Post Season Changes Agreement

Sounds fine to me. And thank goodness the two leagues came to an agreement - two different systems would have been absurd.

I look forward to more details (length of series, any home advantage etc.).

If only it started this year.

As Yakulto said, at least the two leagues will have the same system. That was the biggest absurdity.

The playoffs should provide some extra buzz in September and October.

But of course they've now created a new absurdity in that the Nippon Champion may end up being neither of the League Champions. I just hope all these "champion" teams don't all end up having victory parades and causing traffic jams all over Japan.

I can only see this as a positive change. It's finally going to give teams in the CL a chance to continue playing through the post season rather then wait to be blown away like Hanshin was last year.

In an ideal world, I'd like to see one league of 12 teams (and more when franchises become profitable, hopefully through NFL/NHL type partnerships between ownership and players association), and a separate cup championship, a la football (soccer). Along with an interlocking schedule with the Korean and Taiwanese leagues. OK, enough pipe dreams for now.

But realistically, this is a pretty good arrangement.

My comment above should have read as follows:

"That was the biggest absurdity - having different systems for each league."

As said above, now at least the two leagues have the same system. However, also as said above, I hope that there isn't a situation where neither of the League Champs win the Nippon Series, and still have a parade, as that would be useless.

Awesome and about time.

But just imagine what a great pennant race PL fans would be enjoying right now had they not instituted these playoffs.

This should be a down-to-the-wire battle with two games separating three teams, but instead the playoff spots were decided with a month left to play.

That's always the trade off. You can either have an exciting post season, which a lot of fans like, or an exciting winner take all pennant race, which a lot of fans like also. However, you can't guarantee that all the time you will have a good race.

But it's still a great race. The home field advantage plus the layoff for the first placed team is still worth fighting for.

As Jim Allen reported in his "the Hot Corner" column today:

"This is like the playoffs," Hawks slugger Julio Zuleta said after his five RBIs beat the Lions at Invoice Seibu Dome on Monday. "These guys [the Lions] are going out to win, so you've got to play hard. Everyone is giving 100 percent all the time. It makes you play better."

Actually, the one win "advantage" that the first place team receives in the Second Stage of the playoffs is so great that it's definitely worth fighting for, just like when the first place was a guaranteed ticket to the Japan Series. The 1 win advantage makes it about 20% more likely that the first place team advances to the Series than before.

Anyways, you can't point at a sample size of 1 (this season) and say that the system has failed. Some years first place is locked up in August, other years it's a tight finish for first by 2-3 teams. Because of the advantage system (which will be included in the new PSG), the only situation where the playoff race will be rather "lame" would be something like 1>>2>3>>4>5>6. And it gives a ray of hope (however slight) to teams close to third place (and hopefully bring those fans into the stadiums and in front of TVs).

[Editor Comment: What does the notation in "1>>2>3>>4>5>6" mean? Vaster differences for >> than for >?]

Yeah, that's what I meant. First place being far ahead of second, and third place being far ahead of fourth. Hence eliminating the important playoff spot races.