1986 PROPOSALS

PROPOSAL #1 – ELIMINATE DIVISIONS – PROPOSAL FAILED 14-5

Since winning a divisional title will not guarantee home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs (the current structure takes the best 4 records of the 2 divisions combined and the teams with the 2 best records host the 1st round of the playoffs) , I propose we eliminate the 2 divisions in each league, thus causing a balanced schedule against opposing teams.

Reason for the Proposal – Each league would maintain 10 teams, however instead of playing more games against teams in your division and less games against teams in the other division, you would play each team 18 times. (thus maintaining a 162 game schedule), and create 10 different place finishes.
The top 4 teams in each league, would qualify for the playoffs. 1st would host 4th, and 2nd would host 3rd in a best of 7 series in the first round of playoffs. LCS host would be determined by the highest “seed” remaining and would also be a best of 7 series.  Playoff series would work as follows 2 – 3 – 2.

This new alignment (10 teams in each league with no East or West divisions), would still keep a “pool’ of 4 playoff teams per league, but ensures more true place finishes, because ALL THE TEAMS PLAY AGAINST EACH OTHER AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF GAMES. The current structure of 2 divisions in each league means that teams in a weak division have an unfair advantage of gaining more victories than a team in a stronger division DUE TO THE UNBALANCED SCHEDULE OF, 28 GAMES AGAINST DIVISIONAL OPPONENTS, 10 GAMES AGAINST THE OTHER DIVISION OPPONENTS. This current schedule structure is too lopsided to be considered a fair balance of competition. By eliminating the divisions and having each team play each other 18 games (9 home, 9 away), provides a more fair balance of competition. Plus, it also eliminates the UNREALISTIC 7 GAME SERIES we now have. Each series would now be a 5 or 4 game format. The 5 or 4 game format makes it a lot easier on the visiting manager to prepare his team for that week.

Proposed by – Hank Konkel – Washington Past Timers