Best of 1 is just for the non-division winners, play in deathmatch Make them burn all their pitching to advance to division series
It's all about money. MLB is pushing for MORE teams and they will get them in the next CBA. The players will get something like higher CBT threshold, higher min salary, better/faster arbitration/ FA process, or some other benefit to agree to it but it will happen.
Give it a few more years of the wildcard smaller teams eliminating the larger teams and manfred will change it.
Looking at CBT payroll for next year on Cots Contracts. Altuve, Hader, LMJ, Pressly, Yordan, Javier, and Caratini= $110.967M Abreu and Montero = $31M Framber, Tucker, Dubon, Garcia, Abreu, Chas, Meyers, Pena, Mufee arb. = $54.475M est per MLBtraderumors (non tender Urquidy) 10 additional min salary players on 26 man ($0.76M min.) = $7.6M est. 14 minor leaguers on 40 man = $1.75M est. bonus pool/benefits= $19.167M Current CBT payroll= $224.959M (Let's say $225M) CBT #1= $241M = $16M to spend CBT #2= $261M = $36M to spend CBT #3= $281M= $56M to spend CBT #4= $301M= $76M to spend
Only way it should work would be to make all series at least 5 games and shorten the regular season. I'd argue shortening the regular season is long overdue.
More teams is better for players too. More teams mean more roster spots and more total payroll league wide.
To clarify, I was responding to number of teams making the playoffs. The league wants to add even more.
Caratini is good, but he is signed for 1 more season. Playing Diaz away from catcher more will extend his playing career. Having a capable everyday catcher under club control allows for flexibility as it makes Diaz a third catcher on the team that can handle a game or two a week. Helps keep the catchers in general fresh while solving 1B.
I don't disagree, but it would extend his career. What better bat would the Astros get at 1B via trade or free agency? My vision would be have Yainar catch 1 or 2 guys, Caratini one, and a young catcher 3 starters. Caratini can rotate a day at DH periodically too.
No reason on Earth why Diaz can’t or shouldn’t start 120+ games at catcher. were you saying that he should be the 3rd catcher?
Season should stay at 162. I and many other fans don’t want them to change the sport that much. 8 teams making the playoffs is enough too.
Going to 154 for regular season in return for 5 game first round (and even 9 game World Series like it was from 1919 to 1921) should be the trade off.
Love the idea. Don't know if it is even being considered. One thing I do know, though, is the owners will not shorten the season even 1 game without it getting replaced by a post season game, because of $$$$
If he's the primary 1B. If they get a young catcher who can hit some it should be fine. I don't see them getting a big time 1B to sign cheap.
154 is still gonna be too long for “fans” that want the regular season shortened. It wouldn’t solve anything.
