What Playoff Structure is Best?

BKL · 05-01-2014, 12:14 AM

I'm trying to decide between two playoff structures and would like any opinions.

I have a 32 team fictional game - 2 leagues each with two divisions of 8 teams in each division. It's a customized 80 game season.

I am not using any Wild Card because I'm finding OOTP does not handle Wild Card tie-breakers well, especially if a team is tied for division championship as well as a wild card spot.

So, I'm down to two options:

(1) Each division champion qualifies. So, a total of four teams make the playoffs. The benefit of this method is that you have a good chance of just the very best teams making the playoffs for "high-quality" teams. It gives the season more meaning. Ok, but here's the negative: many teams are out of the playoff race early in the season.

(2) An alternative is to have the top two teams in each division qualify, for a total of 8 teams. The top two teams would play for the division championship, and then the playoffs would continue to a League Championship and World Series. The advantage is that more teams stay in the playoff hunt for most of the season. Also, you are guaranteed to have at least the top two teams from each league make the playoffs. The negative is that you also run the risk of lower-quality teams winning the championship. For instance, I ran some simulations and in some cases the team that ranked 10th among the 32 teams won it all.

What would you do? Any other suggestions? I'm curious how others run their playoffs.

Thank you!

Le Grande Orange · 05-01-2014, 02:00 AM

You could use the split-season format. They you'd have four playoff qualifiers: the two first-half division winners and the two second-half division winners. Note, however, OOTP does not note in any way when the first half ends and when the second half begins, nor can you view the standings for each half (you'll have to track that yourself).

DreamTeams · 05-01-2014, 10:51 AM

I'm partial to option #1 if your going without inter-league play or post season byes for division winners. In option #1, the season will determine 4 champions who will play for the title. No second chances for second place teams. Love that. But, definitely get your reasoning for option 2 and understand how that plays out in today's world. Still, it depends on what you want the season to accomplish. The season can either determine champions who earn the right to move on or it can be used to jockey teams for playoff positions. You'll need to determine which is more fun for you and go for it. Also, keep in mind that you can always change the playoff structure later.

The Wolf · 05-01-2014, 11:23 AM

I run a 32 league expanded MLB with two sub leagues of four divisions of four teams each. It makes for fun playoffs, and there's no wildcard.

conception · 05-01-2014, 01:55 PM

I have a 32 team league with 2 subleagues with two 8 team divisions. The winners of the divisions make the playoffs and there is one wildcard from each league. The best record from each subleague gets a bye in the first round while the second division winner and wildcard square off in a 5 game series. I love this system because it places a true importance on the best regular season record. Getting a bye in the first round and then only having two playoff series to win means they have a short road to the championship. It also means that you can't rest on your laurels, because often times who gets the bye can come down to the final game of the regular season.

dim13 · 05-01-2014, 05:49 PM

For each division, I would have the division winner plus 2 wild cards qualify (2nd and 3rd place teams for WCs within each division).

1st place teams get a bye, to give the season more meaning.

Wild card round: 2nd place vs 3rd place teams play within their division. WC round winner then plays 1st place team from their division.

Maybe have higher seeds plays all home games for the WC round and Divisional round.

When you are down to 4 teams total (divisional representatives), then switch to Home and Away series.

05-01-2014, 10:51 AM	#3
DreamTeams Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 2,522	I'm partial to option #1 if your going without inter-league play or post season byes for division winners. In option #1, the season will determine 4 champions who will play for the title. No second chances for second place teams. Love that. But, definitely get your reasoning for option 2 and understand how that plays out in today's world. Still, it depends on what you want the season to accomplish. The season can either determine champions who earn the right to move on or it can be used to jockey teams for playoff positions. You'll need to determine which is more fun for you and go for it. Also, keep in mind that you can always change the playoff structure later. __________________

05-01-2014, 12:14 AM	#1
BKL All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 929	What Playoff Structure is Best? I'm trying to decide between two playoff structures and would like any opinions. I have a 32 team fictional game - 2 leagues each with two divisions of 8 teams in each division. It's a customized 80 game season. I am not using any Wild Card because I'm finding OOTP does not handle Wild Card tie-breakers well, especially if a team is tied for division championship as well as a wild card spot. So, I'm down to two options: (1) Each division champion qualifies. So, a total of four teams make the playoffs. The benefit of this method is that you have a good chance of just the very best teams making the playoffs for "high-quality" teams. It gives the season more meaning. Ok, but here's the negative: many teams are out of the playoff race early in the season. (2) An alternative is to have the top two teams in each division qualify, for a total of 8 teams. The top two teams would play for the division championship, and then the playoffs would continue to a League Championship and World Series. The advantage is that more teams stay in the playoff hunt for most of the season. Also, you are guaranteed to have at least the top two teams from each league make the playoffs. The negative is that you also run the risk of lower-quality teams winning the championship. For instance, I ran some simulations and in some cases the team that ranked 10th among the 32 teams won it all. What would you do? Any other suggestions? I'm curious how others run their playoffs. Thank you!

05-01-2014, 02:00 AM	#2
Le Grande Orange Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Up There Posts: 15,644	You could use the split-season format. They you'd have four playoff qualifiers: the two first-half division winners and the two second-half division winners. Note, however, OOTP does not note in any way when the first half ends and when the second half begins, nor can you view the standings for each half (you'll have to track that yourself).

05-01-2014, 01:55 PM	#5
conception All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,150	I have a 32 team league with 2 subleagues with two 8 team divisions. The winners of the divisions make the playoffs and there is one wildcard from each league. The best record from each subleague gets a bye in the first round while the second division winner and wildcard square off in a 5 game series. I love this system because it places a true importance on the best regular season record. Getting a bye in the first round and then only having two playoff series to win means they have a short road to the championship. It also means that you can't rest on your laurels, because often times who gets the bye can come down to the final game of the regular season.

05-01-2014, 05:49 PM	#6
dim13 Major Leagues Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: tucson, az Posts: 343	For each division, I would have the division winner plus 2 wild cards qualify (2nd and 3rd place teams for WCs within each division). 1st place teams get a bye, to give the season more meaning. Wild card round: 2nd place vs 3rd place teams play within their division. WC round winner then plays 1st place team from their division. Maybe have higher seeds plays all home games for the WC round and Divisional round. When you are down to 4 teams total (divisional representatives), then switch to Home and Away series.