We want to catch Tampa but if not - we want the Yankees to catch Tampa

[bobo52]

There are 4 WC teams but the WC1 will probably be the division winner in the West.  Remember one of the WC teams is the division winner with the worst record - and that division winner is the #1 seed regardless of record.  

Interestingly in the National League - that was the Dodgers last year and might be them again this year.  They simply want to get into the playoffs and then trot out Yamamoto, Snell, Skubal and Ohtani and clean up on you.  

With WC1 being Houston right now - the Yankees and Sox are #2 and #3 and would play each other.  

Right now we play the Yankees and all 3 games are in Yankee Stadium.  

If we catch the Yankees - we still play them but get them in Fenway.

If the Yankees catch Tampa - we probably get Tampa.  If we catch both the Yankees and Tampa - we can rest in the WC round as those 2 teams play each other.  

Added bonus to the scenario where the Yankees catch Tampa is that we dont play the Yankees until the ALCS.

Id rather face the Yankees later since I think they are the toughest team in the AL.  Give somebody else the chance to beat them so that we might not even play them and/or we have a longer playoff run. 

 

[JoeBrady]

Catching the Rays is very unlikely, but would be huge.  That would give us the best record in the AL and make us a nominal favorite to go to the WS.

But catching the NYY would be pretty big as well.

[UtahSox]

I agree. But it would be nice to somehow get on the other side of the bracket away from the AL East teams.
 

I think baseball should either expand to 8 playoff teams and play a best of five opening series orrrrrrr favor more total record versus division champion. (my preferred)

 

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, UtahSox said:

I agree. But it would be nice to somehow get on the other side of the bracket away from the AL East teams.
 

I think baseball should either expand to 8 playoff teams and play a best of five opening series orrrrrrr favor more total record versus division champion. (my preferred)

 

I'd guess that's in the plans.  As soon as LV and TB are settled in new stadiums, add two teams to make it an even 32.  Four divisions, four WC teams, maybe cut back on regular season games and expand the playoffs.  That could be an excellent bargaining chip for both sides for the new CBA.  More revenue can put out a lot of fires.

[bobo52]

Quote

I'd guess that's in the plans.  As soon as LV and TB are settled in new stadiums, add two teams to make it an even 32.  Four divisions, four WC teams, maybe cut back on regular season games and expand the playoffs.  That could be an excellent bargaining chip for both sides for the new CBA.  More revenue can put out a lot of fires.

Id love to see the playoffs expanded, the regular season shortened and the playoffs starting in early to mid September.  Games being played in 40-50 degree weather in NY and Boston at night in late October are a problem.  Eliminate 20 regular season games since the regular season dent mean as much anyways when 8 teams make the playoffs.  Then ave the playoffs Start September 8-10 and end by October 15.  

[JoeBrady]

6 hours ago, bobo52 said:

Id love to see the playoffs expanded, the regular season shortened and the playoffs starting in early to mid September.  Games being played in 40-50 degree weather in NY and Boston at night in late October are a problem.  Eliminate 20 regular season games since the regular season dent mean as much anyways when 8 teams make the playoffs.  Then ave the playoffs Start September 8-10 and end by October 15.  

I used to have Yankee season tickets, and chopped them up between friends.  You've never seen anything more unpopular than an early-April, Tuesday night against KC.  People wouldn't even bother to ask about some of those games.  Take 6 off the last week of September and 6 off the first week of April.  Add another week of playoff games.

[moonslav59]

To be honest, I'd rather see MLB shrink to 28 teams (4 divisions of 7.) It won't ever happen, but baseball would be better with 28.

32 teams does make for an easier playoff format, with 4 division winners and 4 WC per league, but I hope they don't hand the division winners the home field.

I might prefer 4 divisions of 8 over 8 divisions of 4, but that won't happen. If no teams switch leagues, maybe the 8 divisions might look like this:

AL

BOS, NYY, BAL, TOR

DET, CLE, CWS, MIN

TBR, KCR, HOU, TEX

SEA, SAC, LAA, LV

NL

NYM, PHI, WSH PIT

ATL, MIA, NC, STL

CIN, MIL, CHC, COL

SFG, LAD, SDP, AZ

I'd swap a few NL-AL teams into this:

AL

BOS, NYY, BAL, WSH

MIA, TBR, HOU, TEX

TOR, CLE, DET, CIN

SEA, LAA, LV, SAC

NL

NYM, PHI, PIT, NC

ATL, STL, KCR, COL

CHC, CWS, MIL, MIN

SFG, LAD, SDP, AZ

Go total Geographic:

TOR, BOS, NYY, NYM

PHI, PIT, WSH, BAL

NC, ATL, TBR, MIA

DET, CLE, CIN, INDY

MIN, MIL, CWS, CHC

KCR, STL, TEX, HOU

SEA, SFG, LV, COL

LAD, LAA, SDP, AZ

Wouldn't 4 divisions of 8 make things neater?

TOR, BOS, NYY, NYM, PHI, PIT, BAL, WSH

NC, ATL, TBR, MIA, KCR, STL, TEX, HOU

DET, CLE, CIN, CHC, CWS, MIL, MIN, COL

LV, AZ, SEA, SFG, SAC, LAD, LAA, SDP

[UtahSox]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

To be honest, I'd rather see MLB shrink to 28 teams (4 divisions of 7.) It won't ever happen, but baseball would be better with 28.

32 teams does make for an easier playoff format, with 4 division winners and 4 WC per league, but I hope they don't hand the division winners the home field.

I might prefer 4 divisions of 8 over 8 divisions of 4, but that won't happen. If no teams switch leagues, maybe the 8 divisions might look like this:

AL

BOS, NYY, BAL, TOR

DET, CLE, CWS, MIN

TBR, KCR, HOU, TEX

SEA, SAC, LAA, LV

NL

NYM, PHI, WSH PIT

ATL, MIA, NC, STL

CIN, MIL, CHC, COL

SFG, LAD, SDP, AZ

I'd swap a few NL-AL teams into this:

AL

BOS, NYY, BAL, WSH

MIA, TBR, HOU, TEX

TOR, CLE, DET, CIN

SEA, LAA, LV, SAC

NL

NYM, PHI, PIT, NC

ATL, STL, KCR, COL

CHC, CWS, MIL, MIN

SFG, LAD, SDP, AZ

Go total Geographic:

TOR, BOS, NYY, NYM

PHI, PIT, WSH, BAL

NC, ATL, TBR, MIA

DET, CLE, CIN, INDY

MIN, MIL, CWS, CHC

KCR, STL, TEX, HOU

SEA, SFG, LV, COL

LAD, LAA, SDP, AZ

Wouldn't 4 divisions of 8 make things neater?

TOR, BOS, NYY, NYM, PHI, PIT, BAL, WSH

NC, ATL, TBR, MIA, KCR, STL, TEX, HOU

DET, CLE, CIN, CHC, CWS, MIL, MIN, COL

LV, AZ, SEA, SFG, SAC, LAD, LAA, SDP

A couple thoughts.

1. Nashville & SLC are the MLB teams for expansion. 99.6% sure. 
2. I would do 4 divisions of 8 teams so that we don’t get such lopsided divisions. 

AL East: Bos, NYY, Tor, Bal,Wh Sox, Cle, Det, Minn

AL West: LAA, Sea, LV, SLC, AZ, KC, Hou, Tex

NL East: NYM, Phi, Pit, Wash, Atl, Nash, Mia, TBR

NL West: Cubs, Mil, St Lou, Cin, SDP, LAD, SFG, Col

 

[moonslav59]

7 minutes ago, UtahSox said:

 Nashville & SLC are the MLB teams for expansion. 99.6% sure. 

Why?

With Oak out, I'd think Sacramento is in.

SLC? I'd think North Carolina (Charlotte is #21 metro area and NC is baseball country), San Antonio (23rd) between SA and Austin (25t) Maybe, even Indianapolis (33rd) would be better.

Nashville #34

Raleigh #40 (CHar-Raleigh?)

Memphis and OKL City are bigger than SLC.