First off, thanks so much to everyone for checking in yesterday. I really appreciate it and it’s nice to know you’re out there… especially since I’m apparently the last blogger left.
The baseball playoffs began yesterday (congratulations, Red Sox) and will continue for what seems like eternity. And this after seven months of baseball. I have a radical suggestion for how to make the playoffs more exciting. You’re going to say I’m crazy but hear me out.
The playoffs are now too long. Wild card games, division series, league championship series, World Series. There are four division series and two league championship series. Division series are best 3 out of 5. Championship and World Series are best 4 out of 7. A one-game playoff determines the Wild Card.
So the Wild Card games are crucial because they’re sudden death. Then you slog through all the other series, which get longer as the playoffs unfold. And the later you get into the run, the more breathing room a team has (they can lose more games and still win). By the time you get to the World Series, unless your team is in it, you’re pretty much done.
So eliminate games.
Wild Card series - one game
Division series - best 2 of 3
Championship series - best 3 of 5 (that’s how they used to be)
And only play a best of 7 series for the World Series. A one-game series would be better, but I'm enough of a traditionalist to want to see a full series.
I told you it was radical. Owners would complain because they couldn't cash in as much, and all owners care about is making money. It would be nice to have a commissioner who's not just the owners footstool, but that's not going to happen. You'd knock off at least 12 potential games, maybe more.
If there’s a Game 7 of the World Series this year it will be on November 3rd. That’s insane. Chicago, Milwaukee, New York, and Boston are lovely that time of year should they make it that far. And again, the only reason I'm not suggesting a one game winner-take-all World Series is tradition.
Now of course MLB will never adopt my suggestion, but think back to this baseball fans when you're two weeks in and turn over to football or the World Series of Poker.
from By Ken Levine
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