New ideas on playoff structure.

Combining some of my previous ideas on restructuring MLB playoffs here are some new ones that might actually appeal to MLB decision makers. One objective is to reward the teams with the best regular season records. Currently all playoff teams are treated as equals. They do not deserve to be, so that should change. Achieving a better record over the 162 game regular season deserves more reward than a possible third home game in the five game division series. The Yankees in 2009 won 17 more games than their opponent Twins. The Yankees should get much more than that one extra home game. They should get a bye. The only reason these silly playoff rounds exist is for MLB to make more money. OK, but the structure should be much more fair.

Eliminate the stupid wild card.

1. Reduce the number of divisions from three to two, east and west in each league; 7 or 8 teams in each division and play many more games in division.

2. Increase the number of playoff teams 50%, from four in each league to six, three in each division.

3. Reward the team with the best record in division with a bye, i.e., it does not play in the preliminary series.

4. Have teams 2 and 3 in each division play a three game preliminary series; game one in the home park of team 3, games 2 and 3 in the park of team 2.

5. In the five game division series, play game one in the park of the winner of the preliminary three game series; play the remaining four games in the park of the team with the best regular season record, i.e., the team that already won the division in the 162 game regular season.

After that it's pretty much the same as now. Don't want to be too radical here. This structure has these advantages over ideas being tossed around:

1. The regular season remains 162 games with the owners squeezing every last penny out of it.

2. More teams qualify. More money. More money.

3. It is more fair and easier to understand.

4. Geographic concentration would boost rivalries, reduce travel time and cost, and reduce time zone differences.