Is there a problem with MLB's postseason format? Bob Costas weighs in | The Show Podcast

[@chrisdennis2571]

The playoff system completely undermines the purpose of playing 162 games a year.

[@erickennedy3322]

Yep

[@lew526]

Costasis so right!

[@catsnchords]

Baseball should do what international/club soccer does: have multiple tournaments/champions. You could keep the 162-game schedule, crown a regular season Champion, maybe have a best of 7 between the 2 best-record teams from the AL/NL for those who want to watch an old school World Series between the 2 truly best teams. Then, let half the league join a sweet sixteen tournament bracket, call it the October Cup, to satisfy the owners, gamblers, and those who want to see random winners/losers, upsets, etc. as teams play through best of 1/3/5 game sets. Problems solved. Everybody happy now?

[@piggy8761]

US culture is defined by tournaments, hype, money, and one shot one opportunity mentality. World Series is too iconic to change. Crowning a regular season champion proves they’re the best baseball team in the world they proved it over 162 instead of a lousy tournament where Lady Luck isn’t on your side. Problem is that every team in the majors can win a series, everyone is good this the As and Rockies aren’t some d1 college team. If you throw the upper half of the league into a silly tournament to decide a champion, your gonna get a lot of upsets and fraudulent teams winning. European soccer does it properly, rewards the team that did the best during a grueling season. They also have the champions league, a tournament for all of Europe to win. But winning the season is BIG DEAL in Europe. Unlike here

[@MichaelMatijevich]

​@@piggy8761Why can't more people think like you?

[@piggy8761]

@@MichaelMatijevich lol Yes but also even the white sox i promise you they can win a best of 3 vs any other MLB team Does that mean they are better? No just means they were better in the short series not overall

[@michaelholman517minKC]

That’s actually the best idea I’ve heard for this. I like the idea of two elimination games before the division series and expanding that to best of 7. If they insist on the WC series which I don’t like, then at least allow the playoffs to reseed for the DS. What is the biggest take away? Baseball did not need to expand the playoffs. 12 teams. They had the best format that they had had since expanding to three divisions and they managed to mess it up…

[@piggy8761]

All for money for manfred

[@rharan1]

I like the suggestion

[@americangiant1003]

I like and actually agree with Costas proposal to revise the MLB playoff format. With that said, the knockout wild card games would have to start on Tuesday Night or 2 days after the end of the regular season in case make-up games are needed. Not to mention with MLB almost a lock to expand by 2 to 32 teams within the next 8-10 years, that is when you can do that change.

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

Actually he'd REALLY ideally like to have no wildcards at all. Just the three division winners in each league with the one with the best record getting a bye/home field into the LCS. Anyone here miss the pre-1994 days when there were REAL pennant races?

[@americangiant1003]

@@JohnSmith-zw8vp Not a bad idea. However it’s too late for anything remotely related to the pre 1990s MLB playoff format. First and main reason is that a couple of years ago, ESPN/ABC signed a long term deal to be the exclusive TV home in the US for the wild card round. So I don’t think MLB wants to lose a couple of billions since ESPN now mostly only broadcasts Sunday Night Baseball for the regular season besides the wild card in this current media deal. 2nd reason is that the wild card is a huge success and here to stay. Plus I like a wild card(now I think it’s too many teams in the playoffs myself) is because that for instance a team that finishes in 2nd place with 95 wins plus and the Division Winner gets 99 wins, i think that Division Runner Up with the 95 wins belongs in the post season. There is no perfect system but the days of only 4 teams making the postseason or going over 50 years ago, 2 teams directly to the Fall Classic is long over.

[@jaydeeh77]

It’s not about the top seed division winners winning. It’s that the Braves and Orioles and Dodgers didn’t play even close to how they played during the regular season. They could all have lost competitive series and there would be less of an argument, but the Braves and that lineup not being able to hit is an indication that this is an issue!

[@KOrnhOliO1]

Also Mookie and Freddie batted near .333 over 162 games. They combined to go 1 for 21 in the post season! NO ONE PAYS TO SEE THAT! The Braves set an all time MLB record...going back nearly 150 years - as the first team to ever slug .500 (.501) for a full season. Then they barely even hit, let alone any extra base hits.

[@piggy8761]

The only reason acuna Olson betts and freeman 4 MVP candidates that MAGICALLY can’t get get extra base hits you’re telling me that they all of a sudden can’t hit? 😂😂 give me a break They had to readjust after a bullshit layoff and winning the division so early no urgent at bats. Bring in guys who have nasty shit like wheeler Nola gallen and Kelly Two different series across the country the better teams can’t hit all of a sudden? 😂😂 Oh but it’s TOTALLY NOT the rust, NO WAY 🤣🤣

[@greer15]

Collapse each league into two division each. And the team with the best regular season record in each division-(-two teams in each league-)-advance to playoffs. Final Four. League series best of 5, world series best of seven.

[@Michael-kt8gz]

Sounds good. How can we convince more than half the fans?

[@tjocus43]

I wish there was a way to just put the 2 number one seeds in each league in the championship series, The Orioles and Braves both would wait for whoever made it out of the scrum of other teams, maybe just make everyone else play a best of 3 to get to that series.

[@jocasi57]

160 regular season games with mandatory double headers to at least shave off 3 or 4 days on the season, NO change to the playoff format, only seeding format. 1-2 bye and 3 plays 6, 4 and 5 respectfully(a division winner CAN be seeded 6th.) with a 7 game division series. Top seed in each league pick their opponent in division series. World series game 7 (at the absolute latest) should be played by oct.30...

[@jesterchesterfield2374]

See when the big teams don’t make it it’s a problem, but it wasn’t a problem this year.

[@zacharyalexander5079]

I would argue the wild card 1 game elimination game brought excitement the round itself didnt need changing. If they want more TV money, expand the DS to a 7 game series. The home field adv team doesnt really get home field adv in a best of 5. The moment the home adv team loses one game in the first two. The home field goes to the other team. The 2-3-2 or 2-2-1-1-1 format seem balanced and fair. The playoffs has always been about showcasing the best. We have seen WC teams win the WS. Expanding the WC round for more teams puts less merit and the need to compete during the season imo. To spice things up, the top seed team (best reg season record) could have the choice to pick their opponent in the DS round.

[@danielmoore8695]

i didn't see anything wrong with the old 8 team format

[@donniemartin8747]

The key is to eliminate days off... the Jays played everyday in April except for 3. They are used to playing, it's routine. Add two more teams and get rid of the bye... 1 plays 8, 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, and 4 plays 5 in a 3 out of 5 series. If the top seed loses to an 8th seed they did not deserve to win. Just keep them playing. Football needs to axe the bye week to the Super Bowl as well.

[@bk6678]

Let Bob talk.

[@78clutchman]

Seedlings plus one week layoff is a handicap!!

[@MrKeychange]

Why does it take Bob Costas to explain this to two long time baseball fans?

[@catsnchords]

Because they're not really baseball fans. They see it through the lens of NBA/NFL/NHL.

[@MrKeychange]

@@catsnchords Actually those are two long time NYC baseball guys. My guess is they work for the MLB network and are pushing the company line. They know better.

[@solenstyle]

People forget that even last year the Astros had a tough time in the division series. They swept, but 2 of the 3 wins were decided by 1 run. One of those games the Astros had to score 5 runs in the 8th and 9th inning in order to comeback and it involved the idiotic decision of using Robbie Ray. And the other game, the Astros won 1-0 after 18 innings. The biggest problem with this format is that the division series has been pretty boring. People want the best going at it and then whoever wins that goes on to the championship series. The real problem is not just the 5 days off. It's the fact that Baseball as a sport uses a 5 or 7 game series to decide a winner. That's the same length of the NBA or NHL, yet at the same time, tells the fans that they need 162 games to determine the best teams in the regular season. How can you have double the length of NBA or NHL regular season, yet have the same playoff format as those 2 leagues?

[@MIKEDOMO]

I love this format, when happen the expansion, MLB needs to add another team in postseason for each league. 4 division winners and 3 wild cards teams for NL and AL.

[@samuelfish375]

Keep the current format, start the DS series the day after wildcards end. A wildcard winner should not get 2 full days off to rest Ace starters before they start a DS series. A Wildcard host team gets 3 games at home, if it goes 3, the DS should be games 1-3 at the higher seeds home field. The host teams for DS should have the chance to win a DS series at home in 3 before going on the road.

[@zacharyalexander5079]

I would argue the wild card 1 game elimination game brought excitement the round itself didnt need changing. If they want more TV money, expand the DS to a 7 game series. The home field adv team doesnt really get home field adv in a best of 5. The moment the home adv team loses one game in the first two. The home field goes to the other team. The 2-3-2 or 2-2-1-1-1 format seem balanced and fair. The playoffs has always been about showcasing the best. We have seen WC teams win the WS. Expanding the WC round for more teams puts less merit and the need to compete during the season imo. To spice things up, the top seed team (best reg season record) could have the choice to pick their opponent in the DS round.

[@Field_Marshall]

No, you wanna keep playing which means you keep staying hot, unlike a week off, what so players can rest. Sorry but I prefer play over rust effect

[@paulsamora1348]

There is a problem with all postseason playoffs. Go back to two divisions and have the two best teams during the season be rewarded and play for the championship.

[@vdoggydogg3922]

Never will happen..we all know why

[@Franz19970]

As an Orioles fan, I need something to blame. So I say yes the format is flawed. Not only did we lose, got swept for the 1st time since May 2022. Still haven't since then in the regular season

[@KOrnhOliO1]

Similar thing happened to the Braves. Not shut out at home all year long - 81 home games. Only shut out twice all year and not since May. First game of the playoffs at home - shut out.

[@marxter6]

In the NL how come the 1 seed Braves aren’t playing the lowest remaining seed instead the 2 seed Dodgers are playing the lowest seed the D’Backs (6 seed) In the AL the 1 seed Orioles are playing the lowest remaining seed Rangers (5 seed) Am I missing something it doesn’t make sense

[@comedychrises]

They have a fixed bracket where the 4vs5 winner plays the 1 seed no matter what. It's dumb because usually the top wild card is the leagues 2nd best record.

[@doh-nc8ku]

The NFL did lowest remaining plays the 1 and highest remaining plays 2 in th divisional This was before they added a stupid 7 seed just to get clobbered by th 2 seed so the 2 seed can stat pad.

[@marxter6]

@@comedychrises Right but the 1 Seed gets slighted! What’s the point of being the 1 Seed?

[@banyarling]

Bob owns Joel

[@comedychrises]

The dodgers always choke in the playoffs and their 100 wins were a mirage because they beat up on bad teams down the stretch. Look at their team outside of Betts and Freeman and it's not great. But obviously the WC and LDS are flawed as constructed. I say force the teams in the WC to play without off days in between series to limit the hiatus for the bye teams. Then make it best of 7 in each round. The LDS being best of 5 is out of date at this point.

[@dloor]

The Dodgers are completely out of rhythm due to the Wild card format. They still played and beat up on good teams during 162 game season. The answer is to go back to a more traditional format where only 1 wild card team plays the #1 seed .

[@78clutchman]

It’s not about names it’s more about teams losing their momentum due to the week layoff,, plus seedlings need to be reformatted

[@mavensbaseball]

I like it. but i think they had it rightbefore with the one game playoffs. This isn't working and it drags the playoffs on too long.

[@jaydeeh77]

Absolutely! 💯

[@vdoggydogg3922]

Should the first round be one game then...you can't change how time works

[@anthonygarcia11i3h9]

Bob Costas's face is a pure meme at this point 😂😂 Where his dodgers at?

[@022171]

Too many teams. Period.

[@362chop]

Big problem. It’s become the NHL.

[@americangiant1003]

The NBA actually now has 20 teams if you count the play-in tournaments more playoff teams than the NHL. Inaccurate statement.

[@362chop]

Why a regular season? Killing it for$$.@@americangiant1003

[@vdoggydogg3922]

What i am seeing here is tweek the current formart or get rid of it altogether. The didgers and the orioles choked. Had nothing to do with the format. When the cardinals won the ws with 83 wins nobody complained.

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

TLDR: Bob Costas: Wild cards suck balls. Bring back the pre-1994 days when there were REAL pennant races.

[@piggy8761]

Yeah you’ll get an actual champion instead of fraudulent teams sneaking in getting lucky and sun running to a WS

[@johnny41315]

Wild cards have to go. Reduce the amount of regular season games which wont happen bc of money

[@Field_Marshall]

I hate this format. MLB return back the clock ⏰

[@zen_XIII]

Actually loving everything cost us has to say until he gives his "idea " 😵... No Bob. Way to gimmicky. At the very least they need to Re-seed like the NFL depending on which worst seeds survive. As far as the bye/rust situation Baseball is a game of groove Weather it sounds like an excuse or not that should be respected. When they get to 32 they're just gonna have to do NBA style 16 team playoff to keep everyone busy and they're gonna make money anyway whether people like it or not

[@steveo288]

No question Costas is a smart man but when he calls a game on TV,, sometimes it becomes a pain listening to him. He talks so much outside of what the viewers are watching, it's a distraction. You don't need to talk every second during a game. Many color commentators do this. (Chris Collinsworth)

[@musicforyourminddjjohnny]

Baseball format is perfect the only thing that gets ruined is having this encyclopedia actually announce A baseball game that's what's BAD for baseball he was criticized last year during the Yankees Guardians even worse this year

[@Michael-kt8gz]

I'm sure the playoff format was perfect three years ago and perfect 13 years ago, and when it is changed again, it will be perfect still. To some people, the format is always perfect. A change is made, and those same people say it's perfect. Very tiring.

[@BernOtero]

Perfect for you, but it’s a rip off!

[@BernOtero]

You win 100 games and you get “cool down” I mean “rest” while the lower teams stay hot! Phillies are jokes!

[@tbewin1z143]

when an 89 and 84 win teams are in the LCS, the format is far from perfect, you must be a Phillies fan

[@aicofrena505]

There's only a problem with the postseason only if the big teams like the dodgers Yankees Red Sox Cubs don't enter it or don't get to it or fail at it other than that the 26 other teams it wouldn't matter at all

[@vtiger81]

Take the three division winners and one wildcard. Seed them 1 to 4 in each league. The 1 and 4 seeds play, and the 2 and 3 seeds. Make the Divisional Series a best of 3 format. Game 1 at the higher seed, game 2 at the lower seed. If Game 3 is necessary, play at the higher seed's ballpark. Return the League Championship Series to a best of five format. Games 1 and 2 at the higher seed, 3, and 4, if necessary, at the lower seed. A deciding Game 5 at the higher seed. For the World Series, the pennant winner with the best record has home field advantage. Start the playoffs the last week of September, so you run less of a chance in playing in winter like weather.

[@joebarr725]

Two plane flights to play a 3-game series. Brilliant.

[@richardgladstone8975]

I agree that this playoff thing is out of whack. But if the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, and a few other popular teams were in and winning, then there wouldn't be a discussion.

[@doh-nc8ku]

Maybe if the Yankees finish barely .500 like this year, somehow snuck in, and made a run for sure everyone would be FOR changing the format because everyone hates the Yankees 😂😂 You know it, I know it. Manfred knows it but all he sees is “LOOK AT ME 84 WINS IM IN THE NLCS GET THE GEAR”

[@KOrnhOliO1]

It has nothing to do with what teams make the playoffs....5 days of is not wanted by ANY player or team.

[@doh-nc8ku]

@@KOrnhOliO1 Yeah ask any pro hitter, or even any baseball player. Problem is most fans can’t understand that 😂

[@edfulginiti8798]

No! Leave things as they are…it’s fine. No one game knockout…no!!! That’s nuts. But here’s a pipe dream: reduce the regular season by 10 games…to 152. But I know greed won’t allow that. Bottom line: some teams are built for the playoffs…they count! Those games matter! Like my Phillies peak this time of year! Go Phils!

[@simondaughtry4619]

Dodgers pitching is the problem.... 5-6 days off and everybody is crazy... dumb.

[@dloor]

their batting was also completely out of rhythm. Same thing happened to the other 100 win teams like the Orioles and Braves. They shouldn't be penalized for doing well in the regular season.

[@craigcavaliere6744]

2007 NY Giants were a #5, won three road games, and beat the undefeated Pats in the Super Bowl. Nobody complains about that.

[@Franz19970]

Did you even listen to Cotas's argument? Baseball isn't the same as football or basketball

[@vdoggydogg3922]

​@Franz19970 yes..baseball fans are whiny stat nerds

[@catsnchords]

@@vdoggydogg3922 actually many baseball fans today are no different than your average football/basketball fan - low IQ knuckleheads with very short attention spans and no respect for the history of the game.

[@piggy8761]

Football is preparation and effort Baseball is timing and luck That’s why we play 162 to filter out the garbage teams from the actual good teams. The two sports are fundamentally different.

[@an152771]

They're going to add a 3 game series between the top 2 seeds at the same time as the wild card series to get rid of the bye layoff. Why? To determine the 1 seed, money, Manfred is a jackass, take your pick of the reason. But that should fix the long layoff problem.

[@KOrnhOliO1]

The 1 seed is decided by the long marathon 162 game season! The regular season has to have some meaning...and the division winners need to have a HUGE advantage.

[@an152771]

@@KOrnhOliO1 it should be like that, but the MLB has never eliminated games from the schedule, like ever. So the top 2 seeds have some meaning in the regular season. It should bring back balance to an advantage by not having that layoff

[@billwilliams4090]

only reason why people are bitching about the playoff format is because the dodgers lost.... sour grapes

[@shartman3612]

Every other top seed besides the cheaters lost too and its happened both years this format has been in place so actually no.

[@Anthony-dy5cq]

The scheduling is ass. first how can mlb disrespect a division leader by giving them a 3 game wild card series? The brewers grinded thru 162 games to be eliminated in 2 games? Shameful, why have 3 divisions if that's the case? And two what is the deal with giving the 1 and 2 seed a week long break and then playing the all the teams on 1 day and then scheduling them to be off the next and the back on the following day?

[@doh-nc8ku]

DIVISION WINNERS LITERALLY FUCKING GET HOSED BY THE FORMAT IT MAKES NO SENSE WHY WIN THE DIVISION WHEN YOU CAN BE 3 GAMES OVER 500 AND BEAT THE CENTRAL AND THEN YOUR RIVAL IN THE CRAPSHOOT 😂😂

[@vdoggydogg3922]

That division winner could have had a bye if they won more games. So win more games and it's not an issue.

[@doh-nc8ku]

@@vdoggydogg3922 AND THEN THE BYE SUCKS TOO CUZ YOUR ENTIRE TEAM IS COLD FOR GAMES 1 AND 2 AT HOME 😂

[@Anthony-dy5cq]

That's stupid. You get awarded no points,

[@vdoggydogg3922]

Recency bias. If the playoffs are chalk next year you won't hear a word.

[@CASABaJA]

Its all crap! Too many wild card teams. All you need are the 3 division winners and the next best team of the 3 divisions. Than draw for which teams play each other. 3 winners going on to contest Championship and then World Series.