Best solution/middle-ground for next year IMO is to have 6 teams in each league make the playoffs.
- 3 division winners
- next 3 teams with the best records
- top 2 teams get a bye
- bottom 4 teams play each other in a best of 3
- top 2 teams that had the bye play the remaining 2 teams
Honestly it would be a lot better if they just realigned the divisions entirely. Have the AL and NL be split divisionally by West and East. There's too many problems with teams playing half of their games against s*** teams in a weak division. The schedule should be more balanced overall.
Obviously this wasn’t Montoyo’s idea to only let Shoe pitch 3 innings HOWEVER, it looks like he’s dealing so I think he should get another inning or 2. Take him out before third time through the order though. Ah well. Hope this doesn’t backfire.
You can think whatever you want, but the data says that the 3rd spot is less important (slightly) than the 1-2-4-5 spots.
Many articles but here is just one: https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/3/17/795946/optimizing-your-lineup-by