One way to give those teams an advantage would be to just have four teams advance to the playoffs, as happened from 1969 to 1993. Four divisions, four playoff teams.
Thank GOD there are no ghost runners in the playoffs! Now if we could just go back to 15" bases, 4 wide ones for a walk, and re-legalize “the shift” we’d be closer to what baseball was meant to be. (I can only dream about dumping the DH…)
The real problem with the AL and NL playoff is each league has three divisions and three teams cannot all play without some sort of way to get an even number of teams. During the regular season often one of the division winners has a lousy record. They really need to add two expansion teams and go to two eight team divisions. Then they can decide on how many wild cards they need to please the TV Gods. I liked it better when there were double headers neary every Sunday and holiday, they went straight to the WS and the overlap of the baseball and football was shorter. I am sure the TV Gods would not like two 15 team leagues.
Didn’t the World Series used to end before the last week of October? Playing the WS in November is IMPO way stupid. What if you had 2 northern teams, like say the Twins and the Cubs in the WS, does anyone think that players are going to be at their best with temps in the 40s and a wind chill of 20? I remember playing baseball in HS way back in the 60s when we still had snow on the ground and temps in the 20s. Way too cold to be playing baseball
They get a “buy” and home field advantage. Unfortunately, sometimes the “buy” hurts more than helps. Maybe the worst teams to make the playoffs should get the buy.
That cap should read “MLB” and have all of the broadcast station logos on it – that would be truth in advertising. All of them absolutely hate the fact that there’s only one NE coastal team left and that the WS will include a team from Texas.
Ghost runners! Man I haven’t heard that in a long time. When we’d play kickball or whiffle ball we’d always have ghost men on base because our teams were so small around the neighborhood.
The whole premise is ludicrous. Winning during the regular season when there’s no real pressure is much easier than winning in the playoffs. If they think they’re better because of their regular season records they should prove it when the stakes are higher.
Four teams in the playoffs, No further wildcards. Bur, MLB is addicted to the $$$$$. So that’s not gonna happen. Could be worse. In the 30 team NBA 20 teams qualify. I am waiting for that 20th best team in the playoffs to win it all one year.
jagedlo 12 months ago
And look what they did with their ‘advantage’…
mpguy2 12 months ago
Shhh! Don’t give Rob Manfred any ideas. I’m surprised games are still nine innings with three outs per half inning.
Dirty Dragon 12 months ago
One way to give those teams an advantage would be to just have four teams advance to the playoffs, as happened from 1969 to 1993. Four divisions, four playoff teams.
eromlig 12 months ago
Thank GOD there are no ghost runners in the playoffs! Now if we could just go back to 15" bases, 4 wide ones for a walk, and re-legalize “the shift” we’d be closer to what baseball was meant to be. (I can only dream about dumping the DH…)
wallylm 12 months ago
Also keep the pitch clock!
Ellis97 12 months ago
How is a ghost runner even a thing?
Old recluse 12 months ago
The real problem with the AL and NL playoff is each league has three divisions and three teams cannot all play without some sort of way to get an even number of teams. During the regular season often one of the division winners has a lousy record. They really need to add two expansion teams and go to two eight team divisions. Then they can decide on how many wild cards they need to please the TV Gods. I liked it better when there were double headers neary every Sunday and holiday, they went straight to the WS and the overlap of the baseball and football was shorter. I am sure the TV Gods would not like two 15 team leagues.
timbob2313 Premium Member 12 months ago
Didn’t the World Series used to end before the last week of October? Playing the WS in November is IMPO way stupid. What if you had 2 northern teams, like say the Twins and the Cubs in the WS, does anyone think that players are going to be at their best with temps in the 40s and a wind chill of 20? I remember playing baseball in HS way back in the 60s when we still had snow on the ground and temps in the 20s. Way too cold to be playing baseball
sobrown51 12 months ago
They get a “buy” and home field advantage. Unfortunately, sometimes the “buy” hurts more than helps. Maybe the worst teams to make the playoffs should get the buy.
BlueKnight25 12 months ago
That cap should read “MLB” and have all of the broadcast station logos on it – that would be truth in advertising. All of them absolutely hate the fact that there’s only one NE coastal team left and that the WS will include a team from Texas.
DonKellyStudio 12 months ago
Ghost runners! Man I haven’t heard that in a long time. When we’d play kickball or whiffle ball we’d always have ghost men on base because our teams were so small around the neighborhood.
hubbard3188 12 months ago
Backyard baseball as a kid.. ‘imaginary man on third..’ (Rarely had enough guys)
Brent Rosenthal Premium Member 12 months ago
The whole premise is ludicrous. Winning during the regular season when there’s no real pressure is much easier than winning in the playoffs. If they think they’re better because of their regular season records they should prove it when the stakes are higher.
gopher gofer 12 months ago
and run porn on the umpire review tapes to distract the umps…
Teto85 Premium Member 12 months ago
Four teams in the playoffs, No further wildcards. Bur, MLB is addicted to the $$$$$. So that’s not gonna happen. Could be worse. In the 30 team NBA 20 teams qualify. I am waiting for that 20th best team in the playoffs to win it all one year.