Playoff format

[arosenfedo]

Just a quick question:

 

What is the reasoning behind not having the wild card team play the #1 seed in the first round if it is a team in the same division as the #1 team?

 

It seems to me that it would be advantageous for the Cubs to play the Brewers given that they are the weakest of all the playoff teams.

[ConstableRabbit]

MLB wants to set up intra-divisional NLCS matchups

[Jon]

I assume that the rule is there to prevent the Yankees and Red Sox from playing in the divisional series round instead of the championship series.

[Derwood]

because they are determined to never have Boston play New York in the first round

[KPet]

Just a quick question:

 

What is the reasoning behind not having the wild card team play the #1 seed in the first round if it is a team in the same division as the #1 team?

 

It seems to me that it would be advantageous for the Cubs to play the Brewers given that they are the weakest of all the playoff teams.

 

 

The Dodgers record is worse than the Brewers.

[UMFan83]

I would think also its because the teams typically play 15 or more games against teams in their division in the regular season, and it'd be stupid to make them play each other again right away in the playoffs.

[David]

Damn you all for beating me to the punch... it's the Red Sox/Yankees rule

[Old Style]

This rule is not unique to MLB. I'm pretty sure the NFL does it the same way.

[SouthSideRyan]

It's not a Yankees-Red Sox rule, the Wild card was instituted in '94 before anybody outside of the Boston-NY area cared about a New York-Boston rivarly.

 

It's setup so a team doesn't beat out a division rival over 162 games and then loses out to them because they lost 3 out of 5.

[UMFan83]

This rule is not unique to MLB. I'm pretty sure the NFL does it the same way.

 

Nope. In 2006, the Patriots and Jets squared off in the first round

[Cynosure]

I assume that the rule is there to prevent the Yankees and Red Sox from playing in the divisional series round instead of the championship series.

 

I LOL'd.

[splintersag]

I assume that the rule is there to prevent the Yankees and Red Sox from playing in the divisional series round instead of the championship series.

 

I LOL'd.

Same. :lol:

 

I think the main reason, however, is because MLB wants to mix up the matchups, as it would get pretty bland to see Yankees/Red Sox almost every year.

[Schwarber Fan]

I actually like the rule

 

If the Cubs/Brewers or the Cubs/Cards or the Dodgers/Giants etc... play each other in the postseason, it should be in the LCS. Just seems right...

[Derwood]

I don't like the rule when it penalizes the team with the best record. Now in this year's case, it doesn't, insofar as the Dodgers have a worse record as division champs than the Brewers do as the wild card, but some years, the team who earned the best record in the league isn't rewarded with the easiest first round matchup. that's bullHowry

[bukie]

Really, it would make most sense if the teams were simply seeded 1-4 by record. If that gives a wild-card team home field advantage in a round, so be it.

[SCCubbieFAN]

How about a change being made where the team with the best record gets to choose who they play in the first round. discuss....

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

How about a change being made where the team with the best record gets to choose who they play in the first round. discuss....

Can we play Pittsburgh???

 

They have a similar rule in the NCAA tournament. For the first two rounds (I believe, I know it's at least the first round), they don't like teams from the same conference to play each other.