OT: MLB playoff seeding

[RUChet]

Outrageous what the seedlings will be this postseason with possibly a sub .500 team getting in, other awful teams getting byes while 2 of the best teams will be in the wild card.

here are common sense fixes that they should implement:

1) You must be at least .500 to get into playoffs as a division winner. If any division winners finish under .500, they are bypassed for another wild card team from another division.

2) Byes and wild cards should be based on record alone so if you are a division winner but have the worst record, you play in wild cards round. So winning a division if you are .500 or better only gets you into playoffs. You may be a wild card.

3) I would also have greater rewards for the higher seed (better record) in the divisional and league series. I’d give home teams another game in 7 game series so they get 5 home games not 4 to put more emphasis on doing well in the regular season.

 

[tico brown]

Maybe not as perfect but MLB had as good as a playoff system as possible with two wildcards playing to play the top seed with the other two division winners in their series. But of course Manfred and the owners are stupid, greedy bastards.

 

[MADHAT1]

Division winners with losing records should have no home games in the first round of playoffs

 

[DJ Spanky]

If winning a division has no meaning than get rid of divisions. Otherwise stop whining.

 

[ClassOf02v.2]

It needs to be revisited. The best system can be debated among reasonable people, but it’s absurd to have the top 3 teams in a given league play in the wild card and then ALDS rounds, while a sub-500 team is rewarded for winning a lousy division.

 

[DJ Spanky]

It needs to be revisited. The best system can be debated among reasonable people, but it’s absurd to have the top 3 teams in a given league play in the wild card and then ALDS rounds, while a sub-500 team is rewarded for winning a lousy division.

Except that's what happens in other professional sports.

For example, last year the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South and were the #4 seed with an 8-9 record.

 

[MADHAT1]

If winning a division has no meaning than get rid of divisions. Otherwise stop whining.

getting in playoffs is the meaning for division winners with losing records .
Division winners deserve playoff spots just for winning their division, but that should be all the reward they get .

 

[ClassOf02v.2]

Except that's what happens in other professional sports.

For example, last year the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South and were the #4 seed with an 8-9 record.

Which should also be changed. Best teams get in, then get seeded (NBA and NHL are better, but not perfect). It all used to be based on competitive balance. I’m not naive; I know these formats exist so there can more more playoff teams, more ticket sales, more money, etc. But doesn’t mean I have to like it.

 

[Doctor Worm]

For the first time in MLB history, a team with a non-winning record will make the postseason.

 

[rureadyforsomefootball]

Has to be the weakest playoff pool in AL history. Can you say a cake walk for the Yankees to make it to the World Series.

 

[RUChet]

If winning a division has no meaning than get rid of divisions. Otherwise stop whining.

It has meaning but gotta finish .509 or better or you should be left out . Period

 

[RUChet]

Except that's what happens in other professional sports.

For example, last year the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South and were the #4 seed with an 8-9 record.

Then NFL should change too

2 wrongs don’t make it right

 

[T2Kplus20]

getting in playoffs is the meaning for division winners with losing records .
Division winners deserve playoff spots just for winning their division, but that should be all the reward they get .

Bingo. You get a spot in the playoffs, but your seeding is based on your record. Pretty simple.