How I Would Fix the MLB Schedule Alignment
Posted: Fri Sep 7, 2018 6:51 am
Among the highlights here are less emphasis on the interleague schedule as well as eliminating the wild card game in one of the two leagues (the N.L.):
1) Shorten the regular season from 162 games to 156 games. This will create more schedule wiggle room.
2) With six fewer games, I would eliminate two of each team's interleague sets, which would once again make a given interleague matchup a special and unique experience for fans.
3) Move the Pittsburgh Pirates from the N.L. Central to the A.L. Central, allowing for an even number of teams in each league and in turn, less emphasis on the interleague schedule. Pittsburgh is the choice here for two reasons: Reason number one is that it could provide this consistently mediocre franchise with a new lease on life similar to the Astros with their move to the A.L. earlier in the decade. Second of all, the Pirates would provide more competition for what is currently the worst division in baseball.
4) Move the Colorado Rockies from the N.L. West to where the Pirates currently are in the N.L. Central.
5) With two less teams than in the American League, I would eliminate the N.L. Wild Card Game.
6) Now with no more wild card game, I would convert the best-of-five first round NLDS into a best-of-seven, therefore preventing the fluky playoff outcomes that had been problematic under the previous wild card format back in 2011.
7) Make the still-standing A.L. Wild Card Game into a doubleheader, with the road team needing to win both games in order to advance.
8) The winner of the aforementioned match just above^ will then be given two full days off to set their rotation before the following series.
Enjoy!
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1) Shorten the regular season from 162 games to 156 games. This will create more schedule wiggle room.
2) With six fewer games, I would eliminate two of each team's interleague sets, which would once again make a given interleague matchup a special and unique experience for fans.
3) Move the Pittsburgh Pirates from the N.L. Central to the A.L. Central, allowing for an even number of teams in each league and in turn, less emphasis on the interleague schedule. Pittsburgh is the choice here for two reasons: Reason number one is that it could provide this consistently mediocre franchise with a new lease on life similar to the Astros with their move to the A.L. earlier in the decade. Second of all, the Pirates would provide more competition for what is currently the worst division in baseball.
4) Move the Colorado Rockies from the N.L. West to where the Pirates currently are in the N.L. Central.
5) With two less teams than in the American League, I would eliminate the N.L. Wild Card Game.
6) Now with no more wild card game, I would convert the best-of-five first round NLDS into a best-of-seven, therefore preventing the fluky playoff outcomes that had been problematic under the previous wild card format back in 2011.
7) Make the still-standing A.L. Wild Card Game into a doubleheader, with the road team needing to win both games in order to advance.
8) The winner of the aforementioned match just above^ will then be given two full days off to set their rotation before the following series.
Enjoy!
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