one consideration that has been raised in ownership committee meetings is eliminating the divisions altogether, so that 15 AL and 15 NL teams would vie for five playoff spots within each league.
via ESPN
This will never ever happen.
It’s hard enough marketing a 4th place team. Now imagine an 11th place team..even if top 5 make the playoffs. Imagine trying to sell hope when your customers are looking at the standings seeing how low on the list your team is.
I haven’t run the scenario yet my gut tells me some team would clinch a berth fairly early. Then what?
Do they fight for the bye?
Is a bye the best scenario? Sure you skip a round, but I’ve seen plenty of pitchers not be sharp on 11 days rest.
Don’t worry, it won’t happen. “Consider” is a worth that leaves a lot of room. I actually considered driving to Pittsburgh this morning, then did the math and realized it was a non-starter. I have considered that if I moved to SF I might root for the Giants and wear an NY cap all the time. However, I didn’t move to San Francisco so it’s moot.
The solution has been and continues to be Modified Costas.
Move the Astros to the AL West.
One interleague series per day. Who cares.
TWO Wild Cards in each league.
The two wild cards play each other the day after the season. Don’t whine about travel, you had 162 games to win a division.
The winner of that plays on the road at the #1 seed the next day.
For example…on September 29th the Mets beat the Reds at home to win their 88th game and clinch the second Wild Card. They get on a plane and head to Atlanta.
Colactus, having no other choice in a do or die series uses Santana (9-0 since returning). Mets win.
Back on a plane to the #1 seed.
They play again, but have to start their #2 Mike Pelfrey against a well rested Roy Halladay.
The Phillies get a small advantage/reward for winning the division. The Mets get the opposite. Fans get an exciting do or die game which is better than the season having already been over.
Now just for fun let’s make the top Wild Card Arizona. The Mets leave Citi, fly to Arizona and win with Santana, then right back to Philly.
