nypost.com
Probably
A scenario of game 1 at home for the lower seed and then two home games for the higher seed would make it a very interesting series.
You'd probably have to add another travel day in that scenario which MLB probably doesn't want. The #1 team would have a whole week off
They play plenty of games without a travel day. Why is a travel day necessary in the playoffs?
Probably required by the CBA
Not to mention the revenue issues.
Yeah, I was only speaking from a fan/fairness perspective. 1 game play-in after a 162 game grind? No thanks.
Yep. Can't get the next generation interested in the game if they can't watch them.
Right. The revenue matters though for teams looking to keep things rolling the following year. An extra 10M in revenue for each home game certainly helps add talent that offseason.
Yeah, I get there is a legit revenue perspective.
I'm ok with it. Baseball gets killed regularly for being too stiff and traditional. Like him or not, Manford is trying some new things. Heck, other pro sports leagues just keep expanding playoffs. Now the back lash is you're going to really minimize the regular season, kind of like the NBA. But you also possibly keep fanbases interested longer.MLB plotting playoff expansion — with reality TV twist
Imagine a team picking its playoff opponent. Think about Brian Cashman and the Yankees deciding whether to face the Red Sox or avoid them in the first round of the postseason. All on live TV. Well,…
I seem to be one of the few that actually likes this idea. The play in game is dumb and this eliminates it.
Just to illustrate how important that is, the Reds reportedly balk on Lindor because he was to expensive but yet they pursued Seager. The difference in salary.... less than 10M.
This plan makes the regular season more important, not less. As it stands now, half the teams or more stop trying to win by July 31 and go into tank mode. This plan would make more teams feel as though they have a shot and not sell off. It would also make the offseason much more exciting and likely drive up player salaries. Now they just need to implement a hard salary cap and fix the draft order (first team out of the playoffs gets the #1 pick) and you'll have teams consistently trying to win!
I mean, it’s pretty obvious more playoff games would equal more opportunity for additional revenues.
Sort of.... The home team garners a much bigger piece of the revenue pie. Two years ago it was estimated that each additional home game equates to 10M in extra revenue for the host team.
I’m not sure MLB’s goal is to drive up team salary spending. At least it wouldn’t be mine.
Which is why they need a hard cap.
When’s the next contract discussion with the players union?
Current CBA runs thru 2021. Negotiations are likely getting started soon.
You think either side will have an appetite for a work stoppage if a hard cap is a sticking point?
I think the players do, unfortunately.
Agreed but if there is one sport where home field advantage has less of an edge it is baseball
Not exactly on topic but your comment reminded me that the MLB wont allow fand/people to post clips onto social media. The nba is the exact opposite, they wont request anyone take down content bc they want people sharing and viewing clips of exciting plays.