I like it. If you don't want to be subject to the random nature of one game, win the division...

 

Exactly. Both of those teams would be on the outside looking in if it wasn't for the MLB expanding with the Wild Card. In years past that 5th team was home without a chance to go, anyway. And not too long ago the 4th team wasn't playing either.

The one game playoff has always been a part of baseball.....any ties for Division winners or wildcard spots have always been decided by a one game playoff, which I've never heard anyone complain about. The one game wildcard playoff does put a premium on winning your division, which makes it tougher for a wild card team to advance (as it has a major affect on the pitching rotation). There have always been complaints about wildcard teams winning the world series since the wild card was instituted, and anything that makes it tougher on them should be a good thing, right??

 

I'm happy to see baseball evolve. Too often baseball has been reluctant to change or try to improve the game. It's the only sport where people talk about unwritten rules, and clamor for the "good ole days". Which is why the sport doesn't resonate the way it used to. The NFL and NBA have been quick to evolve and tinker with things to try to produce a better product and make things more exciting.

 

I might not watch game 3 of a playoff series, but a one game playoff is must watch.

What does everyone think about the one game playoff that baseball has in place now? I really do not like it at all. I do like the wild card teams facing each other first because that rewards a division winner. I think the wild card playoff should be a 3 game series. The last wild card hosts game one and the better record wild card gets games 2 and 3. Baseball is the most unpredictable sport there is and a one game wild card has no meaning or value to me. Anything can happen in one game in baseball. I say a 3 game playoff for the wild cards, a 5 game series in the next round, and then the league championships and world series should be 7 games. What does everyone else think?

 

You are spot on!

Agree, a minimum of 3 games. Of course, I do have an issue with baseball running to the end of October.

 

This is the key point. You can't bemoan the one-game playoff then complain when the World Series is approaching Thanksgiving. There are finite days because MLB is too stubborn (or traditional) to consider shortening the 162 game marathon. Baseball's fascination with stats and numbers cause old-school folks to refuse to budge on the issue of shortening the season (which, in my opinion, is the best approach).

 

Still start beginning of April, play 145 games (or so), then have the wildcard round be best of three.

 

Forgoing that idea, the one-game do-or-die scenario is the best solution. Get ready Reds' fans, we'll be playing the Pirates in it (and hopefully it is at GABP).

This is the key point. You can't bemoan the one-game playoff then complain when the World Series is approaching Thanksgiving. There are finite days because MLB is too stubborn (or traditional) to consider shortening the 162 game marathon. Baseball's fascination with stats and numbers cause old-school folks to refuse to budge on the issue of shortening the season (which, in my opinion, is the best approach).

 

Still start beginning of April, play 145 games (or so), then have the wildcard round be best of three.

 

Forgoing that idea, the one-game do-or-die scenario is the best solution. Get ready Reds' fans, we'll be playing the Pirates in it (and hopefully it is at GABP).

 

Or have each team play 5 DHs during the season and pick up a week. To get the Player's Union to agree, expand roster to 26 players. Owners will get enough $ from the extra playoff games (3 WC / 5 or 7 LDS / 7 LCS / 7 WS) to play the 26th player.

The postseason can be shortened by not having so many travel days.

The postseason can be shortened by not having so many travel days.

 

Is it really the travel days....or is it the TV networks messing around with things so that they can have games on certain days/times? Seems like teams travel from one place to the next and play the very next day during the season, why not during the postseason?

 

Is it really the travel days....or is it the TV networks messing around with things so that they can have games on certain days/times? Seems like teams travel from one place to the next and play the very next day during the season, why not during the postseason?

 

Agreed. Most times and days during the postseason are because of TV schedules.