Quote:
Originally Posted by tysok
Interesting that a division can suck that bad.  Finish off 10 games under .500 and still win the division... |
That has to be because a balanced schedule was used. It would be extremely unlikely that with a divisionally weighted schedule a club would have that poor a record and yet still win the division. The club would have 72 games (or more) against divisional opponents if a divisionally weighed MLB schedule was used.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bababui
A more honest approach would by only conferences and a balanced schedule. That way the 4 playoff teams would be much more likely to be the four best teams in the conference.
|
There are reasons as to why the 12-team NL years were a failure, and one of them was that with a large, single-division structure of that sort meant too many also-rans during the season, negatively affecting attendance, and consequently, profits.
Schedule and travel considerations also favour divisional structures.