In-Season Tournament: Yes or No?
I read today on MLBTR that there have been some discussions about having an in-season baseball tournament. I see no need for this myself. Isn’t that what the post-season is all about? The best in baseball playing each other? Besides, they already have the WBC once every three…
I read today on MLBTR that there have been some discussions about having an in-season baseball tournament. I see no need for this myself. Isn’t that what the post-season is all about? The best in baseball playing each other?
Besides, they already have the WBC once every three years. Baseball does not need to become more like the NBA. There is talk of expansion to 32 teams, which I see as a need to balance both leagues. They could then split into four-team divisions regionally.
But playing a tournament during the season? Unneeded in my opinion. As long as there are large market teams with virtually unlimited resources, there will not be total parity in the league. Teams like the Dodgers and Yankees, Cubs and Red Sox, will always be able to fill holes better than some others in free agency, and player development.
And they will continue to pay penalties to the rest of the league for doing business that way. Teams in the lower tier of the league, will have to find creative ways to compete. Remember though that the Brewers, who play in Milwaukee, not exactly a huge market, had the best record in the MAJORs last year during the regular season.
Not sure what the future holds, but one thing I do know is that an in-season tournament for MLB teams is not something that I would look forward to. It makes no sense to me at all, especially since it makes the post-season longer. We have the WBC every three years. We don’t need an NBA type game.
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Discussion (82)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I just read Manfred’s contract expires 2029. Too bad!
Go Indiana! I’m an ACC guy! But not a Miami fan! Best story in college football in a long time time! Still not a fan of the portal. But, it has caused problems for the teams that are always at the top! 35-17 Indiana!
The NBA is totally unwatchable! The officiating is a total joke! But the younger generation is watching. The college game is becoming more like the pro game. And if someone or somebody doesn’t do something, they will ruin it too! An inseaon tournament is nothing more than a money scheme to make the billionaire owners even richer. Baseball is the closest thing to a real sport we have left. Maybe when we older generations are dead and gone they will finish the ruination of the game. If it isn’t Manfred , it will be the next guy. I’m sure he has people in his ear all the time. I totally agree that the “ghost runner “ is maybe the dumbest damn thing yet! The throw over rule is close behind. The pitch clock? I can live with that. Although it’s not long enough in my opinion. Getting rid of the rule about the all star game winner getting home field advantage ? Good riddance! But this in season tournament bullshit? Bury that thought quickly! I hope Bichette doesn’t end up in Philadelphia! That’s bad news for the national league if he does! I know the Dodgers won’t give him 300 million. I don’t believe he gets that from any team. But 5 at 40 per year? It might be enough for him to join the Dodgers! With opt outs after 2 years? I’m all in! The Tucker market? Strange. Time is running out for him to get that BIG contract. He may end up getting a deal similar to what the Dodgers offered Harper. You never know!
No on tourney. And I never watched any of the WBC but may do this year because I’m on such a baseball high.
The MLB tournament with 12 participants in October leading up to the World Series is long enough and exciting enough. Thank God Manferd is retiring. One suggestion I would make is put a deadline at the end of the season to December 20th for all free agents for the upcoming season to be signed. and a trading deadline of December 31st.This off season has been total bullshit with NO action and extremely boring.
The ghost runner was bad enough, but time for Manterd to retire! The best World Series ever and what it did for baseball was great. No ghost runners just real baseball. Just give teams like the Reds and the others a little trophy for patisapating
As I am prone to do, I asked AI how fans regarded the NBA “Tournament” Here’s the answer: Fan reaction to the NBA’s In-Season Tournament (often called the NBA Cup) has been a lively grab-bag of opinions — a mosaic of enthusiasm, confusion, apathy, and genuine critique. Here’s the vibe straight from the courtside of social media and fan forums: Positive Chatter • Some fans genuinely enjoy it — saying it makes early-season games feel more meaningful and gives underdogs something fun to chase, especially in months that otherwise feel like a plod through the regular season. • After a title win (like the Knicks’ recent Cup celebration), supporters shared excited reactions and team pride on social platforms. • A chunk of fans think the idea is cool and are into the concept of an extra trophy or spotlight event. Mixed But Curious • Some fans find it interesting or okay — abuzz about group play or the Cup but not totally sold on it as a “big deal.” • Courts and uniforms rolled out for the event have sparked divided opinion, with some fans appreciating the bold designs and others saying they’re too bright or distracting. • A few appreciate the concept but want tweaks (naming, format adjustments, etc.). Skepticism and Backlash • Plenty of fans see the tournament as another gimmick that doesn’t truly matter because all games still count toward the regular season, and the Cup doesn’t carry the weight of playoff hardware. • Some social noise calls it pointless, a distraction, or even “embarrassing” when hyped like a true championship. • A segment thinks players won’t care much, that it feels like forced excitement, and that the prize money isn’t meaningful to average fans. • There are even playful conspiracy threads accusing the league of rigging outcomes in favor of star players or big teams. Larger Perspective The NBA itself points to growing viewership and fan engagement for Cup games compared with typical early-season matchups, indicating the concept may be catching on with at least part of the audience. In short Fans are all over the map — some embracing the novelty and competitive spark, others shrugging or outright rejecting it as unnecessary theatre in an already long season. A handful love aspects of it but want improvements. The tournament hasn’t landed as a universal fan favorite yet, but it’s definitely sparked more conversation than many mid-November regular-season games ever have.