Is getting a “bye” even a good thing anymore in pro sports?

[RavensNOsGuy]

Sure doesn’t seem that way. It used to be if you had the best record, you went straight to having home field in a 7 game LCS series (pre 1994) or you were playing a wild card team that was starting off the DS same as you (1995-2012). Look at the results today. It’s pretty apparent the winning teams from last week are fresher, ready to go, and confident. 
Not much can be done here or will ever change, but it certainly isn’t the advantage it once was. It’s become the same in the NFL too.

[baltfan]

2 minutes ago, RavensNOsGuy said:

Sure doesn’t seem that way. It used to be if you had the best record, you went straight to having home field in a 7 game LCS series (pre 1994) or you were playing a wild card team that was starting off the DS same as you (1995-2012). Look at the results today. It’s pretty apparent the winning teams from last week are fresher, ready to go, and confident. 
Not much can be done here or will ever change, but it certainly isn’t the advantage it once was. It’s become the same in the NFL too.

It’s an advantage in that you have already advanced to the next round and can’t get knocked out in three.  But I am not convinced it is an advantage against whoever wins the wildcard series. 

[baltfan]

If both Atlanta and the Dodgers lose again, I bet the try to find a way to tweak it for next year. 

[eddie83]

Are you watching the Dodgers game posting this? What a start by ARZ.  
 

Last year the higher seeds in AL won. Have to see how it all plays out. I do like the fact that in MLB the 2 seed gets a bye while in the NFL they don’t.  
 

That said clearly with expanded postseason it does make the regular season less meaningful. I wouldn’t read too much into today though. Also the fact that every series the teams won 2-0 was a help. 

[spiritof66]

I think if you asked the Rays, the Jays, the Marlins, or the Brewers, they would say the bye is a nice thing to have. 

[eddie83]

1 minute ago, baltfan said:

If both Atlanta and the Dodgers lose again, I bet the try to find a way to tweak it for next year. 

Want to go a little out there… Have the top 4 seeds go to a neutral site for 2 games each. You play the other leagues 2 division champs. Reward is home field only if you play them in WS. Your league seeding being a 1-2 does not change. 

[RavensNOsGuy]

3 minutes ago, baltfan said:

It’s an advantage in that you have already advanced to the next round and can’t get knocked out in three.  But I am not convinced it is an advantage against whoever wins the wildcard series. 

Right. A winner no matter how poorly they had been playing prior to the playoffs starting. Really I would prefer they go back to 4 teams, but that is never happening. Should just go to 8 teams at this point, no byes and every series is 5 or 7 games. That would be fairer to the top seeds.

[Can_of_corn]

15 minutes ago, RavensNOsGuy said:

Right. A winner no matter how poorly they had been playing prior to the playoffs starting. Really I would prefer they go back to 4 teams, but that is never happening. Should just go to 8 teams at this point, no byes and every series is 5 or 7 games. That would be fairer to the top seeds.

Would stretch too far into fall.

[Chavez Ravine]

It was never an advantage in terms of vibe, rest, etc. That’s just all BS window dressing gabbing  to  rationalize having a short playoff after a 162 game season.  The benefit, such as it is,  is that you have one less chance of randomly getting kicked off the island.

[eddie83]

1 minute ago, Chavez Ravine said:

It was never an advantage in terms of vibe, rest, etc. That’s just all BS window dressing gabbing  to  rationalize having a short playoff after a 162 game season.  The benefit, such as it is,  is that you have one less chance of randomly getting kicked off the island.

I get what you are saying but I think rest for the pitchers is real. I think it helps the hitters physically. The big issue seems to be replicating hitting. 

[Chavez Ravine]

This has got to be a ratings black hole for MLB so far.

[Chavez Ravine]

3 minutes ago, eddie83 said:

I get what you are saying but I think rest for the pitchers is real. I think it helps the hitters physically. The big issue seems to be replicating hitting. 

Yes, the rest advantage is real. But there seems to be all sorts of other things going on…like the pitching that was carrying you in June is not the same that is carrying you in October. That turnover seems much more than it was even just a few years ago.

[RavensNOsGuy]

15 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Would stretch too far into fall.

Shorten the season to 154 games and start the playoffs a week earlier. Maybe it ends a week later in November still, but does that really matter? Know this isn’t going to ever happen, but just my thoughts.

[Billy F-Face3]

It seems like the Houston Astros are the only team who knows how to turn a bye week into a major league advantage and win their first ALDS game.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

Pitching looked alright, but the bats were still cold. I don't see where playing in the wild card round would have made much of a difference. We just need the hitters to heat up and they might have gotten bounced sooner in the wild card.

At least the ALDS goes five games instead of three. The Orioles don't have to win tomorrow, but it's close to as must win as you can get.

Edited October 8, 2023 by OsFanSinceThe80s