New Wild Card Format

[Joe Schmoe]

The new wild card format is good if you want to increase attendance
(MLB's major concern), and I understand that. But I think it will prove
be a mistake, even to the point of undermining the whole premise of the
wild card concept in the first place.

I believe the wild card is supposed to allow a team into the post-season
who may have the second-best record in the league, but also second best
in their division. Now they are going to put in the team with the
fifth-best record as well.

I envision a scenario where wildcard #1 wins 98 games and loses a
one-game playoff to a wildcard #2 who only won 86 games during the season.

Baseball should be about the best teams over the long-haul. Under the
old system, a one-game playoff was only forced under the circumstance of
two teams being tied after the entire season. The new format tends to
further minimize the long-term success considerations. I don't like the
one-game playoff concept.

[TimV]

Post by Joe Schmoe
The new wild card format is good if you want to increase attendance
(MLB's major concern), and I understand that. But I think it will prove
be a mistake, even to the point of undermining the whole premise of the
wild card concept in the first place.
I believe the wild card is supposed to allow a team into the post-season
who may have the second-best record in the league, but also second best
in their division. Now they are going to put in the team with the
fifth-best record as well.
I envision a scenario where wildcard #1 wins 98 games and loses a
one-game playoff to a wildcard #2 who only won 86 games during the season.
Baseball should be about the best teams over the long-haul. Under the
old system, a one-game playoff was only forced under the circumstance of
two teams being tied after the entire season. The new format tends to
further minimize the long-term success considerations. I don't like the
one-game playoff concept.

It would be much better with a 3 game WC playoff. This format is just dumb.

T

[The Ghost of General Lee]

Post by TimV

Post by Joe Schmoe
The new wild card format is good if you want to increase attendance
(MLB's major concern), and I understand that. But I think it will prove
be a mistake, even to the point of undermining the whole premise of the
wild card concept in the first place.
I believe the wild card is supposed to allow a team into the post-season
who may have the second-best record in the league, but also second best
in their division. Now they are going to put in the team with the
fifth-best record as well.
I envision a scenario where wildcard #1 wins 98 games and loses a
one-game playoff to a wildcard #2 who only won 86 games during the season.
Baseball should be about the best teams over the long-haul. Under the
old system, a one-game playoff was only forced under the circumstance of
two teams being tied after the entire season. The new format tends to
further minimize the long-term success considerations. I don't like the
one-game playoff concept.

It would be much better with a 3 game WC playoff. This format is just dumb.
T

Just throwing this out for discussion. Are there two cities remotely
worthy of having new MLB franchises? That would allow for four 4 team
divisions in each league and would do away with all this WC nonsense.

[Joe Schmoe]

Post by The Ghost of General Lee
Just throwing this out for discussion. Are there two cities remotely
worthy of having new MLB franchises? That would allow for four 4 team
divisions in each league and would do away with all this WC nonsense.

Adding more divisions won't solve the problem, because you would still
have the chance of the two best teams in the same division, and the
second-best team missing the playoffs.

The only way IMHO to do away with the wildcard is to eliminate divisions
completely and simply have league standings determine the post-season.
The team with the best record would play the team with the fourth best,
and second- and third-best play each other.

[The Ghost of General Lee]

Post by Joe Schmoe

Post by The Ghost of General Lee
Just throwing this out for discussion. Are there two cities remotely
worthy of having new MLB franchises? That would allow for four 4 team
divisions in each league and would do away with all this WC nonsense.

Adding more divisions won't solve the problem, because you would still
have the chance of the two best teams in the same division, and the
second-best team missing the playoffs.
The only way IMHO to do away with the wildcard is to eliminate divisions
completely and simply have league standings determine the post-season.
The team with the best record would play the team with the fourth best,
and second- and third-best play each other.

The divisions don't really bother me that much. What I want to see go
away are:

1. Interleague play
2. Unbalanced schedules (or as much as possible)
3. The possibility of one game playoff "series" except in the case of
ties for division/league lead.

[TimV]

Post by The Ghost of General Lee

Post by TimV

Post by Joe Schmoe
The new wild card format is good if you want to increase attendance
(MLB's major concern), and I understand that. But I think it will prove
be a mistake, even to the point of undermining the whole premise of the
wild card concept in the first place.
I believe the wild card is supposed to allow a team into the post-season
who may have the second-best record in the league, but also second best
in their division. Now they are going to put in the team with the
fifth-best record as well.
I envision a scenario where wildcard #1 wins 98 games and loses a
one-game playoff to a wildcard #2 who only won 86 games during the season.
Baseball should be about the best teams over the long-haul. Under the
old system, a one-game playoff was only forced under the circumstance of
two teams being tied after the entire season. The new format tends to
further minimize the long-term success considerations. I don't like the
one-game playoff concept.

It would be much better with a 3 game WC playoff. This format is just dumb.
T

Just throwing this out for discussion. Are there two cities remotely
worthy of having new MLB franchises? That would allow for four 4 team
divisions in each league and would do away with all this WC nonsense.

You'd have to look at cities with other Big4 teams but without baseball:

Portland - too small to support a team (tstsat)
San Jose - no way Giants allow that
Salt Lake City - tstsat
San Antonio - big enough, might not be wealthy enough
OKC - tstsat
New Orleans - too small, too poor
Memphis - too small, too poor
Nashville - tstsat
Indianapolis - big enough
Columbus - college town
Charlotte - probably big enough
Jacksonville - think we've learned our lesson on Florida
Orlando - at least I hope we have
Buffalo - not big enough anymore
NJ - already saturated with NYC teams
Vancouver/Montreal/Winnepeg and other assorted Canuckistanian villages -
not going to be enough support.

I think that is about it. We could easily have another team in NYC.
Indianapolis, but Indiana fans probably have long standing affections
for the half-dozen teams within a few hours drive.

[The Ghost of General Lee]

Post by TimV

Post by The Ghost of General Lee
Just throwing this out for discussion. Are there two cities remotely
worthy of having new MLB franchises? That would allow for four 4 team
divisions in each league and would do away with all this WC nonsense.

Portland - too small to support a team (tstsat)
San Jose - no way Giants allow that
Salt Lake City - tstsat
San Antonio - big enough, might not be wealthy enough
OKC - tstsat
New Orleans - too small, too poor
Memphis - too small, too poor
Nashville - tstsat
Indianapolis - big enough
Columbus - college town
Charlotte - probably big enough

It'd almost have to go to the AL, since it'd be sandwiched between two
NL teams (ATL and WAS), and probably mess up my Braves TV territorial
rights.

Post by TimV
Jacksonville - think we've learned our lesson on Florida
Orlando - at least I hope we have
Buffalo - not big enough anymore
NJ - already saturated with NYC teams
Vancouver/Montreal/Winnepeg and other assorted Canuckistanian villages -
not going to be enough support.
I think that is about it. We could easily have another team in NYC.

Oh, please no! There are already two too many there now.

Post by TimV
Indianapolis, but Indiana fans probably have long standing affections
for the half-dozen teams within a few hours drive.

There might be enough Cubs hating fans in the area to make it
worthwhile.

Good list, Tim.