Master Index of Archived Threads


Schedule of the Future

G-Fafif Mar 12 2022 08:01 AM

Jayson Stark breaks down the format that will take effect in 2023. Yes, the 2023 schedule will cut back on rivalry games. And in their place, teams will play an NBA-like schedule that involves facing all 29 other clubs, including every one of the 15 in the other league. Here's a breakdown: DIVISION GAMES (56): Clubs play all four teams in their division 14 times. (Current total: 19) So that means one three-game series and one four-game series each, both home and road. OTHER 10 LEAGUE OPPONENTS (60): Those non-division teams within your league? You'll play them six times apiece — three at home, three on the road. (Current total: six or seven apiece) INTERLEAGUE SCHEDULE (46): Here's how this works: Every team plays its interleague “rival” (Mets-Yankees, Cubs-White Sox, you know the deal) four times — two at home, two on the road. (Current total: four or six games, depending on the season) As for the other 14 teams in the opposite league, you'll play three games against every one of them. Half are at home. Half are on the road. Then that will flip the following year. So if you miss Mike Trout in your NL city one year, he visits the next year. Get the picture? (Current total: three or four games each versus either four or five nonrival interleague opponents) https://theathletic.com/3178572/2022/03/11/stark-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-many-mlb-schedule-changes-in-2022-and-2023/

Edgy MD Mar 12 2022 08:16 AM Re: Schedule of the Future

Designated rivalries live. Boooooo.

Willets Point Mar 12 2022 09:12 AM Re: Schedule of the Future

Personally I find the designated rivalries the only reason for interleague play to exist. Is there anyone who cares when the Orioles play the Giants or the Pirates play the Twins? Of course, regional realignment would preserve the matchups people care about while making interleague play unnecessary.

Edgy MD Mar 12 2022 09:29 AM Re: Schedule of the Future

People who care when the Orioles play the Giants — Little Leaguers who wear the brand of an out-of-town team from the other league, expatriates of one town now living in the other, roadtripping fans who are excited to visit a new town, baseball fans getting a rare chance to see that one terrific player on a team in the other league. I saw a US map of preferred baseball teams by county. Did you know that Clinton County, KY is crazy for the Chicago White Sox? And Hampton County, SC can't get enough of the Pirates? I don't know what there is to do in Daggett County, Utah, but when they run into each other on the street, they talk about the Orioles! God bless those fans!

Fman99 Mar 12 2022 10:11 AM Re: Schedule of the Future

More swings out west. More games where I go to sleep with a 0-0 in the 3rd inning kind of deal. So BOOOOOO to that. Otherwise, sure, play the Mariners, Royals, whatever dumbass name the Indians have now. Do that.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 12 2022 10:14 AM Re: Schedule of the Future

14 games against division opponents instead of 19 isn't TOO bad. I was afraid that the schedule would be even more "balanced" than that.

Frayed Knot Mar 13 2022 07:17 PM Re: Schedule of the Future

What this accomplishes is to make each team's sked very close to equal with those of their in-division opponents [no more NYM vs NYY x 6 while WAS gets six cake-walks vs BAL] and closer to equal to that of other teams in their league and I suspect that was the main intent. Of course schedules used to be identically equal within each league before they went and 'fixed' stuff to the point where they decided it now needs major fixing but that's a lot of Budweiser under the bridge. Just about everything else in it suxx, partly, as noted, for the increase in out of time-zone games (not just every third year but every year) but also as the reduction of in-division games goes from just under 50% (76/162) to barely over 33% (56/162) it increases the likelihood that a division (or two) gets won by a sub-.500 club. But mainly they're spreading the sauce too thin. You don't have to be Keith bemoaning the lack of seeing a pitching staff two and three times per year like in 'the old days' to know that baseball is best when the viewers know not only their own team but have at least a decent familiarity with the other side as well. Football fans intently watch games in which they can't name ten players on both rosters combined but baseball doesn't work that way so I don't think they're accomplishing whatever it is they think they're accomplishing. Bud Selig kept selling the idea of inter-league games as if they were somehow in addition to intra-league games rather than instead of them. This just doubles down on that same logic.