Spring Break
Baseball should have shorter season
Needs to add more playoff teams, easier for fans to follow
Frank Pellegrino
Issue date: 5/7/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
Another one of those outlier teams was the Los Angeles Dodgers of 2008, who made a late-season trade, which drastically improved their team.
But what about those two teams that didn't choke? They both ended up winning the division and wouldn't have made the playoffs if the season had ended sooner, like I am suggesting.
I have the perfect solution.
By cutting 32 games off the season, and over a month, the playoffs could be extended by adding two more teams into the mix from each league. Replacing some of these regular-season games with more playoff games would be beneficial to everyone involved.
More cities would benefit because their teams would be contenders for a longer period of time. Throughout history, nothing has been able to bring together cities as much as a successful sports franchise. Allowing more teams into the postseason would only permit more cities this good fortune.
The players on the teams would benefit because they would have more to play for with two extra playoff spots available. Likewise, an increasing number of younger players would gain postseason experience, which would make them better off in the long run.
And, most importantly, the league would benefit. Postseason games generate far more money through sold-out stadiums and higher television ratings. It's simple - more
postseason games would equate to more money for the league.
The MLB allows too few teams into the playoffs as it is, and it doesn't afford enough teams the chance to win a championship. The NBA, which has the same amount of teams in its league, allows twice as many teams into the playoffs.
I certainly don't think doubling the amount of teams is a good idea, but adding four teams into the mix, with a shorter season, can only help all of the parties involved.
See who the division leaders are this season after 130 games (if you even remember by then, since it takes so long to get to that point, which is why I wrote this column), and then check to see if there is much of a difference after being forced to wait another 32 games. Trust me baseball fans, there won't be.
Waiting to stop steroids, postponing a salary cap and seasons lingering on way too long, MLB is the master of delaying the inevitable.
But what about those two teams that didn't choke? They both ended up winning the division and wouldn't have made the playoffs if the season had ended sooner, like I am suggesting.
I have the perfect solution.
By cutting 32 games off the season, and over a month, the playoffs could be extended by adding two more teams into the mix from each league. Replacing some of these regular-season games with more playoff games would be beneficial to everyone involved.
More cities would benefit because their teams would be contenders for a longer period of time. Throughout history, nothing has been able to bring together cities as much as a successful sports franchise. Allowing more teams into the postseason would only permit more cities this good fortune.
The players on the teams would benefit because they would have more to play for with two extra playoff spots available. Likewise, an increasing number of younger players would gain postseason experience, which would make them better off in the long run.
And, most importantly, the league would benefit. Postseason games generate far more money through sold-out stadiums and higher television ratings. It's simple - more
postseason games would equate to more money for the league.
The MLB allows too few teams into the playoffs as it is, and it doesn't afford enough teams the chance to win a championship. The NBA, which has the same amount of teams in its league, allows twice as many teams into the playoffs.
I certainly don't think doubling the amount of teams is a good idea, but adding four teams into the mix, with a shorter season, can only help all of the parties involved.
See who the division leaders are this season after 130 games (if you even remember by then, since it takes so long to get to that point, which is why I wrote this column), and then check to see if there is much of a difference after being forced to wait another 32 games. Trust me baseball fans, there won't be.
Waiting to stop steroids, postponing a salary cap and seasons lingering on way too long, MLB is the master of delaying the inevitable.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
alumni jim
posted 5/07/09 @ 4:03 PM CST
I agree. It's ridiculous to see World Series games in the snow, Season Openers in 34 degree rain showers, and don't get me started on the World Baseball Classic. (Continued…)
Simon
posted 9/17/09 @ 10:03 PM CST
I'm old enough to remember when the "October Classic" The World Series actually took place in early October! The extra games are just padding the deep pockets of the owners. (Continued…)
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