Anti-"tanking" proposals

[Dumpjerry]

So, this is not really something that would go into the CBA (whenever it is actually done), but it is a common discussion topic. There are some who say tanking does not really happen in MLB because the individual players have too much at stake for themselves to not play at 100% of their skills (free agency value). But, there seems to be strong evidence it does happen (the Manager makes in-game decisions that do not call for the players to take a dive on their skills but rather not do a hit-and-run, or steal a base, etc.)

Today I heard Jayson Starks on the radio with a proposal that makes sense somewhat.

Rather than having the draft order be worst record goes first to the World Series winner going 30th, the non-playoff teams pick in the following order:

First pick: the team that was the closest to making the playoffs
After that, descend to the worst record. Then the playoff teams get their picks.

There are usually several teams that miss the playoffs by one game each year, so a tie-breaker system would habve to be developed.

I like this idea. It creates an incentive to play to win as much as possible for eveyone. If you're the 30th team, you get a low 20's pick. If try hard and get eliminated on the last day of the season, you have a shot at Number One.

If a team is in the hunt for the playoffs and has a team or two nipping at its heels in late September, they are not going to tank to get a first pick overall. Only an idiot would pass up the chance to be in the World Series. There have been enough Wild Card teams who went to the World Series to make it a realisitic goal to the teams that have not locked up a playoff spot early on.

[voodoochile]

So, this is not really something that would go into the CBA (whenever it is actually done), but it is a common discussion topic. There are some who say tanking does not really happen in MLB because the individual players have too much at stake for themselves to not play at 100% of their skills (free agency value). But, there seems to be strong evidence it does happen (the Manager makes in-game decisions that do not call for the players to take a dive on their skills but rather not do a hit-and-run, or steal a base, etc.)

Today I heard Jayson Starks on the radio with a proposal that makes sense somewhat.

Rather than having the draft order be worst record goes first to the World Series winner going 30th, the non-playoff teams pick in the following order:

First pick: the team that was the closest to making the playoffs
After that, descend to the worst record. Then the playoff teams get their picks.

There are usually several teams that miss the playoffs by one game each year, so a tie-breaker system would habve to be developed.

I like this idea. It creates an incentive to play to win as much as possible for eveyone. If you're the 30th team, you get a low 20's pick. If try hard and get eliminated on the last day of the season, you have a shot at Number One.

If a team is in the hunt for the playoffs and has a team or two nipping at its heels in late September, they are not going to tank to get a first pick overall. Only an idiot would pass up the chance to be in the World Series. There have been enough Wild Card teams who went to the World Series to make it a realisitic goal to the teams that have not locked up a playoff spot early on.

Could create a lottery similar to the NBA also making it less likely the worst team picks first.

[Lipman 1]

The owners have proposed a three team lottery to get the overall #1 pick this past week to the MLBPA among other proposals.

[Dumpjerry]

Could create a lottery similar to the NBA also making it less likely the worst team picks first.

Apples and Oranges. The NBA system rewards being a crappy team since the lowest seeds in NBA playoffs are usually wiped out in the first two rounds. Much lower chance of being the title winner in the NBA if you're the last team in. BEtter to take a dive and get the top talent for next year.

More significantly, the MLB draft is unique in that the First Round picks typically have less than a 1% chance of being in The Show within two years. NFL and NBA First Round picks are almost always on the big team's roster Opening Day of their first season with the organization. Usually, the only thing that keep a first rounder off the Opening Day roster in the NFL or NBA is an injury.

[voodoochile]

Apples and Oranges. The NBA system rewards being a crappy team since the lowest seeds in NBA playoffs are usually wiped out in the first two rounds. Much lower chance of being the title winner in the NBA if you're the last team in. BEtter to take a dive and get the top talent for next year.

More significantly, the MLB draft is unique in that the First Round picks typically have less than a 1% chance of being in The Show within two years. NFL and NBA First Round picks are almost always on the big team's roster Opening Day of their first season with the organization. Usually, the only thing that keep a first rounder off the Opening Day roster in the NFL or NBA is an injury.

Excellent points.