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.
- 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%)
- 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%)
- 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.
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8 comments:
I'm for status quo, after all there are only 4 teams per division. If expanded playoffs are necessary, one wildcard is the more palatable option.
Scott Owens
Game Night League
Socal Blue Dogs
We already have a system of playoffs for all teams. I don't see that adding wild cards to allow teams to play in a "higher" playoff adds anything.
Maybe its the old school person in me, but I like that it takes a division win to be able to play for the World Series Championship.
However, I do recognize that I am sometimes that team that has a chokehold on the division, so while I prefer status quo, it wouldn't super upset me if there was a single wildcard in each conference that started in a 0-1 hole to the worst division winner. Still rather keep the current format though.
I think the playoffs system should not change because of a draft position. If you think it would keep people from tanking, the team with the worst record doesn't get the pick, the winner of the "also rans" playoffs get number 1.
I am FOR wild card teams. There are many teams with 90+ wins that miss out on the playoffs every year. All real-life leagues have wild cards.
I’m fine with the way it is or with option 1
when i first started bwb i was more in favor of wildcards because it seemed inequitable to win a ton of games and miss out on the playoffs to division winners who have fewer wins (and in some instances far fewer wins). but now that i've played it more and experienced the legacy factor of being in the same legaue year after year with most of the same owners, i like the fact that winning your division is the ultimate goal, even if you are in a tough division. it makes it more of an achievement and plays into the history of the league over time. and there are enough leagues around that you can maybe win your division (more often) in a league where your division isn't quite as tough, and still experience the playoffs. plus there are playoff games even for people not in the championship series to provide a postseason experience no matter what. i don't think it would 'ruin' the game to add a wildcard if the overwhelming number of owners thought it improved the fun factor, but from this small sample size, it doesn't seem like people are clamoring for this.
i thought it was set to sign my name, but john h. (San Diego Surfriders in Hall) penned the above.
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