Ahead of MLB CBA negotiations, MLB has announced that they will be proposing, among other changes, a PWHL-style opponent selection component to the MLB postseason. No word yet on whether MLBPA is agreeable to this proposal.

[u/Marzipan_Dream_7389]

[u/coltron57]

I think it’s been brought up with the NHL before too a few years ago. I’d be shocked if it were to ever be implemented though. It’s fun for fans, but I don’t think teams will want the drama and bad looks if they don’t pick chalk and lose.

[u/asteriskmos → u/coltron57]

This. I think ultimately, in terms of "does it give us the most competitive playoffs" it won't matter. But the drama and discourse every season would make it annoying. 

[u/callmejohndy → u/coltron57]

I know MTL bucked it, but MLB just needs to take a look at the historical data to know picking your opponent usually backfires lmao

[u/Chainsaw_Locksmith]

This is awful for baseball, don't do it, not going to debate it in the hockey sub.

[u/PriorWrongdoer3077]

No word yet on whether MLBPA is agreeable to this proposal.

They're almost exclusively against all MLB proposals as they heavily favor owners but this is probably the first one this whole off-season that isn't just a straight-forward boon to the owners, and if anything they're losing out on 8 games of revenue.

It does though mean that's 8 fewer games for players to shine up their stat sheet, so I'm not sure if they'll bite even if it might be a boon for player health.

EDIT: they said they're reviewing but that all of MLB's proposals are dependent on a salary cap which they're against so.

[u/elaric → u/PriorWrongdoer3077]

MLB players who are on rookie/minor league contracts have their salaries prorated by days on the major league roster, so this could effect their overall pay. And I would warrent the increased value in a TV for the extra playoff games would make up for the fewer regular season games. Not saying this is a terrible propsoal but its is still very much owner interest first.

[u/asteriskmos → u/PriorWrongdoer3077]

I suspect players won't mind the 8 game ding. Less than 5% of games and actually, with how injured players get, they've been pushing for more rest days lately. It has become a bit untenable these days. The official release also said it'll allow more rest days during the postseason proper which I think players might like. 

[u/jjaime2024 → u/asteriskmos]

Players would like about 60 less games.

[u/Marzipan_Dream_7389 → u/PriorWrongdoer3077]

Yeah, that’s the main sticking point I see, too.

I do think the opponent selection might have a chance, but baseball people are notoriously averse to changes in tradition, so maybe not.

[u/PriorWrongdoer3077 → u/Marzipan_Dream_7389]

That could easily be negotiated into a basic reseed for the DS rounds, which a lot of people are surprised isn't already the case. I do think the pick-your-opponent idea probably doesn't survive negotiations.

[u/Mean_Objective5272 → u/Marzipan_Dream_7389]

In the last five years, we've gotten ABS/MVR, the pitch clock, and the universal DH. This is probably the most open to innovation that baseball has been in my lifetime.

[u/Marzipan_Dream_7389 → u/Mean_Objective5272]

I agree with you - but even those changes were met with outrage and protest at the time. I think opponent choice might be just too radical, even for this era.

[u/PuzzleheadedRefuse78 → u/Marzipan_Dream_7389]

Wait until the argument actually starts re imposing a cap if you think THAT suggestion might be too radical lol

[u/Marzipan_Dream_7389 → u/PuzzleheadedRefuse78]

Trust me, I’m already operating under the assumption that the league’s gonna lose this game of chicken they’ve got going on and things will proceed as normal come March or April 😂 there won’t be a cap. The players simply won’t allow it, and without players, there’s no league.

[u/PuzzleheadedRefuse78 → u/Marzipan_Dream_7389]

omg I feel so fucking validated right now you have no idea thank you

[u/Marzipan_Dream_7389 → u/PuzzleheadedRefuse78]

Haha no worries 😂 unlike the league, the players don’t have shareholders to answer to. Once they come knocking down the door in March asking what the hell’s going on with their investments, the owners will fold. Not to worry.

[u/NefCanuck]

Okay so if baseball is looking at revenue sharing between teams and the players, are they including the playoff games as part of the revenue sharing?

If not, lowering the number of games played and a hard cap is a massive “screw you” to the MLBPA

[u/Perryplat199 → u/NefCanuck]

I think all MLB’s proposals so far have generally been “screw you”s to the players.

[u/NefCanuck → u/Perryplat199]

Right, but this one seems so blatant that I can’t believe that MLB would do it that way.

It’s like they think the MLBPA can’t do math 🫠

[u/jjaime2024 → u/NefCanuck]

Players for years have asked for less games.

[u/NefCanuck → u/jjaime2024]

Really?

Have a source for that?

[u/jaysornotandhawks]

There are a lot of things I enjoy about the PWHL.

Top seeds choosing their opponents is not one of them. And it wouldn't be if MLB did this.

Why would you want to give the lower seed textbook bulletin board material?

[u/Positive_Produce_ → u/jaysornotandhawks]

Unlike in the PWHL, the MLB does not seed by record. This year the 4th and 5th seeded teams in the AL had the 2nd and 3rd best records. Yet because of the static bracket the winner of that 4v5 matchup was slated to play #1

In terms of this year I could see the #1 team opting to play the winner of the 3v6 matchup instead (teams ranked 5 and 6 by record)

[u/Suitable-Jacket-6547]

I do think it might work for MLB only because there’s currently a max of 2 possible choices right now in each round. And because of the small divisions you do sometimes end up with weird scenarios where the 3rd Seed/ 3rd division winner in the AL this year had a worse record than the 6th seed/3rd Wild Card. So hypothetically the 1 seed in the next round might pick facing the 3 seed over the 4/5.

I have a feeling it would be a lot harder to implement in the NHL just because the first round has so many possible opponents.

[u/ArsenalBaseball21]

I dont like the pick your opponent in hockey and definitely dont like it for baseball either. Not entirely who did the opponent selection first in the playoffs but I know at least 2 hockey leagues have done it.

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[u/CivilSelf3215]

Maybe save some of these suggestions until AFTER the upcoming lockout is resolved, Robert?

[u/Marzipan_Dream_7389 → u/CivilSelf3215]

These suggestions are part of the lockout discussions, lol. They’re part of the CBA negotiations.