View Full Version : Playoffs should be a strict 1-4, 2-3 format
redoct11
09-21-2007, 11:58 AM
I think the playoffs should be a strict 1-4, 2-3 format. Meaning, if the wild card has a better record than one of the division winners then they should be given the #3 seed. Also, even if the 1-4 or 2-3 are two teams from the same division then they should matchup in the division series. Keep it a strict 1-4, 2-3 format. Thoughts?
Sean Casey
09-21-2007, 12:06 PM
The reason the wild card is always given the #4 seed is as a way to give the advantage to the teams that won their division. Even if the wild card winner has a better regular season record than one or more division winners, that could be because they might play in a weaker division and therefore benefited more from the unbalanced schedule. I'm not sure why teams in the same division can't compete in the LDS though.
redoct11
09-21-2007, 12:14 PM
The reason the wild card is always given the #4 seed is as a way to give the advantage to the teams that won their division. Even if the wild card winner has a better regular season record than one or more division winners, that could be because they might play in a weaker division and therefore benefited more from the unbalanced schedule. I'm not sure why teams in the same division can't compete in the LDS though.
Well if the wild card has a better regular season record than the other division winners and their strength of division (based on average wpct of teams within division) is stronger than the other divisions then they should be given the higher seed.
NYMets523
09-22-2007, 10:00 AM
I'm not sure why teams in the same division can't compete in the LDS though.
I think that's because of money. More money would be made from a Red Sox/Yankees or Phillies/Mets NLCS than a NLDS. There's more hype around the NLCS and there's more games to make more money from.
NewEnglandAmazins
09-22-2007, 01:07 PM
I think that's because of money. More money would be made from a Red Sox/Yankees or Phillies/Mets NLCS than a NLDS. There's more hype around the NLCS and there's more games to make more money from.
I agree, it is probably about the money. By the way Wildcards (4th seed) usually have a better win percentage than the 3rd seeded Division Champion.
Thread with list for both 3rd & 4th seed results from 1995-present
http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=60533