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MLB to change playoff format beginning in 2012

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by Yellow Snowman, Feb 29, 2012.

  1. Yellow Snowman

    Yellow Snowman New Member

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    I don't have a link as Buster Olney of ESPN is just breaking the story. Buster is announcing that MLB is prepared to announce a new playoff format beginning in 2012. The new 10 team playoff will add a wildcard round with division winners receiving a bye.


    I personally hate the idea. In baseball rest = rust. A bye in baseball means your team is sitting at home getting rusty for 1.5-2 weeks as you watch other teams play. Terrible idea IMO. Thoughts?


    EDIT: Link added

    http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7630682/mlb-union-close-finalizing-expanded-playoffs
     
  2. Mainge

    Mainge Season Ticket Holder

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    The wildcard teams will be playing a one game series, no? So a day or two of rest is a non issue.
     
  3. Yellow Snowman

    Yellow Snowman New Member

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    I believe that is the old idea. If Buster is correct this is something new. This isn't a 1-game playoff which is dumb, this is something completely new and different. Literally a whole wildcard round with division winners getting a bye.


    I don't understand why if they want change they don't cut 40 games out of the season and add a playoff round the right way. Adding games to a ridiculously long season is dumb. I know its all about dollars and the more games = more money but it is making a bad product.
     
  4. Mainge

    Mainge Season Ticket Holder

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    Link? I haven't heard anything about an expanded playoff series.
     
  5. Yellow Snowman

    Yellow Snowman New Member

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    Link added at the top. You havent heard because it is breaking news as we speak. Selig thinks Wildcard teams have it too easy to get to the WS so he wants to add another round. not just 1 game, a whole new round.

    What he doesnt realize is he is really hurting division winners in the process. Terrible idea, plus scheduling will be a mess.
     
  6. Mainge

    Mainge Season Ticket Holder

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    It says nothing about adding a full round.
     
  7. Yellow Snowman

    Yellow Snowman New Member

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    Well that is not how Buster is making it sound or reporting it.


    If I had to choose its the 1 game playoff but either plan is a horrible idea and hope it is never implemented.
     
  8. Mainge

    Mainge Season Ticket Holder

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    Guess we'll see but I don't buy it. Maybe 3 games max.
     
  9. Yellow Snowman

    Yellow Snowman New Member

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    1 game playoffs sounds so foolish to me. Its baseball saying:

    - 9 innings now mean more than 1458 previous innings
    - 1 game > 162 games


    They should just eliminate like 40 regular season games. I know stats guys will hate it but oh well, lets adapt to the times. Then add a wildcard the right way, with no bye weeks. the loss in 40 games opens up time needed in the schedule for the playoffs.
     
  10. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    I think they're still going with the one game playoff idea because it wouldn't screw up their October schedule and it would give the wild card teams a distinct disadvantage.
     
  11. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    That will never ever happen. Do you know how much money teams would lose by cutting out those 40 games? Between the gate of the home games, losing the advertising money for the games on radio and it would put a big dent in all of the teams financially. There's no way the owners would sign off on that.
     
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  12. BlameItOnTheHenne

    BlameItOnTheHenne Taking a poop

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    I'm in favor.
     
  13. BlameItOnTheHenne

    BlameItOnTheHenne Taking a poop

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    Tougher road for the WC winner to the WS?

    The Marlins say challenge accepted.
     
  14. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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    Dont know how Buster was spinning it or what words he used....but this is not new; its the same one that was pushed by Selig....a 1 game Wildest WC playoff just to get it to be where it is right now,....so 5 teams and one game gets it to the 4 team playoff we know it to be since WC was originally added.

    It still as silly as it was originally proposed, and its not guaranteed to be passed for 2012 season.....personally, I dont think any change to playoffs should occur (if at all) until HOU comes to AL to balance the two leagues to 15 teams each (which is long overdue).

    Then focus on balanced schedule and frankly 15 teams if not increased to 16 or cut to 14 will force an INTERLEAGUE game to be played every day. Not a huge fan of that idea...but thats a whole other topic.
     
  15. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    THIS. And while we're at it, let's eliminate having pitchers bat too. Have DHs in both leagues, surely the union would be in favor of this and fans wouldn't be "treated" in having to watch automatic outs have to bat.
     
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  16. BlameItOnTheHenne

    BlameItOnTheHenne Taking a poop

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    Or have the pitchers bat in both leagues.

    Watching pitchers bat isn't nearly as bad as you make it out to be.
     
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  17. Mainge

    Mainge Season Ticket Holder

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    Yes it is.

    The NL is the only league in the world that still makes the pitcher bat. It's time to modernize the game.
     
  18. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    It's beyond awful having to watch a pitcher bat, it's almost always an automatic out. Plus the risk of injury as it is for a pitcher is great, putting a bat in his hands and making him run the bases just expands that risk.

    Case in point, AJ Burnett broke a bone in his face a few days ago working on a bunting drill. Dustin Moseley tore his shoulder swinging a bat last year. A few years ago Chien Ming Wang broke his foot running the bases and hasn't been the same since. Why risk the injury?

    The DH is never going away, the union wouldn't allow it as players would lose their jobs over it. If anything you'll see the NL incorporate the DH.

    It makes zero sense why the NL still doesn't have a DH. You're asking pitchers to face MLB pitching when most of them probably haven't picked up a bat since high school. Just strange. You're right it's time to modernize the NL.

    Plus it would help close the talent gaps between the AL & NL a little bit more too.
     
  19. Mainge

    Mainge Season Ticket Holder

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    To be fair, the injuries aren't very common. There aren't many more examples besides the ones you've listed. In fact, that might be the end of the list.

    Also not sure how there would be jobs lost. it's still a 25-man roster. They'd just be replaced by an extra bullpen arm or bench bat.
     
  20. Yellow Snowman

    Yellow Snowman New Member

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    I appreciate he different game in both leagues and actually like it. Creates some unique situations and moves when the different leagues play each other. I prefer the DH game much more but can still appreciate the NL game.
     
  21. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Right, but while the injuries aren't very common there is an increased chance of injury by asking pitchers (who aren't professional hitters) to bat in a MLB game. Much like there's an increased chance of injury by asking a position player to pitch in a MLB game.

    And the injuries I listed are towards the end of the list as I wanted to use recent examples that people are more farmiliar with.

    My wording was poor but you'd see older guys start to be pushed aside even more so if there were no DHs. Someone like David Ortiz probably would have been out of a job a few years ago. Guys like Raul Ibanez probably wouldn't have been able to find a job this season (or Johnny Damon last season) if it wasn't for the DH spot.

    Also a point I didn't bring up is the salary for a DH which is a big deal for the union to help fight to keep the DH. The average DH makes a lot more money than an extra bullpen arm or bench player. A player like Victor Martinez probably wouldn't have gotten the contract he did from the Tigers last offseason if there wasn't a DH spot for him to go to and I wonder how much Pujols or Fielder would have been offered if there wasn't the DH spot as a back up option for them.
     
  22. Mainge

    Mainge Season Ticket Holder

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    Sure the risk is there but I don't believe it's so significant that it's worth mentioning. No more perilous than carrying veal down a set of stairs or Guitar Hero.
     
  23. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Oh I absolutely think it's worth mentioning. Falling down the stairs or playing Guitar Hero are off the job freak accidents, you can chalk that up to bad luck or being stupid. Hurting yourself swinging a bat or running the bases are hazards of playing baseball, one pitchers shouldn't have to deal with, especially since the NL is the only league where pitchers have to bat.
     
  24. finyank13

    finyank13 Reality Check

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    This puts more emphasis on winning the Division, as the way it should be...
     
  25. Mainge

    Mainge Season Ticket Holder

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    I just disagree. It's not a significant risk. It's just not. These guys are professional athletes. Calling a couple hundred "swings" and jogging the bases dangerous is ridiculous. I mentioned the other things to show that **** happens. Yes, it's possible to get hurt doing those baseball activity, just like it's possible to get hurt playing Guitar Hero. Doesn't mean relievers should stop playing Guitar Hero.

    Dammit Ray, why are you making me defend pitchers batting? There's plenty of other legitimate reasons to point at for getting a universal DH that don't involve protecting a professional athlete from literally jogging some bases.
     
  26. Mainge

    Mainge Season Ticket Holder

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    Agreed.
     
  27. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    Haha that made me laugh. No none of that stuff is dangerous, just added risks involved to the pitchers even if they're professional athletes.
     
  28. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    I agree winning that it puts more emphasis on winning the division and that should be the goals of every team but there are other ways MLB can do that without expanding the playoffs.
     
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  29. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    You generally get a couple of pitcher ABs in an entire game. Maybe three if your starter goes deep. Oh the humanity!! Maybe to further minimize a pitcher's injury risk they should have a shadow player standing near the mound to do any defensive fielding that may be required. Because you know sometimes pitchers are injured stretching for or fielding hit balls. Pitchers can hit when they're in the game. It's not an issue. Leave the NL alone, they don't want or need a DH.
     
  30. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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    Make the playoffs into a 20-team round-robin, triple-elimination.
     
  31. finyank13

    finyank13 Reality Check

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    lol....
     
  32. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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    MLB has officially announced the expanded format.

    The 2012 Postseason will feature a 10-team format that includes two additional Wild Card Clubs and an elimination game in each League prior to the Division Series, Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today … a single Postseason game would be played between each League’s two Wild Card Clubs, with each winner advancing to compete among the three division champions from each League in the Division Series.

    For the 2012 Postseason only, the five-game Division Series will begin with two home games for lower seeds, followed by up to three home games for higher seeds. This one-year change will eliminate a travel day prior to a decisive Game Five of the Division Series and was necessary because the 2012 regular season schedule was announced before the agreement on the new Postseason was reached. Next year, the Division Series will return to the 2-2-1 format used in previous years.

    It means that a division winner will open on the road for two games (in a best of 5 series) against the winner of the 1-game wild card playoff for 2012.
     
  33. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

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    1) The pitcher hitting is amazing. It brings an element of actually having to ummm MANAGE into the game. Sacrifice bunts, pinch hitters, double switches. I'd stop watching baseball if the NL went to a DH. **** that ****, the DH is the most boring thing ever, I cant even watch American League games. Yuck.

    2) Hate this new rule. Why should there be a playoff for a wildcard team that finished 7 games ahead of the #5 team? ******ed.
     
  34. Jt0323

    Jt0323 Fins Up! Luxury Box

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    Tell that to Chien-Ming Wang
     
  35. Jt0323

    Jt0323 Fins Up! Luxury Box

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    BTW, the 2-3 format is terrible. Takes advantage to the better team. Should stay with the 2-2-1 format. You have the best record, yet you have to go on the road for the 1st two games of the playoffs?
     
  36. Ray Finkle

    Ray Finkle Member

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    It's only for this year because of how the playoffs were originally scheduled. MLB didn't want to disrupt what was already in place by having the winning team of the WC round travel to the next town for a game the next day. Otherwise yes it would make no sense to do it that way.
     
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  37. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

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    In fact why don't we just do it NCAA Basketball style. We will have the twenty top teams ranked based on their performance in the regular season. Division, League, don't matter. After the season is over and teams are ranked we play one game series where the #1 seed plays the #20 seed and so on. Oh and we can have a play in game for the #20 spot.

    Man I REALLY hate this new change Im sorry.
     
  38. Jt0323

    Jt0323 Fins Up! Luxury Box

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    One thing I do hate about it is, we will never see what in my mind, is the greatest day in baseball again
    [video=youtube;cVOwMO6H5AI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVOwMO6H5AI&feature=related[/video]
     
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  39. Mainge

    Mainge Season Ticket Holder

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    1) As a baseball coach and manager myself, this is the biggest myth among baseball fans and it drives me nuts. There's much more to managing a game than pinch hitting, or the incredibly genius double switch. Managers are always calling different defenses, shifting depths, and often times calling pitch sequences and the like with runners on base. They're managing the game literally every pitch.

    2) Why does the wildcard team deserve anything? Don't like it? Win your division.
     
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  40. Mainge

    Mainge Season Ticket Holder

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    And Clint Barnes missed a season because he slipped while carrying deer meat down some stairs. Bleep happen.
     

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