Best Possible 10 Team MLB Playoff

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.