bang Theory 2018-19: 10.6

 

Compare that to World Series Game 1 ratings:

 

1979: 28.5

2019: 8.1

 

Why, it's almost as if the whole media landscape has changed!

OMG, it's almost like people watch more stuff on the internet and social media than TV!

[jorgenswest]

There is nothing better than a baseball game. I am in the bleachers watching a high school scrimmage right now.

 

If it is more meaningful games at the end of the season I am in. There is still plenty to play for in the regular season because winning the division means you play all three in your park.

[Nine of twelve]

This idea is not good. In the NHL and the NBA the regular season has little meaning to a good team. I think the baseball postseason as currently configured cannot be improved upon. Requiring the two wild card teams to play one game to determine who plays the team with the best regular-season record in the league puts a high premium on regular season performance. Leave it alone.

[laloesch]

 

80 90 or 100 million dollar payrolls would not come close to bankrupting any teams. Enough revenue gets shared between teams to make this entirely feasible.

Well the poster originally said 100 million dollar floor, so no not 80 or 90.