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
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.
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
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.
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 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!
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!
I just read Manfred’s contract expires 2029. Too bad!
The Rockies have acquired outfielder Jake McCarthy from the Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Josh Grosz. Both teams have officially announced the trade.
I am totally against the idea of an in-season tournament. The baseball season is 162 games long. Add in another 20 plus games during spring training. In 25, the Dodgers played a total of 201 games including spring training and the playoffs. That is enough. You increase the chance of injury, and mid-season, that could ruin a pennant run.
The idea they threw around included having less than 162 games so they could have their stupid tournament. What? Some team wins the tournament. Are they going to brag after they lose in the first round of the playoffs that at least they won the in-season tournament? It’s just stupid. It proves how lame the NBA is anymore that people even like something like that. You’re either the world freaking champions or you’re not.
Pro basketball is not worth watching. College is still an exciting game but the NIL is slowly killing that too. No college money, make them go to a sub league, get paid NBA minimum and not waste a slot in college. Duke fans will be on suicide watch but “Oh well “. Tucker or Bichette for a few years and then an option works for me but next year mgt has to start finding a replacement for Max, Freddie, if not sooner. This team is in great shape if those are the only problems we have in the next two years and that’s what scares the shit out of the rest of baseball. We can sit back and watch them bang heads.
Are we younger? Do we need to be? Anybody need a beer? Is thing on?
Are we younger? Not yet. Do we need to be? Eventually Anybody need a beer? Sure, you buying? Is thing on? Maybe
I fhink expansion is a great idea. But which cities? But the postseason playoff is the only tournament we need. That said, the WBC is pretty cool. I’m intrigued by the idea of regional divisions. Not all traditions are sacred….
Constraints don’t seem to apply to the Dodgers, but AF must be working with some kind of budget or guidelines, right?… fRight? A good argument can be made, I think, to spend big on either Tucker or Bichette. I vacillate between the two. But what if the brass covets Skubal more? He’ll probably command a deal over $450 million–after the cost of the talent to acquire him. Perhaps AF is keeping his powder dry
What cities? Nashville Montreal Indianapolis Charlotte OKC Pick 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_population
As soon as the first one signs, they will all sign… Who blinks?
It would be cool, if they did it like European soccer, where all professional teams are involved. From single A to the majors.
Bergman to the Cubs. The Cubs are set to add a standout player to their roster, having agreed to a five-year deal worth $175 million with free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Saturday night. The club has not confirmed the news
per Morosi: Alex Bregman to the Cubs has a number of implications. Shaw or Hoerner being in play could jolt what’s become a sleepy Brendan Donovan trade market. The Giants and Mariners are among the teams that have spoken with the Cardinals on Donovan.
The Cubs thus replace Tucker’s bat. I’m not sure this has serious implications for the Dodgers. But maybe the Red Sox will pursue Bichette. The AAV of $35m over five years for Bregman may serve as a benchmark. Would Tucker take a $40m AAV over 3 years from the Dodgers? Or maybe and AAV of $42m?
Tucker to Giants, I’d imagine.
Why do you say that?
Now that Bregman has signed with the Cubs, the dominoes will start to fall. The Cubs will likely trade Nico Hoerner or Matt Shaw. The Dodgers have interest in both players. Nico is a Brendan Donovan clone, and Matt Shaw is a young, projectable 3B. I would love to see the Dodgers trade for him. How about Teoscar, Bobby Miller, and $5 million for Matt Shaw? He platoons with Max this year and takes over 3B full-time in 2027. Bobby Miller is from Chi Town – maybe they could fix him? It may take another reliever… That sets the table to sign Kyle Tucker to an 8 year/$300 Million deal.
For those that are interested, the International Signing Period starts this Thursday January 15th on Martin Luther King Day. By signing Edwin Diaz the Dodger’s signing pool was reduced by 1 million dollars.The Dodger’s revised signing pool number is $5,679,20 Projected Dodgers Signing Rubel Arias (Dominican Republic, OF): The only projected Dodgers signee among the current top 50 international prospects by Baseball America, Arias is a 17-year-old outfielder. He is an athletic outfielder with good physical projection.