Bud's Boondoggle - Eight Days in October

Bud Selig dodged a bullet with the way the regular season standings ended. He got the excitement of the chase and divisions clinched on the last day of the season and, as an extra bonus, a one-game playoff between the Padres and Rockies for the wildcard. Which is a good thing for Bud and the boys, because it was conceivable that the closeness of the playoff races was going to require relying on baseball's cockamamie tie-breakers. Fortunately, the possibility of two! "mini-tournaments" was avoided. Maybe next year.

But now comes the latest Bud Boondoggle. I haven't seen this issue covered anywhere else so far but the Washington Post. It's the adjustment in the playoff schedules that gives teams more days off, primarily to avoid running head to head with NFL and college football. (In fact, that is why Game 4 of the Phillies Rockies series is scheduled for 10 pm. To avoid going up against the Broncos.)

Anyway, this Post story has the impact on the pitching rotations. The big effect will allow a teams top 2 pitchers to pitch four of the five games in the series if need be. Says the Post, "Because Fox, baseball's other broadcast partner, wanted the World Series to begin and end in the middle of a week -- when ratings are higher -- the entire postseason was elongated and shifted, with the World Series starting four days later than normal. Game 7 of the World Series, in fact, is the first postseason game ever scheduled in November (not counting the postponed playoffs of 2001). "It almost looks like an NBA schedule," Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. said. "Play a game, take a day off, play two games, take a day off. It's going to be different."

The extra days off, however, are not mere curiosities -- they could have a profound effect on the way the postseason plays out, by concentrating a greater number of starts and innings on a smaller number of pitchers, benefiting teams with two or three excellent starting pitchers and a similar number of excellent relievers. With more off-days in the schedule, those pitchers' standard days of rest won't sideline them for as many games as before."

That's right. Bud Selig is now imitating the much maligned NBA schedule. Remember when basketball fans and commentators started noticing - and complaining - about how long the playoffs were, especially the first round series' that took two weeks! to complete. Well Bud thought it such a "good" idea he's brought it to baseball. Thanks, Bud!

In fact, Thomas Boswell lays out the worst case scenario - and something to remember as all four NLDS series have the potential to end in three games.

"If baseball's scheduling crapshoot rolls snake eyes, it will be a public relations disaster. And there will be plenty of idle off days to pillage the sport. In fact, there won't be anything else to do, except to ask Manny Ramirez if he still remembers the names of any of his teammates. So, I saved the bad news for last.

With its new schedule, baseball is rolling the dice. If too many playoff series are wrapped up too quickly, this October could become a wasteland of off-days that stand as a testament to TV-ratings greed. How bad could it get? Theoretically, baseball could face eight straight idle days before Game 1 of a World Series that does not even begin until Oct. 24th.

The new format can be quickly summarized. The best-of-five division series are spread over a maximum of eight days (assuming no rain). That's one more day than in the past and is probably sane. The World Series, if it ever starts, will have its usual rhythm -- a best-of-seven series in a maximum of nine days, ending Nov. 1, if it doesn't snow.

However, to make the games fit the best-possible TV-ratings dates, the new structure for the LCS has been stretched by two days with every team getting three off days before a Game 6, far more than any team needs. From Oct. 16 through Oct. 19, Tuesday through Friday, there's only one game per night, maximum. Why? TV ratings, ad money and, maybe, new fans.

If both LCS go six or seven games, few will notice and many will applaud. But if neither series goes more than five games, somebody better buy Commissioner Bud Selig a suit of body armor. In that scenario, the game lies idle for five days before the Series. If both LCS are sweeps, then you get the eight-off-day plague."

Eight days in October. I can hardly wait. But I may have to regardless.