MLB Owners Propose Major Changes to Regular Season & Postseason Format

[Matthew Nethercott]

Image courtesy of David Frerker-Imagn Images

The Major League Baseball postseason has not disappointed so far, as we near the completion of the Division Series round. Fans are savoring every pitch with the impending labor stoppage looming over everyone's head. On Thursday, team owners proposed yet another set of changes to the players' association's consideration. Some of these might be in the best interest of fans and baseball in general. Some might only benefit the financial behemoths of the sport. 

1. Reduce the Regular Season to 154 Games

The proposal suggests reducing MLB's schedule from 162 games, as it is now, to 154 games, as it was before 1962, for both the American and National Leagues. There would also be built-in off days each week for teams. This might be the most sane thing that was proposed because it just makes sense. 162 games is fun, but that's a lot of games. Also, we all see teams run on fumes in the summer, and adding an off day each week might help keep players healthy, both pitchers and position players. 

If this is accepted (might be the most realistic one that could be), it would not be implemented until 2029.

2. Proposed Postseason Changes

This is the section that might both gain and lose the support of many fans. 

The first change proposed would introduce team selection in the Wild Card series and the Division Series. For example, the New York Yankees ended the season with the second-best record in the AL. In this scenario, they would choose who they would face in the Wild Card, the White Sox or the Red Sox, and ahead of the ALDS, the Tampa Bay Rays, who had the best record in the AL in 2026, would then choose one of the victors of the Wild Card series to play in the ALDS, and the other team plays whoever had the bye.

That's confusing and a lot to digest. Wouldn't it be easier to seed in the postseason based on your record in your league? I digress. 

The proposal also suggests that the Division Series is expanded from a five-game series to a seven-game series, the same as the Championship Series and World Series. That would give up to eight extra postseason games a season. This would also not start until 2029. It's also been speculated whether the league will consider expanding the Wild Card series, but that has not been proposed as of yet.

Some of these proposed changes make sense; others are more controversial. What is certain is that these proposals are not going to stop for the rest of the postseason and through the offseason.  

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[bean5302]

Exchange Regular Season for Post-season - Maybe like it. Depends on trade deadlines, etc.

Best of 7 Division Series - Like it.

Choose who you play? - Don't like it.

[Brock Beauchamp]

8 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Exchange Regular Season for Post-season - Maybe like it. Depends on trade deadlines, etc.

Best of 7 Division Series - Like it.

Choose who you play? - Don't like it.

I mostly agree, though I'm lightly against the best-of-seven DS. I'd like to see a little less baseball, and a shortened season.

Choosing who you play is just UGH. I hate it so much.

[JD-TWINS]

The poll attached for “floor or cap”, decision has to go hand in hand IMO. Desperately need both!

Choosing your opponent is ridiculous to me. I guess I’d be OK with it on a 2 year trail basis……. then reverting back to standard means of determining opponents. If, after the trial period and a shift back to historical norms …….. if it was seen as a much better approach, then fine.

154 games obviously isn’t a radical change and if it buys some Goodwill with players, go ahead “in the name of player safety”😉.

3, “Best of 7” Series Wins to get a ring seems extensive! Used to be one Team from each league & that was it ……… now 6 Teams per League vying to move to the Series. To me, whether one likes it, depends upon if your team wins the first year or two the expanded # of games are tried. Do not need more games! The Division Series is fair for the Team with superior record and the opposition as well.

2 more Playoff games (potentially) per Series can’t move the Revenue Needle enough so it is a necessary change.

 

[bean5302]

23 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

...Choosing who you play is just UGH. I hate it so much.

I think it's a major downside for everybody. It superficially sounds good. The top 2 teams who earned their spots are more likely to advance rather than be eliminated based on "luck" if you will. That said, choosing a team to play is fraught with emotional context.

i.e. the Yankees want to play the Red Sox. Can the Red Sox are going to take that fuel and potentially come in on an emotional high? Also, it's disrespectful. For a game with historical ties to playing the game respectfully and tradition, it feels anti-baseball.