The Best Possible Practical MLB
Postseason w/ Current Ten Team Qualification Format
Step 1: Shorten the season to 158 games. End the season on a Sunday or Wednesday a
half week earlier than any proposed 162-game schedule.
Step 2: Allow 1
date for tie-breakers, begin best of
three Wild Card Series series with 2-1 or 1-2 format between (4) and (5) seeds
the next day.
Step 3: Make Division Series best of seven and
begin play between the (2) and (3) seeds in a 2-3-2 format on the second and
third days of the Wild Card Series.
Step 4: The day after the Wild Card Series the two
winners will begin a best of seven series at the (1) seeds in a 3-2-2 format. The (1) seed is given two extra home games
than the (WC) seed to offset the chances the condensed seven game series will be
a disadvantage even after extra time off.
Step 5: Play
the Championship Series and World Series in current format.
Example using 2013 Postseason Qualifiers
All Times Eastern
Wed 9/25: Final
Day of Regular Season
Thu 9/26: Rest
Day for Tie Breakers
Fri 9/27 Gm
1 WC TB(5) @ CLE(4) 4:30
Gm
1 WC CIN(5) @ PIT(4) 8:00
Sat 9/28 Gm
2 WC CIN(5) @ PIT(4) 1:00
Gm
2 WC TB(5) @ CLE(4) 7:30
Gm
1 ALDS DET(3) @ OAK(2) 11:00
Sun 9/29 Gm
3* WC PIT(4) @ CIN (5) 1:00
Gm
1 NLDS LAD(3) @ ATL(2) 4:30
Gm
3* WC CLE(4) @ TB(5) 8:00
Mon 9/30 Gm
1 ALDS TB(WC) @ BOS(1) 5:00
Gm
1 NLDS PIT(WC) @ STL(1) 7:30
Gm
2 ALDS DET(3) @ OAK(2) 10:00
Tue 10/1 Gm
2 ALDS LAD(3) @ ATL(2) 3:30
Gm
2 ALDS TB(WC) @ BOS(1) 6:00
Gm
2 NLDS PIT (WC) @ STL(1) 9:00
Wed 10/2 Gm
3 ALDS TB(WC) @ BOS(1) 2:00
Gm
3 NLDS PIT(WC) @ STL(1) 5:30
Gm
3 ALDS OAK(2) @ DET(3) 9:00
Thu 10/3 Gm
3 NLDS ATL(2) @ LAD(3) 5:30
Gm
4 ALDS OAK(2) @ DET(3) 9:00
Fri 10/4 Gm
4 NLDS STL(1) @ PIT(WC) 2:00
Gm
4 ALDS BOS(1) @ TB(WC) 5:30
Gm 5* ALDS OAK(2) @ DET(3) 9:00
Sat 10/5 Gm
5* ALDS BOS(1) @ TB(WC) 5:30
Gm
4 NLDS ATL(2) @ LAD(3) 9:00
Sun 10/6 Gm
5* NLDS STL(1) @ PIT(WC) 6:30
Gm
5* NLDS ATL(2) @ LAD(3) 9:00
Mon 10/7 Gm
6* ALDS TB(WC) @ BOS(1) 6:30
Gm
6* ALDS DET(3) @ OAK(2) 10:00
Tue 10/8 Gm
6* NLDS LAD(3) @ ATL(2) 4:30
Gm
6* NLDS PIT(WC) @ STL(1) 8:00
Wed 10/9 Gm
7* ALDS TB(WC) @ BOS(1) 6:30
Gm
7* ALDS DET(3) @ OAK(2) 10:00
Thu 10/10 Gm
7* NLDS PIT(WC) @ STL(1) 4:30
Gm
7* NLDS LAD(3) @ ATL(2) 8:00
Fri 10/11 Gm
1 ALCS
Example
Team Schedules for Comparison
Date TB(5) STL(1) OAK(2) LAD(3)
9/27 @ CLE(4) 4:30 Off Off Off
9/28 @ CLE(4) 7:30 Off vs
DET(3) 11:00 Off
9/29 vs CLE(4) 8:00* Off Off @ ATL(2) 4:30
9/30 @
BOS(1) 5:00 vs PIT(WC) 7:30 vs DET(3) 10:00 Off
10/1 @ BOS(1)
6:00 vs PIT(WC) 1:00 Off @
ATL(2) 3:30
10/2 @
BOS(1) 3:00 vs PIT(WC) 5:30 @ DET(3) 9:00 Off
10/3 Off Off @ DET(3) 9:00 vs ATL(2) 5:30
10/4 vs
BOS(1) 5:30 @ PIT(WC) 2:00 @ DET(3) 9:00* Off
10/5 vs
BOS(1) 5:30* Off Off vs ATL(2) 9:00
10/6 Off @ PIT(WC) 6:30* Off vs
ATL(2) 9:00*
10/7 @
BOS(1) 6:30* Off vs DET(3) 10:00* Off
10/8 Off vs PIT(WC) 8:00* Off @
ATL(2) 4:30*
10/9 @
BOS(1) 6:30* Off vs DET(3) 10:00* Off
10/10 Off vs PIT(WC) 4:30* Off @
ATL(2) 8:00*
10/11 ALCS Off ALCS Off
10/12 ALCS NLCS ALCS NLCS
In Short
In three ways this
proposed system uses the expanded 10 team format as an opportunity to increase
the value of the regular season. First,
by making the (4) v. (5) match up a three game series as opposed to a single
contest, the proposed system makes those seeds more valuable, especially if the
series goes the distance and both contestants play at least a single home
playoff game. Second, mathematically
each game of the season has more meaning if there are fewer games. But lowering the total number of contests to
158 should be just the start of an ongoing trend. As MLB inevitably expands the postseason even
further, small chunks of the regular season should be lobbed off as well. Ideally the season would be only 136 games,
interlaced with a 16 team “cup play” tournament, and followed by an old fashion,
Pennant winners only, best-of-nine World Series. But I digress. Third, and most importantly, is the value
that this proposed system gives to the (1) seed. Great credit should be given to the participant
that holds off opponents over 158 games better than any other team in their
league. The (1) seed in my system
receives that credit. The (2) and (3)
seeds also receive a bye, and also only play seven games at most over the
course of two weeks. But the (1) seed
gets to rest idle while his future opponent contests a three game series. If that series goes the distance, then the (WC)
seed will play six games in six days in three cities, while the (1) seed plays just
three home games. If the (1) seed advances,
the playoffs will be considered fair, and if a (4) or (5) seed advance, it will
be considered a baseball miracle. Either
way MLB wins.
