Postseason question... - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

hebroncougar · 08-09-2012, 03:33 PM

With the postseason format changing, I have a question. Will the Division champ with the best record play the winner of the two wild card games irregardless of what division that winner comes out of? I.E., let's say the Rangers end up with the best record in the AL. If the A's and Angels are the two wild card teams, will the Rangers play the winner of that play in game, even if the winner is from their own division?

redsmetz · 08-09-2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

With the postseason format changing, I have a question. Will the Division champ with the best record play the winner of the two wild card games irregardless of what division that winner comes out of? I.E., let's say the Rangers end up with the best record in the AL. If the A's and Angels are the two wild card teams, will the Rangers play the winner of that play in game, even if the winner is from their own division?

I believe you are correct.

CySeymour · 08-09-2012, 03:52 PM

Someone asked Jason Stark in his chat this week that same question. He said yes, the old rule of not playing a team in your own division in the first round has been done away with.

hebroncougar · 08-09-2012, 04:50 PM

Thanks guys. Wow......so the team with the best record in baseball, travels in game one, to a potential division foe to play a best of 5 game series. And games one and two are on the road. That's pretty ludicrous. Why doesn't the wild card travel to the division winner?

cincrazy · 08-09-2012, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

Thanks guys. Wow......so the team with the best record in baseball, travels in game one, to a potential division foe to play a best of 5 game series. And games one and two are on the road. That's pretty ludicrous. Why doesn't the wild card travel to the division winner?

It's a pretty crappy setup this year due to scheduling issues. They decided late in the process to make the change in playoff formatting, and they didn't have time to do the normal 2-2-1 format with the WC team playing the team with the best overall record. So, it's def. a huge inconvenience. But, the WC team does have to probably pitch their best pitcher in one of the last few games of the year, and he probably won't be available for game 1, and maybe not game 2. So a huge advantage there for the division winner.

hebroncougar · 08-09-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincrazy

It's a pretty crappy setup this year due to scheduling issues. They decided late in the process to make the change in playoff formatting, and they didn't have time to do the normal 2-2-1 format with the WC team playing the team with the best overall record. So, it's def. a huge inconvenience. But, the WC team does have to probably pitch their best pitcher in one of the last few games of the year, and he probably won't be available for game 1, and maybe not game 2. So a huge advantage there for the division winner.

Why can't the WC team just fly to the Division winner's place? Take the travel day out, for one year, since they decided this so late. Hell, teams do it all year.

Reds Fanatic · 08-09-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

Thanks guys. Wow......so the team with the best record in baseball, travels in game one, to a potential division foe to play a best of 5 game series. And games one and two are on the road. That's pretty ludicrous. Why doesn't the wild card travel to the division winner?

It is horrible process for this year. They have said it because of the travel schedule that they are doing this. I expect this current format will last one year only. It is ridiculous to put a division winner at an immediate disadvantage against a one game wild card winner in a short series.

So I think by 2013 they will work out some better schedule but unfortunately this year we are stuck with this.

blumj · 08-10-2012, 09:07 AM

Can't you just imagine this epic 17 inning WC game taking place between an east coast team and a west coast team, and the team that has to go play them already on one coast or the other stuck at the airport not knowing which way to go until 2 AM or something? I think maybe it's better to be the team with the 2nd best record in the league.

hebroncougar · 08-10-2012, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blumj

Can't you just imagine this epic 17 inning WC game taking place between an east coast team and a west coast team, and the team that has to go play them already on one coast or the other stuck at the airport not knowing which way to go until 2 AM or something? I think maybe it's better to be the team with the 2nd best record in the league.

That was exactly what I was thinking. It's idiotic. Why not make the WC team be the one that gets on the plane, and flies to the team with the best record. I can fathom why.....it's because the TV trucks and equipment are already at the WC stadium.

TOBTTReds · 08-10-2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

I can fathom why.....it's because the TV trucks and equipment are already at the WC stadium.

Not if the road WC team wins

TOBTTReds · 08-10-2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

I can fathom why.....it's because the TV trucks and equipment are already at the WC stadium.

Not if the road WC team wins

hebroncougar · 08-10-2012, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOBTTReds

Not if the road WC team wins

Good point, never thought of that. So then there is no good reason why it is the way it is.

REDREAD · 08-10-2012, 11:17 AM

Well, the Reds actually have a pretty good road record.. Maybe the best in the NL Central (at least a week or two ago).

The interesting thing is.. let's say the Reds end up with the best NL record.
Homer or Leake is going to be in the postgame rotation.
If the Reds play game 1 on the road, do you go ahead and start Leake in game 1 or 2, since his road splits are so much better? (I can't recall Homer's road splits now).. Then you save Ceuto or Latos for game 3.

I think the team that plays the WC is going to have a huge advantage, which is magnified by no travel day.. Remember in 1999, when the Reds had the sudden death game? They ended up bringing Neagle in relief, and burned up their whole pen , IIRC.. If the Reds had won and had to play a game the next day, they'd be at a disadvantage.

As of now, it looks like the NL WC has a good chance to be some combo of Pitt, STL, Atlanta, and LA. (with LA currently the 4th best record).. Looks like if the Reds end up with the best record, their travel will not be too bad.

Vottomatic · 08-10-2012, 12:43 PM

In my best Jim Mora voice......

POSTSEASON? POSTSEASON?

hebroncougar · 08-10-2012, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vottomatic

In my best Jim Mora voice......

POSTSEASON? POSTSEASON?

Notice, I specifically left the Reds out of my scenario.

08-09-2012, 03:33 PM	#1
hebroncougar Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,017	Postseason question... With the postseason format changing, I have a question. Will the Division champ with the best record play the winner of the two wild card games irregardless of what division that winner comes out of? I.E., let's say the Rangers end up with the best record in the AL. If the A's and Angels are the two wild card teams, will the Rangers play the winner of that play in game, even if the winner is from their own division?

08-09-2012, 03:52 PM	#3
CySeymour .377 in 1905 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 1,485	Re: Postseason question... Someone asked Jason Stark in his chat this week that same question. He said yes, the old rule of not playing a team in your own division in the first round has been done away with. __________________ ...the 2-2 to Woodsen and here it comes...and it is swung on and missed! And Tom Browning has pitched a perfect game! Twenty-seven outs in a row, and he is being mobbed by his teammates, just to the thirdbase side of the mound.

08-09-2012, 04:50 PM	#4
hebroncougar Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,017	Re: Postseason question... Thanks guys. Wow......so the team with the best record in baseball, travels in game one, to a potential division foe to play a best of 5 game series. And games one and two are on the road. That's pretty ludicrous. Why doesn't the wild card travel to the division winner?

08-10-2012, 09:07 AM	#8
blumj Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,332	Re: Postseason question... Can't you just imagine this epic 17 inning WC game taking place between an east coast team and a west coast team, and the team that has to go play them already on one coast or the other stuck at the airport not knowing which way to go until 2 AM or something? I think maybe it's better to be the team with the 2nd best record in the league. __________________ "Reality tells us there are no guarantees. Except that some day Jon Lester will be on that list of 100-game winners." - Peter Gammons

08-10-2012, 11:17 AM	#13
REDREAD Where's my chair? Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 19,802	Re: Postseason question... Well, the Reds actually have a pretty good road record.. Maybe the best in the NL Central (at least a week or two ago). The interesting thing is.. let's say the Reds end up with the best NL record. Homer or Leake is going to be in the postgame rotation. If the Reds play game 1 on the road, do you go ahead and start Leake in game 1 or 2, since his road splits are so much better? (I can't recall Homer's road splits now).. Then you save Ceuto or Latos for game 3. I think the team that plays the WC is going to have a huge advantage, which is magnified by no travel day.. Remember in 1999, when the Reds had the sudden death game? They ended up bringing Neagle in relief, and burned up their whole pen , IIRC.. If the Reds had won and had to play a game the next day, they'd be at a disadvantage. As of now, it looks like the NL WC has a good chance to be some combo of Pitt, STL, Atlanta, and LA. (with LA currently the 4th best record).. Looks like if the Reds end up with the best record, their travel will not be too bad. __________________ Thank you Walt and Bob for going for it in 2012 AND 2013! Nov. 13, 2007: One of the greatest days in Reds history: John Allen gets the boot!

08-10-2012, 12:43 PM	#14
Vottomatic All work and no play..... Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Lebanon Posts: 6,820	Re: Postseason question... In my best Jim Mora voice...... POSTSEASON? POSTSEASON? __________________ "I can't take this homerism anymore." - 10xWSChamps, August 11, 2010. A Cardinals fan having a problem with all the homerism on Redszone. Classic. "Man do I miss the days where were didn't need a calculator and an encyclopedia of baseball metrics to enjoy a baseball game ... - MikeS21" - 8/2/12 game thread

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