[Cormier] MLB announced they're proposing shortening the regular season to 154 games and changing the division series to seven games.

[u/Turbostrider27]

https://bsky.app/profile/themetsnewsletter.com/post/3mxeyoajrecop

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[u/Skullbone211]

We’re going to see some fun “proposals” before things get serious aren’t we

[u/TheFakeRabbit1 → u/Skullbone211]

Can’t wait to see the impossible things that get brought up lol

[u/EliteStat18 → u/TheFakeRabbit1]

Anyone remember the "Golden at-bat" proposal?

[u/ortusdux → u/EliteStat18]

My favorite was the "Gold-Glove" proposal, where once per game an outfielder could pick up a ball and pretend they caught it.

[u/maverickhawk99 → u/ortusdux]

That seems like a rule your local league puts in because one of the youth teams sucks and loses every game they play.

[u/carlosoceano → u/ortusdux]

Yankee buffs 😂

[u/ZiggyPalffyLA → u/EliteStat18]

On this topic, I don’t know if this was ever actually proposed but I like the idea I’ve heard of allowing players in the home run derby to use an aluminum bat on the last out

[u/Jkabaseball → u/ZiggyPalffyLA]

Why not all? Make 600 ft HRs. Everyone between the poles has a chance to catch a ball.

[u/soul_doubt_66 → u/Jkabaseball]

The kids shagging balls would die

[u/Jkabaseball → u/soul_doubt_66]

-1 if you hit a kid

[u/fezzikwantsapeanut → u/EliteStat18]

Dear god no. I heard Michael Kay mention it on the radio years ago as plausible because of the entertainment value of baseball being negatively affected by star players only batting 3-5 times per game and not necessarily in the biggest moments, depending on the flow of the game. Therefore, why not have the ability to plug Aaron Judge into any high leverage at bat in the 9th inning. Made sense to him…

[u/TheFakeRabbit1 → u/EliteStat18]

Oh my god I forgot lmao

[u/RunawaYEM → u/TheFakeRabbit1]

“MLB plans to propose trees in every outfield and changing all warning tracks to sidewalks”

[u/GeneConscious5484 → u/RunawaYEM]

to be fair we did put a fucking flagpole on a hill in centerfield, and not in like 1894

[u/Nutlob → u/GeneConscious5484]

Tal's Hill was Awesome

[u/nightninja88 → u/Nutlob]

Bring back the hill God dammit!

[u/MelonElbows → u/TheFakeRabbit1]

If its the pitcher's birthday, they can balk as much as they want that day.

[u/SofieTerleska → u/MelonElbows]

So if a pitcher was born in the off-season, do they get a half-birthday balk pass?

[u/MelonElbows → u/SofieTerleska]

They do not.

[u/ChampagnePOWPOW → u/TheFakeRabbit1]

2B umpires will be equipped with taser pistols

[u/RayWencube → u/TheFakeRabbit1]

One game World Series.

[u/aotex → u/Skullbone211]

TAL'S HILL IN EVERY BALLPARK

[u/MachoMadnessCO → u/aotex]

In a randomized location

[u/Gryphon999 → u/MachoMadnessCO]

Even better, put some machinery under the outfield to randomly lift/drop areas.

[u/-orangejoe → u/aotex]

I've been saying for years Yankee Stadium should put monument park back in play.

[u/km912 → u/Skullbone211]

So odd they’re proposing this right when divisional rounds are exciting and ending. This is nothing but owner pr.

[u/TheGreatDudebino → u/Skullbone211]

No real proposals till February

[u/IppeiWasFramed → u/Skullbone211]

Time for baseball to institute a moat separating the infield from the outfield.

[u/Stonefencez → u/Skullbone211]

Now let’s do a silly one!

[u/boozinf → u/Stonefencez]

spitballs are legal, but it has to be the opposing manager's spit

tested well in the California Penal League

[u/Ayjel89]

Oh, sure, White Sox win TWO GAMES ON THE ROAD and suddenly EVERYONE WANTS LONGER DIVISION SERIES

/s

[u/BIRDLIFE → u/Ayjel89]

Also trying to shorten the season so no one ever gets more losses than the 2024 team. The jealousy is out of control.

[u/tc100292 → u/BIRDLIFE]

Well now you're just daring the Rockies to go 32-122.

[u/perfuzzly → u/tc100292]

Laughs in 1899 Cleveland Spiders

[u/Ayjel89 → u/BIRDLIFE]

OH MY GOD YOU'RE RIGHT

[u/_vidiviciveni → u/Ayjel89]

4 on the road. (Sad trash can noises)

[u/-GoodBeginning- → u/_vidiviciveni]

I love to see Astros fans embracing the trash cans

[u/CylindricalDent4133 → u/Ayjel89]

All a kneejerk reaction to you guys and Cleveland too not being there as punching bags for the Yankees. /s

[u/TheBorneoFunction → u/CylindricalDent4133]

Let the kids play 😢

[u/AccomplishedArea6089]

Terrible proposal, should be 17 game season like the nfl and add 145 playoff games

[u/wXy_5GHz → u/AccomplishedArea6089]

so basically, an NFL-like season and a NBA-like postseason. Got it.

[u/27Yosh → u/wXy_5GHz]

Or just divide the season into 23 seven game series to trick the players into thinking they're in the postseason the whole time

[u/Used_Reason7777 → u/27Yosh]

What if they just expand to 32 teams, do single elimination tournament...32 times. Your season could be 32 games OR 160. 

[u/RayWencube → u/wXy_5GHz]

Only an NBA post season if there’s also two weeks between games

[u/LakeMcKesson → u/AccomplishedArea6089]

https://giphy.com/gifs/l1AsBL4S36yDJain6

[u/ScroogeMcDust → u/AccomplishedArea6089]

Terrible proposal, the NFL season should be 162 games

[u/MelonElbows → u/ScroogeMcDust]

And make them play back to backs. All other major sports have back to back games, football should be the same. Prime time game in Tampa on Saturday, midnight flight to Seattle, noon game Sunday.

[u/HartfordWhaler → u/MelonElbows]

And doubleheaders!

[u/fluxus → u/ScroogeMcDust]

by game 150 I myself would be a starting offensive lineman for the Bears

[u/Nutlink49 → u/AccomplishedArea6089]

It's opening day at Coors Field aaaaaaand the Rockies have been eliminated from the playoffs.

[u/BooCalMcNairBoo → u/AccomplishedArea6089]

https://giphy.com/gifs/Y07F3fs9Is5byj4zK8

[u/FLman42069]

The big thing for me is teams should all end the season with three straight series against their division opponents

[u/pinkmoon385 → u/FLman42069]

Now that I like. The chaos that would ensue, but also being relatively close to home before the postseason. None of that game on the west coast only to go into he postseason with bad jet lag

[u/cardinalkgb → u/FLman42069]

Can’t do that because of the odd number of teams per division.

[u/Zraknul → u/FLman42069]

5 teams makes that impossible.

3+ in September for sure though.

[u/WaterUnder-TheFridge]

That just means my team gets eight fewer baseball games every year for eternity :(

[u/Hot-Dream-1096 → u/WaterUnder-TheFridge]

I believe the word you are looking for is "mercy"

[u/88Dodgers → u/WaterUnder-TheFridge]

There’s hope. After the Dodgers the teams left in the playoffs are 19th, 27th, 28th, and 29th in payroll with one of the bottom three guaranteed for the World Series.

[u/redlegsfan21 → u/88Dodgers]

But that would imply that my team's front office knows what they're doing and not just throwing money at Jeimer Candelario and Mike Moustakas.

[u/WeinerMuncher62]

A 100-win Yankees team picking the AL Central winner only to get swept is going to hit like crack

[u/Responsible_Force276 → u/WeinerMuncher62]

You know I want to agree with you but Cleveland is 0-4 vs ny in the last decade, the twins are 0-2 and the royals are 0-1 in the playoffs vs them so idk abt that.

[u/JDraks → u/Responsible_Force276]

Tigers are 3-0 vs Yankees all time in the postseason

[u/Responsible_Force276 → u/JDraks]

I gave the records in the past decade, the tigers haven’t played them since 2011

[u/CaptainSolo96 → u/Responsible_Force276]

isn't 2011 only....

oh

[u/TheRealJoeLunardi → u/WeinerMuncher62]

The Yankees are 7-0 against the AL Central in playoff series under Boone but if you said any other division then you're probably right

[u/KarateKid917 → u/TheRealJoeLunardi]

Which is how they got to the World Series in 2024. They only placed AL Central teams in the playoffs. Royals in the ALDS and Guardians in the ALCS. 

[u/horsepoop1123]

https://giphy.com/gifs/l3q2K5jinAlChoCLS

[u/istrx13 → u/horsepoop1123]

Gotta be honest, I love the idea of making the DS a B07.

[u/KirbyDude25 → u/istrx13]

I'd prefer they make the WC a BO5 first, but I wouldn't be opposed to extending the DS after that

It should be in that order, though. I really don't like 3-7-7-7

[u/ray_0586 → u/KirbyDude25]

The bye makes extending the Wild Card round impractical

[u/DrunkPackersFan → u/ray_0586]

Yeah, you’d either have to get rid of the byes and expand the playoff field (terrible idea), or just keep the best of 3 with all games at one park.

[u/lost_my_khakis → u/KirbyDude25]

How the fuck could you make the WC series last like seven days with travel days and have the teams with byes sit there that long?

[u/ForsakenRacism]

They should bring back a handful of scheduled double headers so the teams can get more off days.

[u/juice06870 → u/ForsakenRacism]

Then play a quadruple header when the scheduled double header gets rained out

[u/classicrockchick → u/juice06870]

The LeMans baseball game: 24 straight hours of baseball.

[u/Whatsdota]

Brewers Padres was so good they immediately decided it should’ve been a 7 game series

[u/Micro_mint → u/Whatsdota]

They were right

[u/ExiledSanity → u/Whatsdota]

I fear that series is going to be the highlight of the post season...but we shall see.

[u/Whatsdota → u/ExiledSanity]

Gonna be tough to top. I think I saw it’s only the second 5+ game series ever where no team ever led by more than 2 runs. Pretty much every inning felt pivotal

[u/ContinuumGuy → u/Whatsdota]

You know what? Fair.

[u/planemissediknow]

Genuinely surprised any league would consider shortening their season, even while increasing playoff games

If anything, figured they do what the NHL did with cutting preseason to add more regular season games

[u/Brewcity- → u/planemissediknow]

Can you imagine games at wrigley field on March 18th LMAO

[u/double_sal_gal → u/Brewcity-]

Or Coors Field. March is our snowiest month!

[u/woowooman → u/Brewcity-]

[u/EliteStat18 → u/planemissediknow]

NBA should since they openly give no effort in half their regular season games.

[u/ChunkyBubblz → u/EliteStat18]

NBA should start Christmas Day and eliminate all parts of the season before that day.

[u/Pikminious_Thrious → u/planemissediknow]

A good chunk of the games are already played with like 50 people in the crowd due to weather delays or rescheduled games. Or they have to play at like 10 am on a Wednesday to help the teams travel.

There's no way those games make them much money.

If they opened up some of the days, they'd have more room to reschedule on actual good timing for locals to attend games

[u/Bendyb3n → u/planemissediknow]

the MLBPA have been increasingly vocal about a shorter 154 game season the past few years. This is very much a major talking point for the upcoming CBA negotiations

[u/LegitimateMoney00]

I feel like higher seeds picking their opponent is worse than what we currently have, but I’m not in the meetings so whatever.

[u/TheTurtleShepard → u/LegitimateMoney00]

Picking the opponent is an interesting wrinkle

Feels like it puts a lot of pressure on the higher seed when you have handpicked the matchup

[u/SmokeOddessey → u/TheTurtleShepard]

Also makes it funnier when they get upset

[u/Marzipan_Dream_7389 → u/SmokeOddessey]

As a PWHL fan (where this format exists), I can 100% confirm this is the case. It’s happened in 2/3 years and it’s always a riot when the chosen team’s crowd cheers “YOU CHOSE US! YOU CHOSE US!” right before an upset.

[u/cowboysfan88 → u/TheTurtleShepard]

Yeah I think reseeding based on record would be better

[u/HemlockMartinis → u/LegitimateMoney00]

You know how everyone always clowns on fans who chant “WE WANT [INSERT TEAM]” and then lose? This would institutionalize that.

[u/SiphenPrax → u/HemlockMartinis]

I remember a few years ago someone on some show making this suggestion (don’t remember who it was) and they chit completely clowned for it.

This potentially being a reality is scary.

[u/dmmdoublem → u/LegitimateMoney00]

Maybe I’m missing something, but that sounds absolutely whack. Not a fan.

[u/sud0w00d0]

As long as you’re changing things can we please get rid of the jersey sleeve ad patches and all gambling ads/partnerships? u/MLBOfficial

[u/Interesting_Ad_4245 → u/sud0w00d0]

YES. Ads on jerseys looks horrendous and are just ruining them.

[u/TheSmartDog_275 → u/Interesting_Ad_4245]

Especially when they don’t color match. The cubs Motorola one looks nicer because it’s blue. I love Nintendo but the bright red square on the mariners jerseys look bad.

[u/YouthResponsible1752 → u/sud0w00d0]

Best we can do is remove stat lines for batters during broadcasts and replace them with the last fanduel odds.

[u/rhinguin]

Give me more division games actually

[u/hisshame]

It’s comforting to know that if the season had ended after 154 games this year the playoff picture would not have changed at all (swap rangers for Astros but that’s not gonna help against the White Sox). The Cubs and Padres would’ve swapped wildcard seeds but still would’ve played each other

So this isn’t like the Rams trying to end two point conversions or whatever they did at the end of the NFL playoffs in February

[u/SL28SL34 → u/hisshame]

Oh wow ya 154 is the exact game the guardians passed the sox

[u/Rodney_Jefferson]

Yankees get swept and now we need a 7 game division series

[u/DeepHouseBear → u/Rodney_Jefferson]

They'll still get swept 😭

[u/PomPomYourBomBom]

MLBPA announces they reject MLB's proposal

[u/Talladega_09]

[u/ReactiveCypress]

I'm surprised they'd consider it because it means fewer ticket sales overall

[u/OSRSlyfe → u/ReactiveCypress]

But more expensive tickets

[u/Head_of_Lettuce → u/OSRSlyfe]

And more playoff games to charge the networks for

[u/TheKnightThatSaysRee → u/ReactiveCypress]

The tradeoff is that more playoff games makes them more money.

[u/ftmidk]

Would they be able to choose any old team from the league for their opponents? Is this how The Mariners finally make it to the WS?

[u/Dan_Rydell]

Selecting opponents is too gimmicky for my tastes. Just re-seed for the LDS.

[u/littleseizure → u/Dan_Rydell]

I don't see what the mormans have to do with any of this. Why should they get their way?

[u/MCrow2001]

I’m in favor of less games from a logistical and player health viewpoint, but baseball is a sport rich with history and records based on a 162 game season and I don’t want to have to have conversations of “oh well he hit 57 HRs so if it were a 162 game season still he would’ve had 60”

[u/beermeamovie → u/MCrow2001]

It was 154 for about 60 years.

It’s less than 5% of the season, and players rest wayyyyy more now than they did even 25 years ago. Players very rarely even play 162 anymore

[u/jamiexx89 → u/beermeamovie]

I think there were only two on the Braves, Ozzie who I don’t know off hand if he had done that before, and Matt “Would literally need to not be able to see” Olson.

[u/Absolute-Unit → u/jamiexx89]

Ozzie’s previous career high was 160 in 2019.

[u/thatguygreg → u/beermeamovie]

That’s where the * on Maris’ 61 home runs came from, IIRC.

[u/Nihilist_Nautilus → u/MCrow2001]

Roger Maris only broke Ruth’s record because of 162

[u/Bigcouchpotato1 → u/Nihilist_Nautilus]

On the other hand, some of Ruth's home runs would be ground rules doubles today. In Ruth's day, if the ball bounced over the fence, it was a home run.

[u/Walter30573 → u/Bigcouchpotato1]

On the other other hand he probably lost a bunch of HRs because back then it could clear the fence in fair territory and still be called foul if it ultimately landed foul. It gets really hard to figure out anything for certain just relying on newspaper clippings

[u/TooSaucey4u → u/Walter30573]

Wow I’ve played baseball my entire life and my dad is somewhat of a baseball historian and somehow I didn’t know this was the case. There’s been a ton of rule changes, they lowered the mound in 1969, introduced the DH in ‘73, banned the spitter in the early 1900’s, etc. etc. Records are what they are — we can’t use that as a reason to stop ‘progress’ (if that’s what you want to call it). There are plenty of good arguments against shortening the season but yeah keeping the season the way it is due to record keeping is not a valid one.

[u/snickerDUDEls → u/MCrow2001]

7 players played all 162 this season, just saying. I don't think it would really ruin anything from a record standpoint, either you're hot for most of the season or you aren't

[u/Borosthespider]

I kinda like the 3-5-7 format. The strategy to roster construction changes each time and it’s fun to watch. It also highlights how different a baseball team is built compared to hockey and basketball that have uniform playoff series.

[u/BIRDSBEEZ → u/Borosthespider]

I think it absolutely sucks considering how many games they play in the regular season

[u/ThrustComet → u/Borosthespider]

I'd ar least prefer a 5-5-7 if theyre deadset on adding two more games. Would make the WC round more competitive and less influenced by good/bad luck

[u/MattO2000 → u/ThrustComet]

Disagree, because you have byes for the WC round. If you don’t want to risk the luck then get the bye

[u/JA_MD_311]

Love: 154 game seasons, Divison Series as Best of 7

Hate: Picking your opponent. It should just be re-seeded.

[u/hc2919]

I love division games being 7 games but I hate going down to 154. Takes away from the historical component of baseball when comparing seasons

[u/reptheevt → u/hc2919]

MLB went from 154 to 162 in 1961. So I think we’re about equivalent in seasons with 154 games and seasons with 162 games. 

[u/serpentear → u/hc2919]

I mean they probably said the same thing in 1960 when they moved to 162.

I’m not for it or against it, but I think the records argument doesn’t do it for me personally.

[u/Senorsty → u/serpentear]

They stuck an asterisk next to Roger Maris’s single-season home run record for that very reason.

[u/serpentear → u/Senorsty]

True, but Ichiro doesn’t have one for the hit record despite Sisler getting his in 154 compared to the 162 Ichiro played.

[u/1HappyRoadrunner → u/serpentear]

Ichiro had to play in Kansas City in August.

[u/CheapCloud5793 → u/1HappyRoadrunner]

And we know what that’s like 🐀🧦

[u/Peter_Panarchy → u/1HappyRoadrunner]

Had to look it up, the Mariners played 2 game in KC in August that year and Ichiro had 4 hits over 5 ABs in those 2 games.

[u/afriendincanada → u/serpentear]

It was a big thing then only because of Maris and the *

[u/77rtcups → u/serpentear]

The records maybe but if allows for more off days and we have more guys playing a full 154 vs having to watch them take 8 days off I think it would be good. If you look historically not many guys are playing 162. Bonds and Aaron were 150-160

[u/Enamred-771 → u/77rtcups]

Yeah to me the big question is how will this impact games played. If a player who currently plays around ~150 games still plays ~150 games, I don’t see a problem. Hell, it’s better for fans because there’s less of a chance their favorite player is off on a day they have tickets. 

[u/serpentear → u/Enamred-771]

To start I bet they will, but slowly you’ll see 138-145 become the standard over 10-15 years.

[u/Robberbaronaron → u/serpentear]

That might've happened anyways tbh

[u/1HappyRoadrunner → u/serpentear]

Honestly for me.. after the steroid era (which MLB knew about and used to get the game back into good graces) records don’t feel the same anymore

[u/CylindricalDent4133 → u/hc2919]

The NFL approach; keep the same total number of games in a season but shortening those that don’t matter and extend those that do.

On the NFL front, it’s when they cut the number of preseason games from 4 to 3 in order to extend the regular season from 17 to 18 weeks (since 2021); same total games in a campaign but trading in one meaningless game for one that would matter for its postseason.

[u/CruelCircus → u/CylindricalDent4133]

Goes back further than that. NFL used to be 6 preseason and 14 regular season games.

[u/crabcakesandfootball → u/hc2919]

Not really. About half of MLB history was already 154 game seasons.

[u/coney36creels → u/crabcakesandfootball]

That’s fine and true, but it has been 162 games for over 6 decades now. It absolutely changes things when comparing seasons in the modern era.

I don’t care one way or the other about shortening the season, but it will change the way we look at some individual/team stars if we have 8 less games.

[u/36CharizardsOfDeath → u/coney36creels]

I mean modern stats are already looked at way differently than just 15 years ago. Pitchers aren’t going 200 innings, hardly anyone hits .300 anymore. It would kinda just be a sign of the times imo

[u/TheChinchilla914 → u/36CharizardsOfDeath]

Yeah and you can always stick to rate stats if it really bothers ya that much

[u/tc100292 → u/36CharizardsOfDeath]

I'm old enough to remember when guys would get benched at the end of the season if they were approaching Bobby Bonds' strikeout record.

[u/ositola → u/coney36creels]

How? Most players don't even play a full season now

[u/Logical-Mobile-7643 → u/hc2919]

Just starts a new conversation, they wrecked the 162 game record book offensively with steroids and put most pitching records out of reach in the last decade due to pitchers not going deep into games.

[u/laz_montes_4_prez → u/hc2919]

I mean seasons used to be 154 games

[u/shapu → u/laz_montes_4_prez]

It's quite literally why Roger Maris got an asterisk.

[u/CommanderSlash → u/hc2919]

I am the opposite. I am fine cutting down the regular series, but do not like increasing Division Series to 7.

[u/Find_Spot → u/hc2919]

As others have said 154 games has been the norm for longer than what it is now.

[u/Confident_Range3376 → u/hc2919]

It does, but adding another off-day is something I'm defintely for.

[u/montecarlo1]

does that mean that my yankees are only down 3-0 right now, so there is a chance!

[u/EliteStat18]

Selecting opponents in playoffs is stupid and gives bulletin board material if anything.

I do think it should be higher seed plays the lower seed every time instead, which is how the old NHL playoffs use to be or current NFL instead of bracket style.

[u/Reasonable-Power]

IT'S NOT THE ONION

[u/IChurnToBurn]

This is kind of silly to be even discussing. It’s like finding out your partner cheated but instead of arguing about that, you instead fight about a sock that was left on the floor.

[u/llama_titan → u/IChurnToBurn]

That actually sounds like the exact type of thing that happens in dysfunctional marriages tbh

[u/jooooooooooooose → u/llama_titan]

Oh yeah you would say that. You always have to be right, dont you? Huh? You know i shouldve listened to my damn mother

[u/ABigPairOfCrocs → u/IChurnToBurn]

Reorganizing the pool chairs on the titanic

[u/Live4Night]

I would rather do reseeding for the playoffs.

[u/Turbulent-Pay-735]

If they also bring back Game 163 (at least for the division winner) I’d be on board with it. It’s not like 162 is some sacred number that’s been passed down to us from Babe Ruth and Willie Mays themselves. Changing the number of games isn’t much different than any of the other changes they’ve made.

If it allows more time in the schedule to add a few extra games within the postseason, along with hopefully providing more of a cushion in the start of the season in World Baseball Classic years, that’s a win to me. With a reshuffling of the number of games I wouldn’t be upset if they found a mix that slightly more leaned into the division scheduling, though I get why it’s generally gone the other way as the playoff format has evolved into what it is today.

Just do not mess with the 3 game WC rounds, please do bring back Game 163 to decide any tiebreak for a division winner, rework the WBC scheduling for a little better timing before the season, and keep the World Series from ever spilling over into November. All that and avoid a work stoppage and you’ll be in my good books for the foreseeable future!

[u/Status_Fox_1474 → u/Turbulent-Pay-735]

Yes. I hate the stupid tiebreaker rules. Play-in game. Period.

[u/CapriciousMuffin → u/Status_Fox_1474]

I’ve heard a lot of people say “why play 162 games to have your season decided by one game?”

If they won one more game out of the first 162 it wouldn’t have been a tie. How many teams make the postseason on the last day because the wildcard contenders are so close? I don’t hear complaining about that so I don’t see the problem with a tiebreaker.

EDIT: Tiebreaker game*

[u/saulUG]

Teams picking their opponents in the Postseason feels very childish to be honest.

Also shortening the season isn't that great either, not sure if every team is going to be cool with losing game revenue, especially teams who don't make the Postseason.

[u/4_base]

Feels like more off days would be something the MLBPA would negotiate for so it’s a little strange that the MLB is advocating for it almost on their behalf and showing their desire for it to get it implemented.

Could have held it close to the chest and used it as a chip in part of cap negotiations, while quietly being on board with it the whole time.

[u/joka2696 → u/4_base]

Playoff games generate more money so it makes sense.

[u/MountainYogi94 → u/joka2696]

Do playoff games make THAT much more revenue though? 8 more playoff games (maximum, it's only 4 at minimum) at the expense of 120 total regular season games lost doesn't feel like a winning play for the owners and we haven't seen what the players would concede to get this to happen

[u/lindh]

I don't know, this kind of works. If your team is good, you get to watch them longer in the playoffs, and if your team sucks, the misery ends faster.

[u/nincompoop221]

i'm so tired of the league using the backdrop of a labor dispute to spew out unrealistic and futile ideas on MLB official accounts, in an attempt to sway public opinion.

it's like if a couple were arguing in public and the husband kept trying to drag random strangers into it.

[u/Windows_66]

"The Yankees complained about getting swept in 3, so maybe they'll do better if they get swept in 4 instead."

[u/Enamred-771]

They absolutely need to fix the current seeding where if one division has 3 great teams, they’ll be seeded #1/4/5 and just play each other while the 2nd division winner gets to play the worst division winner or #6 seed.  But I don’t think “choose your opponent” is the move. I’d much rather just avoid guaranteeing the 3rd seed to the worst division winner. 

Reseeding would get messy because not every series is the same length. Would the #1 seed want to play the #4 team, who just swept the #5 team, vs. a #3 team who went to game 5 (or 7)? And again, there’s the issue where if the #3 team is the worst division winner, they’re probably worst than the #4 (and maybe #5) team. 

[u/dohdudeh → u/Enamred-771]

That’s wash though, can just make the seeding based on record

[u/redsyrinx2112 → u/Enamred-771]

Two eight-team divisions in each league would solve this. Then you can just have the four wildcards duke it out and go on or face the division winners.

[u/Miamivice788]

The shorter season and best of 7 division series is a win-win for players and owners. The players play a few less games helping them stay healthy and the owners get more of profitable playoff games.

I don’t like the idea of higher seeds picking their opponent though.

[u/OG_Dadshark → u/Miamivice788]

Mam picking opponents, I’m
Opposed to it, but imagine the bad blood it could create? It’s “days of our lives” level drama. “I choose you picachu” will have so many unintended consequences, fathom it for a second. “Your team picked my childhood team when I was 8 and I have this chip on my shoulder for 15 years to make it to the bigs to choose you and beat you” I mean it’s an extreme example but I find it very “made for tv” dramarama someone in mlb cares more about ratings than purity of sport I’ll tell ya that much.

[u/greetedworm]

I hate the idea of choosing your opponent, it just seems so odd, I've never head of any spots league doing that and for good reason. I would much rather they re-seed after the wild card based on regular season record.

[u/yoursweetlord70]

Inb4 owners try to cut salary by 5% because theyre playing less games

[u/MasterpieceMain8252]

This is a way Rockies can avoid 100 loss season

[u/j1h15233]

Considering the amount of bullpen games and lack of starting pitching we seem to have, maybe 154 is a good idea.

[u/Clyde-God]

Picking your opponent is bush league shit. It also does not create incentives for the teams jockeying between 4-6 seeds.

[u/Ted_Dongelman]

I don't know why we're overthinking the playoff seeding in the Divisional round. The 1 seed plays the lowest remaining seed and the 2 gets whichever team is left. If the NFL can figure it out, anyone can.

Edit: Also, shortening the season when they could just throw another week's worth of days off into the schedule seems foolish.

[u/teddybundlez]

Aka the teams MLB wants to advance got booted early

[u/S4L7Y]

I'd much rather they shorten spring training by a week instead.

[u/Mekazaurus]

Baseball only works as a sport to follow if it’s something you can depend consistently to be “on”. 

It’s not an “event” sport like football and it never will be. 

[u/shibby3388]

Season ticket holders will still have to pay like it’s a 162 game season.

[u/Bravos_Chopper → u/shibby3388]

And concession prices will go up to compensate

[u/vnn_red]

They’re trying to fix something that isn’t broken.

[u/AzorAhai1TK]

Very disappointed in how many people want less regular season baseball

[u/Confident_Range3376]

The only thing I don't like in this proposal is the opponent selection thing when just changing the seeding system would sufffice.

[u/DatOneBozz → u/Confident_Range3376]

The best part about it is clowning on the team that gets swept by the team they chose to play hahaha

[u/Marzipan_Dream_7389 → u/DatOneBozz]

Absolutely is the best part - sends chills down your spine when the chosen team’s crowd cheers “YOU CHOSE US! YOU CHOSE US!” right when an upset is about to happen

[u/me_hill]

I like the brutality of a best-of-5. It's quick and punchy.

[u/Firree]

Yessssss, more potential for pain