OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Why the best team doesn't win the World Series

JAttractive · 10-02-2002, 05:58 PM

What is wrong with measuring top teams on a shortened schedule to determine who is best? Look at the Olympics where it is often do or die for teams there. One loss and you are out. Is it fair to say the winning team is not deserving? Sure sometimes a lowly team wins out but I kind of enjoy the pressure involved, testing a team to see if they can "rise" to the occasion.

I suppose however that baseball is unlike most physical sports where player's are capable of raising the level of their game. However there is also a strategy to building a playoff team that is often overlooked. Do you want to build the best regular season team or will you risk not making the playoffs to build a team that is designed to play there?

As far as I am concerned 162 games is more than enough to determine the top teams. Hell you could argue it is TOO long and it is the *top* teams who are "lucky" enough to escape major injuries that win out. Personally I love the wild card and would be in favour of seeing baseball playoffs EXPANDED so that the top 50% of teams make it in! *gasp*

Yes I am sure many traditionalists would love to throttle me for saying that but it all reminds of a religion where people are often steeped in the "old" ways and take forever to adapt. Consider the following:

1. The number of teams has expanded greatly over the years. If you remove the wild card again teams will have LESS of a chance to make the playoff than ever before. Even with the wildcard they probably have a lower chance than in the early days (don't quote me on that). Is it fair to penalize teams because the league expanded?

2. The other major sports all have a greater number of playoff rounds and they don't seem to suffer. In fact some would argue they are growing at the expense of baseball. Can the extra excitement playoffs bring be a part of this?

3. Players may care more about making the playoffs if they actually felt like they had a shot to make it! How difficult would it be to play for some of these lower ranked teams that year in and year out never come close? Imagine playing 162 games a year for five or more years and know game in and game out you have no chance. Can you blame them for finding something else to care about (their stats, financial concerns etc.)?

4. Small market teams are hurt most by the current structure because they need a huge payroll to have any chance of making the playoffs (in most cases). If only the elite teams make it you create a situation where large market teams have a huge advantage by the payrolls they can offer.

But the most important reason:
5. What is more exciting for a fan, knowing from the start your team has almost no chance to take a playoff spot or knowing your team is not one of the top 8 teams but may still squeak by and make a playoff spot?

I know first hand as a Blue Jay fan it was very difficult to care about the team the last few years. Why watch "meaningless" games when I have the Maple Leafs and Raptors in town as well? I know they may not have an elite team every year but I can almost guarantee they will make the playoffs and reward me for watching all season.

When the Blue Jays were in their playoff years I would watch almost every single game they played that was televised, even late west coast games. I was willing to *invest* my time because it would made the playoffs more exciting to watch having followed the team so long. But where is my reward watching a game for a non-playoff team? Sure it is still fun to enjoy a game here and there but I could watch a minor league team for that too (there used to be one in my city) or I could even just go play it myself.

Sorry but I think 162 games is a lot to ask of fans who know full well only their teams have no chance. Like or not times have changed and their is a lot more to do for excitement than in the older days of baseball. We have media like never before, numerous popular sport leagues, and all kinds of other forms of entertainment that were not readily available back then. Think of me what you will but I don't watch baseball just for the pure enjoyment of the sport. That is one aspect of why I watch it sure, but I also want a bit of excitement and drama that only the chance of winning it all can provide. I don't see anything wrong with that either when other sports manage to provide it to me (ie. hockey). So why can't baseball again?

Oh right, because some grey haired old men get offended that we are breaking with tradition? Pssh. The game can continue to die with them then, is that what they prefer? Sorry but I want it to live on long after I am in the grave and if this is the sort of idea that would bring fans back I say go for it.

(Note that while I am fairly confident it would help things I will not be arrogant enough to say it will for sure. I still would like to see fans be more open to considering it though but most whom I have talked to act as though I just committed a crime for even suggesting it.)

10-02-2002, 05:58 PM	#29
JAttractive All Star Starter Join Date: May 2002 Location: St. Catharines, Ontario Posts: 1,135	What is wrong with measuring top teams on a shortened schedule to determine who is best? Look at the Olympics where it is often do or die for teams there. One loss and you are out. Is it fair to say the winning team is not deserving? Sure sometimes a lowly team wins out but I kind of enjoy the pressure involved, testing a team to see if they can "rise" to the occasion. I suppose however that baseball is unlike most physical sports where player's are capable of raising the level of their game. However there is also a strategy to building a playoff team that is often overlooked. Do you want to build the best regular season team or will you risk not making the playoffs to build a team that is designed to play there? As far as I am concerned 162 games is more than enough to determine the top teams. Hell you could argue it is TOO long and it is the top teams who are "lucky" enough to escape major injuries that win out. Personally I love the wild card and would be in favour of seeing baseball playoffs EXPANDED so that the top 50% of teams make it in! gasp Yes I am sure many traditionalists would love to throttle me for saying that but it all reminds of a religion where people are often steeped in the "old" ways and take forever to adapt. Consider the following: 1. The number of teams has expanded greatly over the years. If you remove the wild card again teams will have LESS of a chance to make the playoff than ever before. Even with the wildcard they probably have a lower chance than in the early days (don't quote me on that). Is it fair to penalize teams because the league expanded? 2. The other major sports all have a greater number of playoff rounds and they don't seem to suffer. In fact some would argue they are growing at the expense of baseball. Can the extra excitement playoffs bring be a part of this? 3. Players may care more about making the playoffs if they actually felt like they had a shot to make it! How difficult would it be to play for some of these lower ranked teams that year in and year out never come close? Imagine playing 162 games a year for five or more years and know game in and game out you have no chance. Can you blame them for finding something else to care about (their stats, financial concerns etc.)? 4. Small market teams are hurt most by the current structure because they need a huge payroll to have any chance of making the playoffs (in most cases). If only the elite teams make it you create a situation where large market teams have a huge advantage by the payrolls they can offer. But the most important reason: 5. What is more exciting for a fan, knowing from the start your team has almost no chance to take a playoff spot or knowing your team is not one of the top 8 teams but may still squeak by and make a playoff spot? I know first hand as a Blue Jay fan it was very difficult to care about the team the last few years. Why watch "meaningless" games when I have the Maple Leafs and Raptors in town as well? I know they may not have an elite team every year but I can almost guarantee they will make the playoffs and reward me for watching all season. When the Blue Jays were in their playoff years I would watch almost every single game they played that was televised, even late west coast games. I was willing to invest my time because it would made the playoffs more exciting to watch having followed the team so long. But where is my reward watching a game for a non-playoff team? Sure it is still fun to enjoy a game here and there but I could watch a minor league team for that too (there used to be one in my city) or I could even just go play it myself. Sorry but I think 162 games is a lot to ask of fans who know full well only their teams have no chance. Like or not times have changed and their is a lot more to do for excitement than in the older days of baseball. We have media like never before, numerous popular sport leagues, and all kinds of other forms of entertainment that were not readily available back then. Think of me what you will but I don't watch baseball just for the pure enjoyment of the sport. That is one aspect of why I watch it sure, but I also want a bit of excitement and drama that only the chance of winning it all can provide. I don't see anything wrong with that either when other sports manage to provide it to me (ie. hockey). So why can't baseball again? Oh right, because some grey haired old men get offended that we are breaking with tradition? Pssh. The game can continue to die with them then, is that what they prefer? Sorry but I want it to live on long after I am in the grave and if this is the sort of idea that would bring fans back I say go for it. (Note that while I am fairly confident it would help things I will not be arrogant enough to say it will for sure. I still would like to see fans be more open to considering it though but most whom I have talked to act as though I just committed a crime for even suggesting it.)