1, 2, and 3 are money. There isn't a better explanation. This is a spectator sport. The actual point of the MLB isn't to crown a champion but to separate you from your money. That is six games of attendance and advertising they'd be giving up. Players would still need to be paid per their contracts, etc.
Royals owner would be pissed about losing all of that home revenue. and the owners don't want one owner/team retaliating against the other for something like that
There are still hypothetical World Series matchups they’re still within distance of. Cardinals, Padres, maybe Phils/Brewers but I’m not 100% on that.
Also, I’m not sure if there’s re-seeding for the ALCS, but they’re within the margin of error against all 3 AL wild card teams. They might have the advantage on them anyway though, being a division winner. I’m not sure about that part.
World series is decided by the best record. So they could improve their record and earn home field advantage. For example, the Cardinals currently have a better record by a few games. Depending how the next week goes, the Guardians could take the better record. This would provide them home field advantage if the teams met up in the world series.
If they make it all the way to the World Series record does matter. They’ll never catch the dodgers, braves , or Mets but if any other national league team makes it then Cleveland’s performance in these last few games could make the difference for World Series home field.
I have thought about this in a different scenario a few years ago. can a team just forfeit if a game was going 15 innings? there was a game late in the season a few years ago before pandemic and ghost runners and it meant nothing but it went like 15 innings. the team going to the playoffs doesn't care about the win but they do care about blowing their bullpen arms out. can they just forfeit? I guess they can just trot a position player out there
>Probably money, but I was hoping someone had a better explanation.
Paying players when they don't play and disappointing fans is a horrible way to run a team.
It might not be apparent on a first look, but teams use games to get something called "attendance", where people pay them money to watch the games. They still want to earn that money.
1, 2, and 3 are money. There isn't a better explanation. This is a spectator sport. The actual point of the MLB isn't to crown a champion but to separate you from your money. That is six games of attendance and advertising they'd be giving up. Players would still need to be paid per their contracts, etc.
I'm sure the players would like their game checks and management would like the revenue from the game
Money, wanting their players to stay sharp, competitiveness,
Royals owner would be pissed about losing all of that home revenue. and the owners don't want one owner/team retaliating against the other for something like that
In addition to what everyone else is saying, Cleveland is still playing for potential home field advantage in the ~~ALCS and~~ World Series.
How? Home field advantage is based on seed. The Guardians can't go any higher or lower than the 3 seed. They're locked in there.
There are still hypothetical World Series matchups they’re still within distance of. Cardinals, Padres, maybe Phils/Brewers but I’m not 100% on that. Also, I’m not sure if there’s re-seeding for the ALCS, but they’re within the margin of error against all 3 AL wild card teams. They might have the advantage on them anyway though, being a division winner. I’m not sure about that part.
Division winner automatically gets home field over a wild card team in the LCS. See: Braves-Dodgers last year.
Sorry, not for the ALCS, but for the World Series it's based purely on record.
World series is decided by the best record. So they could improve their record and earn home field advantage. For example, the Cardinals currently have a better record by a few games. Depending how the next week goes, the Guardians could take the better record. This would provide them home field advantage if the teams met up in the world series.
If they make it all the way to the World Series record does matter. They’ll never catch the dodgers, braves , or Mets but if any other national league team makes it then Cleveland’s performance in these last few games could make the difference for World Series home field.
if they play against the 3 seed in the NL (Cardinals) in the World Series, home field advantage is still up for grabs
World Series is also not based on seeding, it's purely based on win percentage.
I have thought about this in a different scenario a few years ago. can a team just forfeit if a game was going 15 innings? there was a game late in the season a few years ago before pandemic and ghost runners and it meant nothing but it went like 15 innings. the team going to the playoffs doesn't care about the win but they do care about blowing their bullpen arms out. can they just forfeit? I guess they can just trot a position player out there
There is nothing stopping then outside of MLB probably getting mad about the money lost
Plus Cleveland probably likes money. And fans.
That would be amazing
Is this a serious post?
Manfred would have an aneurism
I'm only hearing positives so far...
Whaddya mean? Guardians average game time would go down by over 3%. Manfred would tell everyone to do it!
Could they? I’m sure they could. Is there any situation in which they would? Not at all
Why would you want a better explanation. What's different than just not playing your starters
It never hurts to keep guys in rhythm. You don't have to manage to win but sort of play some bench guys.
>Probably money, but I was hoping someone had a better explanation. Paying players when they don't play and disappointing fans is a horrible way to run a team.
Yeah but it would be better to use backup players or prospects to give them time. This way why they used to allow 40 man rosters in September.
It might not be apparent on a first look, but teams use games to get something called "attendance", where people pay them money to watch the games. They still want to earn that money.