More Playoff Issues

At least on the bright side, both leagues now have a playoff system, and hopefully we can prevent the slug fest that happened in last year's Nippon Series, where the Tigers were outscored 33-4.

Plus, playoffs also bring in extra TV revenue, and are exciting for the fans, too. While yes, the playoff system might not be perfect, I'd rather not watch another 33-4 slug fest again either, due to Hanshin sitting around not playing.

To inter-league play, the CL wants to cut back on inter-league play because CL teams don't play the Giants and Tigers as much, which are their key sources of revenue. Right now, any team that isn't the Yomiuri Giants or Hanshin Tigers has no business model in the CL. This is why the CL wants to cut back on the amount of inter-league games.

I think it's a great idea. I don't know about the playoff system so much, but it doesn't sound too bad to me. But everyone else complains about it, being a Swallows' fan, if it was this year they would be playing Hanshin, I'm guessing, to playoff against Chunichi. Tell me if I'm wrong, but isn't that way more exciting than just sending Chunichi to the Japan Series? I just wish it was this year while I was still in Japan.

- ... isn't that way more exciting than just sending Chunichi to the Japan Series?

You betcha!

Surely it's going to be more exciting.

Right now Chunichi are more than likely to win the pennant race, therefore the excitement level of fans in the CL has dropped down I suppose, and people are focusing more on where the teams will be finishing in the PL. It's still a tight race between Softbank and Seibu, while Nippon Ham is looking more likely to be the third team in the playoffs - with Marines' downfall since the all-star break.

We've had topics about the playoff system before, so I guess I won't need to go further in on it. But I'd think there should be playoff system for both leagues.

I wish the 36 game inter-league was maintained, with the inter-league schedule be broken up into two 18 game parts. Because all 36 inter-league games were played in one batch, it seemed to go on for a very long time for some people.

Anyways, the usual agreement via compromise was reached, and I don't think a 2 and 2 home and away inter-league schedule is bad thing. Still, there are only 12 teams in NPB, so a more interlocking schedule would be more interesting.

As for the CL playoffs emulating the PL playoffs, I guess they aren't going to be crossing over the leagues during the post season any time soon.