The Astros have hired A.J. Hinch as their new manager
Not really liking the Elimination Wild Card game. It should at least be 2 out of 3.
Not really liking Best of 5 in the Division Series either. Seems to favor the Wild Card team.
Hopefully, the Angels chillaxing the last week doesn't ruin their mojo heading into the playoffs. I'd love to see a Freeway Series and both teams have peaked at the right time.
The point of the Wild Card Game was to undervalue getting in via the Wild Card. I'd really just prefer no Wild Card (or just have the 4 best records, sans division, get in) but whatever. It kind of works, because the Wild Card only earns you a 50/50 shot at the real playoffs. But the problem is that whoever wins is still on close-to-even footing with the real playoff team. At least they get a rested rotation, while the WC team likely blew their top starter in the single game.
And I agree it should be 7-7-7 not 5-7-7. But we also need to never have November games again so....
It was about TV money and another team getting to say they made the playoffs. Thanks, Bud...
Of course it was. But it is a somewhat novel solution to their problem of the Wild Card not being enough-worse than the regular playoff spots. This is kind of an ingenius way to get more games, but wildly devalue those playoff spots (with really a coin flip at doing anything followed by having a non-rested rotation for the real playoffs).
Just eliminate divisions and take the top 4 teams in each league. Especially in baseball it's always about scrounging out every possible cent, especially with less tickets being sold but the price of everything increasing
(09-29-2014 06:12 PM)ADD Wrote: [ -> ]Just eliminate divisions and take the top 4 teams in each league. Especially in baseball it's always about scrounging out every possible cent, especially with less tickets being sold but the price of everything increasing
100% agree. Either top 4 or top 3 (with best record getting you a first round bye). I'm not idiot, it'd be the top 4 if anything... We've already integrated interleague play throughout, the individual league identity died off decades ago, the modern divisions have only been around 20 years... It could happen.
A first round bye in the baseball playoffs would be bad.
If you're used to playing everyday and then have to stop for a week, that sucks. It's not like the NFL where you can use a concussion break.
I do think that there should be just the 2 leagues. But there should be no meaningful difference between the two of them. And top 4 playoffs.
The idea of divisions in pro sports is outdated in all leagues. Some old white dudes decided that it's a way to create or keep rivalries and people to care, etc. you know what makes people care? Winning. No ones going to care about Rockies-Padres division or not.
(09-29-2014 06:40 PM)Rover Wrote: [ -> ]A first round bye in the baseball playoffs would be bad.
If you're used to playing everyday and then have to stop for a week, that sucks. It's not like the NFL where you can use a concussion break.
I do think that there should be just the 2 leagues. But there should be no meaningful difference between the two of them. And top 4 playoffs.
That actually makes some sense (re: not having a long time off), yeah.