2023 Open Comment Thread on Possible Rule Change - Expanded playoffs?

Once in awhile, someone asks about expanding the playoffs.

This has typically been a non-starter for me, but I'm at the point where I'm at least curious about what you all think.

I've always wanted to not diminish the reward for winning the division. 4 teams out of each 16-team league make the BWB playoffs - so 25% make the postseason.

When BWB started, 4 teams in each league made the MLB playoffs.  8 teams out of 30 - or 26.7 percent. BWB was right in line with that.

With the latest playoff expansion, now 12 of the 30 MLB teams move on - that's 40%

We're used to it now in the real sports world - no doubt you're used to other fantasy games where a larger number of teams make the playoffs. Adding wild cards could put more teams with something to play for at the end - or provide some consolation to a team that loses a tiebreaker.  Or maybe you're in that division with the super team that has won 10 straight division titles and you can win a lot of games but still finish in 2nd.

I'm shrugging my shoulders on this at the moment. I'm not so strongly opposed to this as I might have been 10 years ago but I'm not saying I'm ready for the change yet.

What do you think?

I suppose there are 2 - maybe 3 options if we were to expand.

1. Nudge into expanded playoffs. In each conference, there is 1 wild card to go along with the 2 division winners. The wild card plays the division winner with the worse record while the best team gets a bye. (6 out of 16 teams - 37.5%)
2. Dive in deeper - there are 2 wild cards per conference and both division winners play a wild card team to start. (8 out of 16 teams - 50%)
3. In perhaps a more radical change, do away with the divisions. 8 teams per conference and the top 3 or top 4 move to the playoffs and are seeded by record - more like the NBA.

Perhaps to still reward division winners, the first series with a wild card could start with a division winner holding a 1-0 series lead - similar to what we did in 2020 for the Covid season.

As always, this isn't up for popular vote and BWB has the final say - but I'm interested in your opinions.

So - please use the comments here for a discussion about this topic

We haven't kicked off the season yet - if we were to change this soon, it's still possible to implement for 2023 but I'd guess it it would be more likely in the 2024 season.

2023 Open Comment Thread on Possible Rule Change - Off season draft/transaction order

Over the years, there have been a few times that questions have come up regarding the transaction order in the off-season - for the Redistribution Draft and spring and early season free agent signings.

We have always set the draft/transaction order in reverse order of wins from the previous season - with division winners in the last four slots.

Of course, the possible complaint about this is that team that is clearly tanking - clearing its roster of star players or sticking them on the taxi squad - not setting the best lineup/rotation - etc. All with the design of landing the top draft slot (and the first spot in the waiver order in the first 2-3 weeks of the season when there can be other new players added to the list).

I've had some people say this is a major problem - some say that it's not an issue at all.

As always, this isn't up for popular vote and BWB has the final say - but I'm interested in your opinions.

So - please use the comments here for a discussion about this topic:

1) Should we change the way we determine the off-season order? (plus why or why not)

2) If you think we should change it, what's your suggestion as a replacement?

Some possible different options:

• 2nd-place teams get the top spot(s)
• Determine the order of the first 8 places based on the results of the Bottom Feeder Open
• Draft lottery
• ?

Keep in mind that whatever method we use needs to be relatively easy to implement - and post results - for 68+ leagues. It's one thing for the NBA to do a draft lottery for a single league. Is it something I can automate for all of BWB?

The major question at this point is whether it should change or not - a replacement option can be dealt with in more depth later.

If this were to change, this is still an open thought to change in the next off season (Winter 2023/2024)