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POLL MLB Playoff Format

What would be the best MLB playoff format?

  • Current system

  • Same as now, except re-seed after Wild Card game based off W-L record

  • Previous system (4 teams, 1 WC)

  • Same as now, except 6 teams in the playoffs and 2 WC games in each league

  • Same as now, but 3-game series for Wild Card round

  • Something else (explain)


Results are only viewable after voting.

Mike A. S.

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What would be the best MLB playoff format?
 

DirtDirtDirt

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File this under "will never happen for financial reasons"

Eliminate the last weekend of the reg season, reducing the season to 159 games

That weekend becomes "Wildcard weekend", best of 3 series...understanding some travel details become an issue

At least this gives the better team a real chance to prove it rather than a one game "anything can happen" scenario
 

nynasty

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File this under "will never happen for financial reasons"

Eliminate the last weekend of the reg season, reducing the season to 159 games

That weekend becomes "Wildcard weekend", best of 3 series...understanding some travel details become an issue

At least this gives the better team a real chance to prove it rather than a one game "anything can happen" scenario


I think also that if you win the first WC by more than 8 games, you should get homefield in all three games (if necessary)
 

DirtDirtDirt

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I think also that if you win the first WC by more than 8 games, you should get homefield in all three games (if necessary)


That weekend would be a ratings bonanza, so maybe they could work out some finances to compensate all the unhappy owners losing 3 games
 

rmilia1

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I like 7 teams from each league

4 wild cards. 1 game series. NL plays 2 games one day then travel day. AL plays the next day then travel .

Divisional round starts the day after the last AL wild card game

I like this for multiple reasons

Gets more teams involved in the race but more importantly it really makes winning your division a priority as wild card winner would have burned their 1 and 2 starters for game 1 of the division series

For example this year youd hace

NL
Colorado at Milwaukee
Dodgers at Phillies

Winners play at the home field of the team with the better record for the right to play Chicago

AL
Tampa at Yankees
Mariners at As

Winner gets Boston

Basically a boatload more teams would be alive but the 1 seed in each league gets a huge division series advantage
 
Last edited:

tducey

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Option 4 for me. 6 teams per league make the playoffs. Have 3 wild cards and your bottom division winner play in a best of 3 series playoff round with the 2 winners advancing into the playoffs. To ensure baseball doesn't go into mid November, reduce the season to 144 games.
 

Voltaire26

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I couldn't change my vote, but the more I think about it ...

Same as now, but 3-game series for Wild Card round

Best record get all home games ... no travel

All other round 7 games
 

bksballer89

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Give me the previous system unless they're willing to make the WC round best of 3.
 

Mike A. S.

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That weekend would be a ratings bonanza, so maybe they could work out some finances to compensate all the unhappy owners losing 3 games
I know owners don't wanna lose games, but losing only 3 for a weekend like that, that would get great ratings I would think they could get over those 3 games. However, it would likely need to be 2 or 4 games shorter instead so to have an even amount of home/road games for everyone.
 

PhilSimms11

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-Wildcard teams are reserved for the 4th and 5th best records of the 5 playoff teams....meaning a division winner(s) could play in the WC.
-Wildcard becomes best-of-3 at one location (all 3 played at the 4-seed 3 straight days---game 3 if necessary)

2017
AL (would've held up in AL)
(5)MIN (85-77) @ (4)NYY (91-71)---winner plays (1)CLE (102-60)
(3)BOS (93-69) @ (2)HOU (101-61)

NL
(5)COL (87-75) @ (4)CHC (92-70)---winner plays (1)LAD (104-58)
(3)ARZ (93-69) @ (2)WAS (97-65)
-----
2016
Would've held up in both leagues
-----
2015
AL (would've held up in AL)
(5)HOU (86-76) @ (4)NYY (87-75)---winner plays (1)KC (95-67)
(3)TEX (88-74) @ (2)TOR (93-69)

NL
(5)NYM (90-72) @ (4)LAD (92-70)---winner plays (1)STL (100-62)
(3)CHC (97-65) @ (2)PIT (98-64)
-----
2014
Would hold up in both leagues
-----
2013
AL (would've held up in AL)
(5)TB (91-71) @ (4)CLE (92-70)---winner plays (1)BOS (97-65)
(3)DET (93-69) @ (2)OAK (96-66)

NL
(5)CIN (90-72) @ (4)LAD (92-70)---winner plays STL (97-65)
(3)PIT (94-68) @ (2)ATL (96-66)
-----
2012
AL
(5)DET (88-74) @ (4)BAL (93-69)---winner plays (1)NYY (95-67)
(3)TEX (93-69) @ (2)OAK (94-68)

NL (would've held up in NL)
(5)STL (88-74) @ (4)ATL (94-68)---winner plays (1)WAS (98-64)
(3)SF (94-68) @ (2)CIN (97-65)

Division winners in BOLD playing in wildcard.
 

The Q

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I wouldn’t mind a best of 3 wild card round.

It would be brutal on those teams. Plus staggering the schedule would be tough.

That’s the real reason that it may not happen. Can’t have teams having 5 days off.
 

PhilSimms11

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I'm surprised to read that some of you want more teams in the playoffs. I thought some would be driven to insanity for putting 5 in when they first started that. I'm good with 5 in each league.

From 1903-68 only 2 teams made the postseason (which was the World Series). From 1969-93 you had to win your division to make the playoffs (4 teams).

In 1993, SF (103-59) had the 2nd best record in MLB, but was a DNQ for the playoffs. ATL (104-58) finished 1-game ahead in the division. That is just brutal to win that many games and have no chance at a World Series. The next year they expanded to 3 divisions and the wildcard was introduced, but the season was cut short with no playoffs (strike).
 

Sportsguy9695

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Never thought of having a 3 game series for the wild card but I do think it is a great idea. They gotta get rid of the one and dine wild card game they have now
 

The Q

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Never thought of having a 3 game series for the wild card but I do think it is a great idea. They gotta get rid of the one and dine wild card game they have now

I agree but the logistical problems make that really hard. Unless it’s a double header day 1 and a game 3 the next day if necessary
 

Sportsguy9695

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I agree but the logistical problems make that really hard. Unless it’s a double header day 1 and a game 3 the next day if necessary
Yea I’m sure we will never see a three game series but that’s what I’d like to see
 

podsox

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Never thought of having a 3 game series for the wild card but I do think it is a great idea. They gotta get rid of the one and dine wild card game they have now
I’m one of the few that love the one game playoff. It makes winning your division crucial. Wild card teams should be at an extreme disadvantage.
 

Kenny

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I always like the KBO league's WC format.

  • KBO Wild Card Game: 5th place team vs. 4th place team.
4th place advances with one win, 5th place must win twice to advance.
 

Cyder

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I say leave it. A 3 game wild card has the teams not involved sitting around too long if it goes all 3 games. Unlike football where the bye is a good thing, baseball teams sitting around too long can get stale. Also, if it;s a 3 game wild card the winning wild card team has probably burned their 2 or 3 best starters and possibly their pen. Having to use your best starter in the wild card game is enough of a disadvantage.
 

DirtDirtDirt

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I’m one of the few that love the one game playoff. It makes winning your division crucial. Wild card teams should be at an extreme disadvantage.


The flipside of that is having a 100 Wildcard team, and an 88 game division winner from a far weaker division. That's why I don't agree with an "extreme disadvantage"
 
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