Post by Arizona Diamondbacks on Nov 14, 2008 7:51:48 GMT -5
We have already voted and agreed as a league that 6 teams will make the playoffs each season. The one problem that has occured because of this is making the divisions almost obsolete. I am not proposing that we eliminate the divisions as that would eliminate the entire reason we selected franchise names in the first place, but I do have an interesting -- but admittly outlandish -- idea that I just want to throw out there.
The problem I saw was, with 6 teams making the playoffs, the 2 division winners would get in and then 4 wildcard teams would get in. That would mean, potentially, all 4 wildcard teams could be from the same division meaning 5 out of 6 teams from one division would get in (it would've happened this year with the NL). While that is certainly not the worst thing in the world because it would make sure all the teams that got there deserved it, it also could make divisions pretty insignificant.
The idea I propose is that we expand the league to 4 divisions. I admit this may not be the best idea, but hear out my thought process. It would allow there to be 4 division winners and 2 wildcard teams, making the divisions far more important and making it more challenging (or easier if you're lucky) to make the playoffs. It would be more similar to real baseball where some teams luck out in a bad division (Dodgers in the NL West) and other teams have it rough in a tough division (AL East anybody?).
There are two potential problems I see with this idea, one potential big and the other not so much.
The little problem I could see is the division alignment wouldn't match perfectly with our names. We could have something like (and this just me randomly choosing): Mets, Diamondbacks and Rockies in the NL East and Cubs, Braves, and Pirates in the NL West. It would be the same story for the AL. It's a minor nuisance, but it would be somewhat weird nonetheless.
The major problem I forsee is there are only 3 teams in each division. If this was a 16 team league, 4 divisions would be perfect as we could have 4 teams in each division, but for a 12 team league is might be stretching us a bit thin. I, personally, am not opposed to having 4 division of 3 teams each, but I could easily understand if someone had an argument against it.
One last thing, I wouldn't mind if all the playoff rounds were 2 weeks long. I know that would suck for the people on a 1st round bye, but I liked the 2 week playoff matchup. It makes sure the best team usually wins. I was actually winning my matchup after the first week, but ended up losing because it was two weeks long. And my team deserved to lose, too.
So, that's my idea. We could just as easily leave the divisions as is, I'm just curious what everyone might think about this. I'm throwing it out there so you all can do with it what you will. Please be gentle, haha. ;D
BTW, Jerry, if you managed to read through all my "ramblings" I applaud you, haha.
The problem I saw was, with 6 teams making the playoffs, the 2 division winners would get in and then 4 wildcard teams would get in. That would mean, potentially, all 4 wildcard teams could be from the same division meaning 5 out of 6 teams from one division would get in (it would've happened this year with the NL). While that is certainly not the worst thing in the world because it would make sure all the teams that got there deserved it, it also could make divisions pretty insignificant.
The idea I propose is that we expand the league to 4 divisions. I admit this may not be the best idea, but hear out my thought process. It would allow there to be 4 division winners and 2 wildcard teams, making the divisions far more important and making it more challenging (or easier if you're lucky) to make the playoffs. It would be more similar to real baseball where some teams luck out in a bad division (Dodgers in the NL West) and other teams have it rough in a tough division (AL East anybody?).
There are two potential problems I see with this idea, one potential big and the other not so much.
The little problem I could see is the division alignment wouldn't match perfectly with our names. We could have something like (and this just me randomly choosing): Mets, Diamondbacks and Rockies in the NL East and Cubs, Braves, and Pirates in the NL West. It would be the same story for the AL. It's a minor nuisance, but it would be somewhat weird nonetheless.
The major problem I forsee is there are only 3 teams in each division. If this was a 16 team league, 4 divisions would be perfect as we could have 4 teams in each division, but for a 12 team league is might be stretching us a bit thin. I, personally, am not opposed to having 4 division of 3 teams each, but I could easily understand if someone had an argument against it.
One last thing, I wouldn't mind if all the playoff rounds were 2 weeks long. I know that would suck for the people on a 1st round bye, but I liked the 2 week playoff matchup. It makes sure the best team usually wins. I was actually winning my matchup after the first week, but ended up losing because it was two weeks long. And my team deserved to lose, too.
So, that's my idea. We could just as easily leave the divisions as is, I'm just curious what everyone might think about this. I'm throwing it out there so you all can do with it what you will. Please be gentle, haha. ;D
BTW, Jerry, if you managed to read through all my "ramblings" I applaud you, haha.