Explain the 1-game wildcard game to me

[baycity4]

Change the wild card series to best of 3 BUT play the first 2 games a day/night doubleheader.

Season ends Sunday
Doubleheader Monday
3rd game if necessary Tuesday
Division Series Weds/Thurs.

No more extra days off then the current system, and we get the all the fun of a doubleheader.

 

[CuttyDoesIt]

Change the wild card series to best of 3 BUT play the first 2 games a day/night doubleheader.

Season ends Sunday
Doubleheader Monday
3rd game if necessary Tuesday
Division Series Weds/Thurs.

No more extra days off then the current system, and we get the all the fun of a doubleheader.

I believe Epstein was the one who mentioned that. What if the Mets and Dodgers were playing the WC game? How would travel be worked out.

Its hard for personally to believe that after a 6 week spring training, and a 6 month regular season they cant find 2 extra days for a 3 game series.

 

[torbee]

Yep...and yet both could not win their division. So they had to play this one game "qualifier." The rules clearly state the winner of each division is "in" and the next two teams play a one game "qualifier" for the right to continue. It's pretty simple. You and I don't have to like it...but the "rules" are pretty damned explicit.

It's really no different than back when a pennant race came down to the last day.

If you don't win enough games to win your division, you are relegated to having to squeak in via a one-game showdown.

Makes sense and is fair enough to me.

 

[hawkifann]

Why isnt it? because after the Divisional Series 2 out of 3 best teams in baseball will be eliminated no matter what.

Also, you play at least a 3 game series for 5 months but then you go and a one game series.

I don't love the 1-game WC, but I don't mind it. I think it's the best option, really. Baseball doesn't lend itself to byes, so I don't think anything more than a best-of-3 for the WC is feasible. If they squeezed in a quick 3-game series at the team with the best record (playing Mon-Wed or Tues-Thurs), they could probably work it in with pretty much the same rest they have now....but what we've seen many times is that a WC team that has to fight to the last day of the season is able to be fresher and keep playing and ultimately maybe even hold a slight advantage over a team that had everything wrapped up 3 weeks prior. I do like that the current WC format creates a disadvantage for the WC team by burning their ace.

The one change I would make, is that I'd keep the WC game (or 3-game series), but then re-seed the teams based on record. STL was the best team in the NL across 162 and their "reward" is to play a hot Cubs team that won 97 games, even if they did burn Arrieta last night. Some years, the re-seeding won't change matchups (and I'd still be ok with giving division winners home-field edge), but in a year like this, you hate to see the 3 best records in baseball all match up against each other in the WC and NLDS.

 

[baycity4]

I believe Epstein was the one who mentioned that. What if the Mets and Dodgers were playing the WC game? How would travel be worked out.

Its hard for personally to believe that after a 6 week spring training, and a 6 month regular season they cant find 2 extra days for a 3 game series.

No travel. All 3 games would have been played in Pittsburgh for example.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I say cut the season down. No need to play 150+ game. I would say cut it back to 75 or 100 games and that would be plenty.

 

[timinatoria]

But you are saying the season doesnt matter by giving the best record in the NL the team with the 2nd best record in the NL in the first round

This.

Also, the Pirates went 6-0 vs the Mets and 5-1 vs. the Dodgers, but one of those teams is assured a spot in the NLCS and the Pirates had to face the best pitcher in baseball in a 1 game elimination. Yeah, that makes sense.

 

[hawkifann]

I say cut the season down. No need to play 150+ game. I would say cut it back to 75 or 100 games and that would be plenty.

Good luck cutting the season in half. If we're realistically going to cut the season back, I'd probably look at the 140-145 game mark. That's roughly 6 games per week for 4 months with room for an All-Star break. Could start the season in May, play roughly through the end of August and fill September with playoffs. Overall, it might help the competition with football, as you'd have the season's peak happening as football is just getting started.

 

[hawkifann]

This.

Also, the Pirates went 6-0 vs the Mets and 5-1 vs. the Dodgers, but one of those teams is assured a spot in the NLCS and the Pirates had to face the best pitcher in baseball in a 1 game elimination. Yeah, that makes sense.

Some of that you'll just have to deal with, no matter the format. I don't mind anyone coming up short in their division having to play the WC round, but I look at it from the perspective of the #1 team -- Why should the Cardinals be lined up to play the Pirates/Cubs winner when that winner will be the team left with the next-best record?

Here's a hypothetical: Let's say that the Cubs had been about 10 games worse and snuck in as the WC at 87 wins instead of 97. They'd play the Pirates in the WC. I'm ok rewarding a division winner with home field edge regardless of record (again, the reg season matters), so we'd know coming into this week that the Cardinals and Dodgers would be hosting first games of NLDS. Last night's game would then determined matchups. If the 98-win Pirates won, then they'd go to LA and the Mets would go to STL. If the 87-win Cubs won, then they'd go to STL and the Mets would go to LA.

 

[timinatoria]

Some of that you'll just have to deal with, no matter the format. I don't mind anyone coming up short in their division having to play the WC round, but I look at it from the perspective of the #1 team -- Why should the Cardinals be lined up to play the Pirates/Cubs winner when that winner will be the team left with the next-best record?

Here's a hypothetical: Let's say that the Cubs had been about 10 games worse and snuck in as the WC at 87 wins instead of 97. They'd play the Pirates in the WC. I'm ok rewarding a division winner with home field edge regardless of record (again, the reg season matters), so we'd know coming into this week that the Cardinals and Dodgers would be hosting first games of NLDS. Last night's game would then determined matchups. If the 98-win Pirates won, then they'd go to LA and the Mets would go to STL. If the 87-win Cubs won, then they'd go to STL and the Mets would go to LA.

Here's the fix. The top 2 division winners are set as the 1 and 2 seed. Seeds 3-5 are determined by record. That way it makes it more interesting between the 2nd and 3rd division winners. They don't want to fall to that 3rd spot where they could have to go on the road. The current system assumes(incorrectly) parity among the divisions. We don't have that, this would mostly correct that, without taking away the importance of winning the division.

This year it would have helped everything.

1 - Cards
2 - Dodgers
3 - Pirates
4 - Cubs...who would HOST...
5 - Mets

It would have been a dramatic last week between the Dodgers and Mets. It would split up the Central so 2 teams would at least have the opportunity to play in the NLCS. It would mean the team with the 2nd best record in baseball isn't eliminated in 1game.

Don't kid yourself, MLB reeeeally wanted the Cubs to pull this out. It's huge for ratings and the ratings were great last night. If you switched the teams around, and the Cubs had the 2nd best record, and had to face Arrieta and lost like the Pirates did, the conversation on how to 'fix' this would already be started. The media would be ripping this system apart.

Just my 2 cents, and yes I'm a Pirates fan.

Good luck Cubs.

 

[hawkifann]

I like that proposal. Mine would work, but yours is better.

 

[ANYCHawk]

I say cut the season down. No need to play 150+ game. I would say cut it back to 75 or 100 games and that would be plenty.

For 100 years they've played at least 150 games.

 

[ANYCHawk]

Here's the fix. The top 2 division winners are set as the 1 and 2 seed. Seeds 3-5 are determined by record. That way it makes it more interesting between the 2nd and 3rd division winners. They don't want to fall to that 3rd spot where they could have to go on the road. The current system assumes(incorrectly) parity among the divisions. We don't have that, this would mostly correct that, without taking away the importance of winning the division.

and your system assumes the cubs/pirates would win 97 games playing in the east or west. We don't know that. Teams don't play balanced schedules.

 

[ANYCHawk]

Good luck cutting the season in half. If we're realistically going to cut the season back, I'd probably look at the 140-145 game mark. That's roughly 6 games per week for 4 months with room for an All-Star break. Could start the season in May, play roughly through the end of August and fill September with playoffs. Overall, it might help the competition with football, as you'd have the season's peak happening as football is just getting started.

baseball has always opened by mid-April. Good luck pushing that back three more weeks.

 

[ANYCHawk]

This.

Also, the Pirates went 6-0 vs the Mets and 5-1 vs. the Dodgers, but one of those teams is assured a spot in the NLCS and the Pirates had to face the best pitcher in baseball in a 1 game elimination. Yeah, that makes sense.

If the pirates took care of their own business they wouldn't have to play in the one game playoff.

 

[timinatoria]

and your system assumes the cubs/pirates would win 97 games playing in the east or west. We don't know that. Teams don't play balanced schedules.

It doesn't assume anything. If the Pirates/Cubs win 98/97 games and neither win the Central, that would probably mean they did well against the other divisions.

The Pirates went 27-6 against the NL West and 5-1 against the Dodgers.

 

[timinatoria]

If the pirates took care of their own business they wouldn't have to play in the one game playoff.

Really???

If m they switched to the format I proposed you could say that about the Mets.

Do you think the Dodgers or Mets are better than they Pirates?

 

[ANYCHawk]

Do you think the Dodgers or Mets are better than they Pirates?

Irrelevant.

 

[timinatoria]

Irrelevant.

Won't answer?

 

[ANYCHawk]

Won't answer?

It doesn't matter. And yes I think the Dodgers are better.

 

[timinatoria]

It doesn't matter. And yes I think the Dodgers are better.

The Pirates went 5-1 against the Dodgers, won 6 more games, and won over 80% of their games against the NL West. And the Dodgers are the better team.

Gotcha.

 

[ANYCHawk]

The Pirates went 5-1 against the Dodgers, won 6 more games, and won over 80% of their games against the NL West. And the Dodgers are the better team.

Gotcha.

Yeah. Better team doesn't always win.

 

[timinatoria]

Yeah. Better team doesn't always win.

I guess so. Sometimes they even lose 5 of 6.

 

[ANYCHawk]

I guess so. Sometimes they even lose 5 of 6.

Clearly Milwaukee is better than Pittsburgh, I mean they beat the Pirates 10 times.

 

[timinatoria]

Clearly Milwaukee is better than Pittsburgh, I mean they beat the Pirates 10 times.

I would call 10 of 19 pretty even. Throw in that the Pirates won 30 more games and that sounds dumb to me. But you can have your opinion.

 

[herecomethehawkeyes]

i guess I have no issue with the two wild card teams playing one game to see who moves on. If you don't want that one game to decide your season, win the division during the season.

 

[timinatoria]

i guess I have no issue with the two wild card teams playing one game to see who moves on. If you don't want that one game to decide your season, win the division during the season.

NOW you tell me. I should have thought of that earlier. Win more games........hmmmm.....you might be onto something.

 

[joelbc1]

But you are saying the season doesnt matter by giving the best record in the NL the team with the 2nd best record in the NL in the first round

Every one understands the rules in March. This year is an anomolly...generally the best baseball in played in the AL East.
As I said before...Life is tough all over...It's just the way the pickle squirts.....TCU got screwed last year in college football and the team that didn't deserve to be there, won the championship.

 

[CuttyDoesIt]

Every one understands the rules in March. This year is an anomolly...generally the best baseball in played in the AL East.
As I said before...Life is tough all over...It's just the way the pickle squirts.....TCU got screwed last year in college football and the team that didn't deserve to be there, won the championship.

OK, Joel we understand the rules. And just because there are rules that doesnt mean they are smart. Obviously my team came out on top so it doesnt matter.

For the other people who are capable of debate, carry on.

 

[hawkifann]

baseball has always opened by mid-April. Good luck pushing that back three more weeks.

Oh, I agree with that. I was just speculating on something between the 75-100 the previous poster proposed and the 154 that they played in the past. I could see them going back to 154, but they won't go any less than that.