OT: Question for baseball fans

[Eric15]

If you took tradition and nostalgia completely out of the equation, and could redesign the baseball regular season and postseason to maximize entertainment value, how would you change it?

For example, cutting down the regular season to say, 100 games, and having 8 teams make the playoffs, etc.? Or maybe you'd leave it the exact same.

(I know baseball fans are obsessed with statistics, so again, this is disregarding the fact that changes would skew all-time statistical leaders.)

 

[690West]

For example, cutting down the regular season to say, 100 games, and having 8 teams make the playoffs, etc.?

Yes

 

[Full_Rebar]

144 game regular season. Wildcard-Best of 3, 2nd round, LCS, and WS -Best of 7,

 

[Bayside44]

If you took tradition and nostalgia completely out of the equation, and could redesign the baseball regular season and postseason to maximize entertainment value, how would you change it?

For example, cutting down the regular season to say, 100 games, and having 8 teams make the playoffs, etc.? Or maybe you'd leave it the exact same.

(I know baseball fans are obsessed with statistics, so again, this is disregarding the fact that changes would skew all-time statistical leaders.)

154 games - more off days during the season . Sorta hate how a wildcard gets on equal footing with a division winner.

 

[Marsh01]

154 days. Go back to 3 divisional winners and one wild card.

also make the ALDS and NLDS 7 game series. They need to abolish 5 game series.

 

[CuseDude]

If you took tradition and nostalgia completely out of the equation, and could redesign the baseball regular season and postseason to maximize entertainment value, how would you change it?

For example, cutting down the regular season to say, 100 games, and having 8 teams make the playoffs, etc.? Or maybe you'd leave it the exact same.

(I know baseball fans are obsessed with statistics, so again, this is disregarding the fact that changes would skew all-time statistical leaders.)

I will preface by saying I am not a baseball fan. I think the whole game needs a re-design to stay relevant. Shorten the season and end it before football season starts. These are ridiculous suggestions but if the game is tied at the end make it go to a home-run derby to determine the winner or something. Anything to make it entertaining for viewers. Add a different way to score, Home runs count more if hit in a certain section, etc. The pitch clock idea seems like a good one to move the game along.

I took my kids to a Durham Bulls game this year and it was 9-3 in the third inning. My 7 year-old turns to me and asks when the action was going to start.

 

[JJReddawg]

Leave it exactly how it is, but if you had to change it:

1.) Eliminate Interleague play
2.) Total of 108 games - 6 game series with the 10 teams in the other divisions and 12 game series with teams in your own division.
3.) 3 Division winners and 2 Wild Card
4.) Wild Card - 3 game series to give Division winner some more advantage.
5.) Wild Card series to be played in neutral stadium of the last place team in each League. Gives that City something to come out and watch and does not give a clear advantage to either wild card team.
6.) Change Division Series to 7 games.

 

[timkay99]

If you took tradition and nostalgia completely out of the equation, and could redesign the baseball regular season and postseason to maximize entertainment value, how would you change it?

For example, cutting down the regular season to say, 100 games, and having 8 teams make the playoffs, etc.? Or maybe you'd leave it the exact same.

(I know baseball fans are obsessed with statistics, so again, this is disregarding the fact that changes would skew all-time statistical leaders.)

As someone who works in baseball, I think some of the responses are weird.

For example, why does the regular season need to be shortened by 8 games? Does that affect anything? Part of the allure of baseball is that there is a game everyday and you can go when its convenient.

Baseball's biggest issue is the slotting where playoff games begin. It is all about the younger fans and the issue with 8 o clock starts is that the young fan is asleep before the excitement truly begins, such as the epic wildcard game on Tuesday.

2nd biggest issue is time of game. Game need to go back to being 2:30 to 3:00 and not the lengths they are now. Easy changes as well, as the SEC has used a pitch clock for years. A number of changes in the works in the Fall League as well and those should work as well.

 

[shandeezy7]

144 game regular season. Wildcard-Best of 3, 2nd round, LCS, and WS -Best of 7,

This. Said the exact same scenario the other night while watching the Royals - A's game.

 

[Upstate]

PEDs, corked bats, fewer games, some sorta rubber in the ball, 6 innings.

 

[Pat Kelly]

I actually love the premise of the one-game Wild Cards. Really gives teams an incentive to win the division.

 

[Pat Kelly]

154 games - more off days during the season . Sorta hate how a wildcard gets on equal footing with a division winner.

I think that was the point of the one-game playoff. To make winning a Wild Card less of an incentive. Teams now want to avoid that.

 

[Pat Kelly]

Only change I would make is something to stop how much time pitchers take between pitches. I've played plenty of baseball in my day, and all a pitcher should need is to get the signal and throw.

 

[Quazzum69]

Like the NFL and NBA should do, get rid of division winners and wild cards for postseason. Go with straight-up record to determine playoff seeds.

Way too many games in the regular season to keep track of. Each game taken individually approaches zero importance since there are so many. In the NFL and college football each game is extremely important.

From 2010-2014 there have been as many division winners that finished 10+ games ahead as there has been 5 or less games ahead (10 times each). The average games ahead of the winner of each division is about seven. If the number of season games were reduced, the gap would decrease and the end of the season would get more interesting.

 

[texascpa]

100 games, 8 or 16 playoff teams. One game playoff series.

 

[Pat Kelly]

100 games, 8 or 16 playoff teams. One game playoff series.

Ew. The fewer playoff teams, the better.

 

[chugg21]

Played in college & still play in a 30+ league and I can't watch a full 9 inning game anymore, even live. It's so long and boring that I can't imagine that it will survive in its current format with the younger generation that have 2 minute attention spans. 162 games is certainly too long as there is a major lull mid-season after the new year smell has worn off and before the deadline and races have taken shape. Dropping down towards 120-140 games would undoubtedly help keep things more interesting and give the players more rest but would take away $$$ so that's probably a non-starter.

 

[KaiserUEO]

keep regular season as it is.

pitchers hit/eliminate the DH...and add a 26th man on the active roster.

keep # of playoff teams as they are.

i like the 1 game WC entry.

id be fine with the DS at 7 games, eliminates the chance of cream not rising to the top.

but never ever, under any circumstances...give the regular season MVP Award to a pitcher.

 

[Eric15]

Way too many games in the regular season to keep track of. Each game taken individually approaches zero importance since there are so many. In the NFL and college football each game is extremely important.

I agree, I think one of the reasons why football is so incredibly popular in the US (in addition to our lust for violence) is that it always leaves you wanting more. The season is short, and the games are weekly. In between each game it allows you to catch your breath, discuss the last game, and then emotionally build up to the next game.

I just don't understand why the powers-that-be 100+ years ago decided it was a good idea to play every single day.

 

[Opus]

Played in college & still play in a 30+ league and I can't watch a full 9 inning game anymore, even live. It's so long and boring that I can't imagine that it will survive in its current format with the younger generation that have 2 minute attention spans. 162 games is certainly too long as there is a major lull mid-season after the new year smell has worn off and before the deadline and races have taken shape. Dropping down towards 120-140 games would undoubtedly help keep things more interesting and give the players more rest but would take away $$$ so that's probably a non-starter.

Seems MLB agrees with you.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/97181194/pace-of-game-initiatives-to-be-tested-at-afl

I think not having to throw 4 pitches for an intentional walk is absurd.

I myself have no problem with the length of the game. Love spending the day at the ballpark.

 

[chugg21]

Honestly had free tickets to the Giants game out here on Sun afternoon and were sitting at the bar across the street from the stadium with my wife and decided 5 minutes before game time to just rent bikes and ride around the city for the hell of it instead. Granted the tickets were free, the game was meaningless and have already been to about a dozen games this year but that still tells me how far baseball has fallen for me. Probably comes from growing up in Buffalo without ever really developing any loyalty to any team, but I still play the game, still play fantasy baseball and follow the league pretty thoroughly. Was just shocking to me that she didn't even have to ask twice about skipping the game.

 

[Bayside44]

As someone who works in baseball, I think some of the responses are weird.

For example, why does the regular season need to be shortened by 8 games? Does that affect anything? Part of the allure of baseball is that there is a game everyday and you can go when its convenient.

Baseball's biggest issue is the slotting where playoff games begin. It is all about the younger fans and the issue with 8 o clock starts is that the young fan is asleep before the excitement truly begins, such as the epic wildcard game on Tuesday.

2nd biggest issue is time of game. Game need to go back to being 2:30 to 3:00 and not the lengths they are now. Easy changes as well, as the SEC has used a pitch clock for years. A number of changes in the works in the Fall League as well and those should work as well.

Killing 8 games can eliminate a lot of the "B" rosters on travel days, minor league / longman spot starts, etc. As a season ticket holder for the Nats I pay the same to see Strasburg or Blake Treinen. When the Yankees were selling seats in the moat and equating it to a Broadway musical (what a bunch of greedy jerks, btw), you're always going to hear the big scores in the Broadway performance.

What kills the game speed is situational pitching from the 5th inning on.

On playoffs unbalanced schedules, esp with interleague, aren't helpful.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

I love baseball and have luckily passed that on to my boys. My 2 older ones (12 & 8) even got the chance to watch BP on the field at Wrigley and run the bases. They're hooked. I don't think it's possible to take tradition and nostalgia out of the equation when it comes to baseball. It's too ingrained in die hard fans. Those two elements seem to be more of a part of baseball than other sports. The biggest changes that I would make would be going back to scheduling doubleheaders, and having playoff games earlier. Scheduled doubleheaders would create more off days within the season. The most exciting part of the season is the post season and most kids can't stay up late enough to watch the games, unless they live on the west coast. Minor tweaks to speed up the game would be alright. I'd have no problem if they eliminated interleague play. What kind of asinine move was it to put the Astros in the AL when they could have just moved Milwaukee back? Other than watching SU football and basketball, I'll take a major league baseball game over any other sport.

 

[Timonen]

obviously will never happen but relegation would be fantastic and riveting...and the system is actually closer to any other pro sports to adopt it. Let Columbus or Syracuse or Albuquerque win their way into the majors.

 

[chugg21]

obviously will never happen but relegation would be fantastic and riveting...and the system is actually closer to any other pro sports to adopt it. Let Columbus or Syracuse or Albuquerque win their way into the majors.

Except that their players belong to the big league clubs, otherwise if they were truly independent, it would sure be interesting.