Steinbrenner is Right

by rdh on Oct 1, 2008 3:42 AM EDT Comment 3 comments

Hank Steinbrenner could say the sky is blue and people would disagree. Yankee hatred has the habit of clouding one’s judgment. So it was no surprise that when Steinbrenner, in a recent Sporting News article, lamented over the MLB’s playoff system, accusing it of being unfair, he received unanimous criticism. Yet once again pundits are clouded by Yankee hatred, for Steinbrenner is absolutely correct. Major league baseball’s playoff system is unfair and needs to be fixed.

Steinbrenner argues that the current playoff system prevents the best teams from making the postseason. He’s right. This year the Los Angeles Dodgers made the National League playoffs with only 84 victories thanks to a weak N.L. West. Meanwhile, three teams outside of the N.L. West had better records but are watching the postseason from home because they didn’t win their division or the wildcard. In the American League, the Yankees suffered a similar humiliation. That’s bad for baseball.

Steinbrenner’s solution is to eliminate the divisions and send the top four teams from each league to the postseason. While the two leagues have historical significance, the six divisions do not. There are enough games to satisfy rivalries and with modern transportation technology, travel distances are no longer an issue. With the divisions eliminated, the four best teams from each league are assured playoff berths, the importance of the regular season is fortified and the integrity of the World Series strengthen.

The elimination of the divisions, especially the always tough A.L East, means baseball’s most important team, the New York Yankees, has a better chance to make the postseason on an annual basis. With the Yankees consistently in the playoffs, the league benefits financially and avoids the embarrassment of not having its richest franchise in the postseason. That’s good for baseball.

Whether you cheer or jeer the Yankees, you must agree with Hank Steinbrenner. Major League Baseball’s current playoff system is unfair, infuriating and illogical. Keep in mind that if Steinbrenner’s playoff system were used this year, the post season would have included the television friendly Yankees and Mets, as well as the feel-good, but ratings killing, Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. That’s even better for baseball.

via blog.ingamenow.com

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There are too many

“Baseball Puritans” out there for any new ideas to come to fruition. Too many conservative mind sets who abhor anything new or different.

Let’s have a style closer to the Canadian Football league (which no one is familiar with I’m sure): Top team in “A” division gets a bye, 2nd plays 3rd for the right to play 1st. IF the fourth place team in “A:” division has a better record than the 3rd place team in “B” division then 4th place “A” gets to compete against 2nd place “B”.

It won’t work in a 3 division league like MLB has, but to the victors go the spoils none the less.

by ilBrutto on Oct 1, 2008 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

MLB should just be

the AL and the NL. no divisions. play a balanced schedule. 1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3, simple as that. do we really need to play Baltimore and Toronto 38 f’in times?

by Travis G on Oct 1, 2008 9:35 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with the logic here...

…but there is little chance baseball will consider changing the format to satisfy the Yankees.

The divisional playoff structure is so often credited by sports media types along with the Sosa/McGwire HR race in ‘98 and Interleague as having revived interest in baseball that it’s pretty much untouchable at this point.

I don’t necessarily agree with their mentality 100%, but it’s so ingrained as conventional wisdom at this point that it is difficult to even imagine a scenario where that could be challenged.

by losjanks on Oct 3, 2008 11:24 AM EDT reply actions