The One Game Playoff

I find it interesting that baseball had a one-game post season playoff yesterday to determine which team makes it into the next one-round playoff game. Ludicrous, but interesting. The dumbest idea that baseball has EVER come up with is that they added an extra wildcard team so that both could play each other ONCE, to see which team finally gets to play with the division winners.

Tampa Bay had to use their BEST pitcher yesterday to make it to the playoffs. They need to use their second best pitcher on Wednesday to continue in the playoffs. I just think that any series less than three games makes no sense. I also think it forces teams to wear out their aces before the real playoffs begin. That places the  wild card winner at a decided disadvantage when the playoffs start. They've have scheduled the wild card winners first REAL playoff game later this year, so at least that helps.

Speaking of playoffs, the NFL has decided to add an additional wild card team to the mix as well, possibly as early as NEXT season, but that has not been agreed on by the owners yet. Originally I thought, NO!!!!!! But after hearing their reasoning, I actually like the idea for several reasons.

First of all, it would reduce the preseason by ONE game. So that we'd have one less useless pathetic game to watch. Secondly, the season could then start a week earlier. My favorite reason is the format they came up with.

With seven teams from each conference, it would mean that there would be only ONE team getting a bye the first week of the playoffs instead of two. That means the team with the BEST record is the only team that gets to sit out one game. That means that the last game of the season might be a MUST win game for every team trying to get into the playoffs. No more resting your first team the last week of the season knowing you've got a bye wrapped up. Unless of course you are way better than every other team in your conference by at least two game margin. It's smart and I like it.

That would be SIX games the first week of playoffs. I really like that. The NFL will be adding fan interest and revenue while getting rid of a worthless preseason game.

This is change I can embrace. And having one more slot open for a good team in each conference is a good idea. I hate idea that a 6-10 team may slip in some year, but we've already add a 7-9 team make it so it won't be that much worse. Come to think of it, that 7-9 team was a division WINNER. Teams with better records did NOT make it that year. This will actually reward good teams from better divisions.

I believe it's win, win. I'll have to see if any flaws develop in the idea as time goes on.