League division alignment

Applecorey · 08-31-2003, 01:09 PM

I'm doing a historical solo league in 1940 now.
It has 32 teams.

What works best?
4 eight team divisions
8 four team divisions
6 six team divisions

Thanks.
Corey

earlg · 08-31-2003, 01:17 PM

I do not like the wild card or too few teams in divisions with only 4 each. A team with a losing record could get into the playoffs. With 8 teams only quality teams make the playoffs and pennant racs are more likely with more teams in divisions. The last great pennant race for me was 93 with the braves and giants.

Hammer · 08-31-2003, 01:49 PM

you might want to check your math with a 6 by 6 again applecorey

Applecorey · 08-31-2003, 01:52 PM

Yeah. If I went to 6 by 6 I'd add 4 teams. Each team only has like 5 - 10 minor leaguers so that might be a bit tight.

Le Grande Orange · 08-31-2003, 02:27 PM

If you want to take your 1940 era into account, then it definitely ought to be 4 divisions of 8 teams each. The idea of multiple small divisions or wildcard playoff qualifiers is very much a "modern" concept.

Quote:

Originally posted by earlg
The last great pennant race for me was 93 with the braves and giants.

True, but there is one caveat: the teams involved were playing a balanced schedule, so really the divisional structure they were arranged into was arbitrary and effectively meaningless. It would've been, however, a very close race for the top spot in a single division, consolidated 14 team league (which is what the balanced schedule really made it into).

white wolf · 09-01-2003, 05:32 PM

6X6 sounds great. Perhaps too many teams being out of everything (unless you're using a European-soccer-like relegation system - if interested, do a search on the boards for 'relegated' or 'relegation' and you'll find out what I mean

.

BTW, does anyone know if it is possible to replicate in some way the NFL and its' playoff system? If I set up a 2-league, 4X4 format, the winner of each division will go into the playoffs, right? No wildcards whatsoever?

Many thanks if anyone could give their input on how to do that.

ctorg · 09-02-2003, 09:58 AM

It depends on what you want from your league. If you want to have the best teams in the playoffs, use fewer divisions with more teams in each. If you want a longer and more involved postseason, use more divisions with less teams in each.

The middle ground is the 6x6 setup, which is fine if you like the wild card.

I would personally go with the 8 divisions, 4 teams in each setup because I like a lot of postseason games.

Cowboys3356 · 09-02-2003, 11:04 AM

What I always enjoy doing is having two leagues with three divisions and 5 teams in two of the divisions and four in another.

Of course if I am doing historical then I just go with the "real" division alignments of that time period and change it as I go to reflect the real changes in MLB.

ctorg · 09-02-2003, 12:02 PM

I once did a league of 16 teams with 8 divisions. That's right: 2 teams per division, one of which will be in the playoffs, so every team has a 50/50 shot at getting in. It was interesting to see how it worked. It happened on several occasions that teams with losing records won it all.

It basically amounted to the whole season being like a playoff bracket, with the first round being 162 games.

View Poll Results: Which league format works the best?
4 divisions 8 teams each	5	41.67%
8 divisions 4 teams each	5	41.67%
6 divisions 6 teams each (wildcard)	2	16.67%
Voters: 12. You may not vote on this poll

08-31-2003, 01:09 PM	#1
Applecorey Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 307	League division alignment I'm doing a historical solo league in 1940 now. It has 32 teams. What works best? 4 eight team divisions 8 four team divisions 6 six team divisions Thanks. Corey __________________ www.boardgamegeek.com

08-31-2003, 01:52 PM	#4
Applecorey Major Leagues Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 307	Yeah. If I went to 6 by 6 I'd add 4 teams. Each team only has like 5 - 10 minor leaguers so that might be a bit tight. __________________ www.boardgamegeek.com

09-01-2003, 05:32 PM	#6
white wolf Minors (Single A) Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Philly Posts: 69	6X6 sounds great. Perhaps too many teams being out of everything (unless you're using a European-soccer-like relegation system - if interested, do a search on the boards for 'relegated' or 'relegation' and you'll find out what I mean . BTW, does anyone know if it is possible to replicate in some way the NFL and its' playoff system? If I set up a 2-league, 4X4 format, the winner of each division will go into the playoffs, right? No wildcards whatsoever? Many thanks if anyone could give their input on how to do that. __________________ Drink a highball And be jolly Here's a toast to dear old...

09-02-2003, 09:58 AM	#7
ctorg Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 9,848	It depends on what you want from your league. If you want to have the best teams in the playoffs, use fewer divisions with more teams in each. If you want a longer and more involved postseason, use more divisions with less teams in each. The middle ground is the 6x6 setup, which is fine if you like the wild card. I would personally go with the 8 divisions, 4 teams in each setup because I like a lot of postseason games. __________________ My music "When the trees blow back and forth, that's what makes the wind." - Steven Wright Fjord emena pancreas thorax fornicate marmalade morpheme proteolysis smaxa cabana offal srue vitriol grope hallelujah lentils

08-31-2003, 01:17 PM	#2
earlg Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: birmingham Posts: 27	I do not like the wild card or too few teams in divisions with only 4 each. A team with a losing record could get into the playoffs. With 8 teams only quality teams make the playoffs and pennant racs are more likely with more teams in divisions. The last great pennant race for me was 93 with the braves and giants.

08-31-2003, 01:49 PM	#3
Hammer Major Leagues Join Date: May 2002 Location: Horicon, Wi Posts: 330	you might want to check your math with a 6 by 6 again applecorey

09-02-2003, 11:04 AM	#8
Cowboys3356 All Star Starter Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,571	What I always enjoy doing is having two leagues with three divisions and 5 teams in two of the divisions and four in another. Of course if I am doing historical then I just go with the "real" division alignments of that time period and change it as I go to reflect the real changes in MLB.

09-02-2003, 12:02 PM	#9
ctorg Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 9,848	I once did a league of 16 teams with 8 divisions. That's right: 2 teams per division, one of which will be in the playoffs, so every team has a 50/50 shot at getting in. It was interesting to see how it worked. It happened on several occasions that teams with losing records won it all. It basically amounted to the whole season being like a playoff bracket, with the first round being 162 games. __________________ My music "When the trees blow back and forth, that's what makes the wind." - Steven Wright Fjord emena pancreas thorax fornicate marmalade morpheme proteolysis smaxa cabana offal srue vitriol grope hallelujah lentils