What If?: Wildcards

[Clay]

Just for fun... OK... just due to boredom... I threw this together real quick to show where we would be in the season right now if we were using a Wildcard System.

This is assuming that a total of 4 teams made it from each league with the Wildcard going to the next two best records not automatic slotting (e.g. 1st and 2nd Place from each division).

It's amazing to think how much different people would be handling transactions right now with so many more teams in the hunt.

Results:

Domestic League Standings

Maine Guides (61-31 0.663) - Ale Division Leader
Denver Bulls (53-38 0.582) - Lager Division Leader
Pittsburgh Millers (49-41 0.544) - DL Wildcard 1
Los Lunas Javelinas (48-45 0.516) - DL Wildcard 2
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Hartford Whalers (46-45 0.505) - 1.0 GB
Hyundai Dinos (46-47 0.495) - 2.0 GB
Sin City Gamblers (41-49 0.456) - 5.5 GB
Dallas Snappers (40-53 0.430) - 8.0 GB
Syracuse Slammers (37-54 0.407) - 10.0 GB
Pawtucket Patriots (32-60 0.348) - 15.5 GB

Import League Standings

Carolina Tobs (65-28 0.699) - Bock Division Leader
Wilmington Wildcats (56-35 0.615) - Stout Division Leader
Davenport Brawlers (54-36 0.600) - IL Wildcard 1
Windy City Playboys (55-38 0.591) - IL Wildcard 2
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Baltimore Bulldogs (52-40 0.565) - 2.5 GB
Washington Bats (47-45 0.511) - 7.5 GB
Los Alamos Bandits (45-46 0.495) - 9.0 GB
Virginia Colonials (37-53 0.411) - 16.5 GB
Philadelphia Freedom (32-59 0.352) - 22.0 GB
California Wildfire (20-73 0.215) - 35.0 GB

[Guest]

Sigh. It'd definitely change the way I went about things.

[Sully]

Good thread.

I know we wouldn't be seeing so many teams trying to ditch players right now, as a lot of them would still be in the hunt for a playoff spot. I guess that's why I'm in favor of expanding the playoffs. It seems like some middle of the pack teams are constantly rebuilding year-after-year, when they'd be right in the mix for a wildcard if it existed. It'd make the last few weeks of the season pretty exciting.

[Clay]

Yeah... that's what got me thinking about it.

All these teams seem to already be in firesale mode. But, by the numbers above... really only 5 teams are really, really out of it (pretty much)... if we had Wildcards now.

[Clay]

NOTE: I'm not suggesting or in anyway complaining about not having Wildcards. Just made this for fun....and boredom.

[Riverman]

Good thread.

I know we wouldn't be seeing so many teams trying to ditch players right now, as a lot of them would still be in the hunt for a playoff spot. I guess that's why I'm in favor of expanding the playoffs. It seems like some middle of the pack teams are constantly rebuilding year-after-year, when they'd be right in the mix for a wildcard if it existed. It'd make the last few weeks of the season pretty exciting.

That is the way it is this year but it could easily have the opposite effect. You might have four teams with good records, two each per division, and the end of the season would be a drag because all four teams would already know they are in.

[Sully]

Good thread.

I know we wouldn't be seeing so many teams trying to ditch players right now, as a lot of them would still be in the hunt for a playoff spot. I guess that's why I'm in favor of expanding the playoffs. It seems like some middle of the pack teams are constantly rebuilding year-after-year, when they'd be right in the mix for a wildcard if it existed. It'd make the last few weeks of the season pretty exciting.

That is the way it is this year but it could easily have the opposite effect. You might have four teams with good records, two each per division, and the end of the season would be a drag because all four teams would already know they are in.

Well, yeah, but I'm speaking about this year. Take a look at the list, Hartford, Hyundai, and Dallas would all be within 8 games of a playoff spot with about 70 to play. In today's BLB, all 3 of those teams are looking to trade away players with about 70 to play. Over in the IL, Davenport is in full firesale mode, but would currently be sitting on a Wildcard spot. Baltimore would only be 2.5 back, with Washington 7.5 back. Both of those teams are currently looking to trade talent away, with about 70 to play. Windy City said he's going to keep his roster the same. No need to sell, but no need to add because he doesn't think he'll catch Carolina at this point. In a few years, he'd be holding on to a playoff spot.

Just something to ponder. Obviously, there's some negatives and positives to expanding. This thread isn't to debate it, just to talk about possibilities.

[Riverman]

Maybe we ought to decide in the middle of the year, say, two weeks before the trade deadline. Come to think of it, why not start this year? I could always trade the prospects I've just aquired for some BLB ready talent.

[Clay]

I think the WC Gameplan is already set in stone and is a good one (after the 2nd expansion). This thread was not to open up that can of worms, just to mess around with.

[Sully]

I think the WC Gameplan is already set in stone and is a good one (after the 2nd expansion). This thread was not to open up that can of worms, just to mess around with.

I agree, Clay.

My replies were essentially what the thread title indicates..."What Ifs?".

[Clay]

Exactly. I think WC with 20 teams is a little much. But, I really look forward to 24 teams with the Wildcards in play. Drama well into the final weeks (most years).

[robster1225]

I agree, this is interesting, especially this year.

I do find it strange that some teams are in "firesale" mode even though they are 10 games or less back. Anything can happen, but I know there are more factors than just wins/losses, such as age and money. Wildcard spots would have certainly changed that, but I'm not sure if that would be a good thing or a bad thing.

So, do you guys think any of those fringe teams (Los Lunas, Hyundai, Pittsburgh, Hartford, Windy City, Davenport, Baltimore) have a chance to make a run at the division?

[Squint]

This just goes to show that expansion and wild cards are probably a good thing. We've all been so worried about owner turnover but wildcards give more teams a chance to make the playoffs and likely keeping owners around that previously thought they didn't have a chance to compete.

[Clay]

UPDATED AFTER SIM 16:

I've added a stat after the games back to indicate movement in this sim. Positives (+) indicate a move up in the standings or a reduction in the games back. A Negative (-) is the numbers of games you lost in the race for the last wildcard. I know that may seem backwards... but you get the point.

Domestic League Standings

Maine Guides (65-33 0.663) - Ale Division Leader
Denver Bulls (57-41 0.582) - Lager Division Leader
Pittsburgh Millers (53-44 0.546) - DL Wildcard 1
Los Lunas Javelinas (51-49 0.510) - DL Wildcard 2
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Hartford Whalers (49-48 0.505) - 0.5 GB (+0.5)
Hyundai Dinos (48-52 0.480) - 3.0 GB (-1.0)
Sin City Gamblers (46-51 0.474) - 3.5 GB (+2.0)
Dallas Snappers (43-57 0.430) - 8.0 GB (0)
Syracuse Slammers (41-57 0.418) - 9.0 GB (+1.0)
Pawtucket Patriots (34-65 0.348) - 16.5 GB (-1.0)

Import League Standings

Carolina Tobs (68-32 0.680) - Bock Division Leader
Wilmington Wildcats (62-35 0.639) - Stout Division Leader
Davenport Brawlers (59-38 0.608) - IL Wildcard 1
Windy City Playboys (60-40 0.600) - IL Wildcard 2
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Baltimore Bulldogs (54-44 0.551) - 5.0 GB (-2.5)
Washington Bats (52-47 0.525) - 7.5 GB (0)
Los Alamos Bandits (48-50 0.490) - 11.0 GB (-2.0)
Virginia Colonials (40-57 0.412) - 18.5 GB (-2.0)
Philadelphia Freedom (33-65 0.337) - 26.0 GB (-4.0)
California Wildfire (21-79 0.210) - 39.0 GB (-4.0)

As you can see... it was a far better sim for the field in the DL... while the leaders in the IL stretched their leads.

[Clay]

UPDATED AFTER SIM 17:

Domestic League Standings

Maine Guides (68-35 0.660) - Ale Division Leader
Denver Bulls (61-44 0.581) - Lager Division Leader
Pittsburgh Millers (57-47 0.548) - DL Wildcard 1
Los Lunas Javelinas (55-50 0.524) - DL Wildcard 2
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Hartford Whalers (52-51 0.505) - 2.0 GB (-1.5)
Hyundai Dinos (51-54 0.486) - 4.0 GB (-1.0)
Sin City Gamblers (48-55 0.466) - 6.0 GB (-2.5)
Syracuse Slammers (44-60 0.423) - 10.5 GB (-1.5)
Dallas Snappers (44-62 0.415) - 11.5 GB (-3.5)
Pawtucket Patriots (36-68 0.346) - 18.5 GB (-2.0)

Import League Standings

Carolina Tobs (70-35 0.667) - Bock Division Leader
Wilmington Wildcats (67-36 0.650) - Stout Division Leader
Windy City Playboys (64-42 0.604) - IL Wildcard 1
Davenport Brawlers (61-42 0.592) - IL Wildcard 2
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Baltimore Bulldogs (58-45 0.563) - 3.0 GB (+2.0)
Washington Bats (55-49 0.529) - 6.5 GB (+1.0)
Los Alamos Bandits (50-55 0.476) - 12.0 GB (-1.0)
Virginia Colonials (44-60 0.423) - 17.5 GB (+1.0)
Philadelphia Freedom (35-69 0.337) - 26.5 GB (-0.5)
California Wildfire (22-83 0.210) - 40.0 GB (-1.0)

***

In this scenario... the DL Leaders did nothing but put distance on the field... while over in the IL, WC jumped into the #1 WC spot and the entire Stout Division made a small push.

Enjoy.