Posted by bripat42 on 1/11/2013 9:40:00 AM (view original):
I know it's unlikely ever to change but I've always disliked the combination of a balanced schedule and divisional standings. It's not all that uncommon to see a team without one of the top 6 records in the league make the playoffs or a team that does have one of the top 6 records miss the playoffs. Sure, interleague opponents vary for each division, but that's not nearly enough to make divisions relevant.
I used to dislike the balanced intraleague schedule because it does make divisions less relevant, but there is a downside to an unbalanced, division-heavy schedule.
If you have a team that's tanking, or is consistently a big loser due to an incompetent owner, then the other three teams in that division have an unfair advantage over the rest of the league as they can pad their win totals by virtue of an easier schedule. That would distort the wild-card races.
1/11/2013 3:27 PM (edited)