Update

MLB: New CBA allows for postseason expansion (starting in 2012 or 2013), instant replay expansion (pending negotiations with the umpires), and the Houston Astros' move from the NL Central to the AL West effective in the 2013 Season.

UPDATE

MLB moved up their season opener this year to avoid November baseball; they are working on a new CBA which may include instant replay (http://instantreplayinmlb.blogspot.com/) and another game in he postseason (two wild-card teams). Any thoughts? Update (5/1/14): Opener in late March now permanent thanks to the full addition of two wild card games (NL & AL). This is definitely necessary as most sports teams' systems usually get ALL above-.500 teams make post-season. For MLB, this means that team that win 84 games have ~90% chance of making playoffs. Now, should we shorten the reg. season (162 games in 180 days? I say go to 156 games... those are enough games to separate the "men form the boys" w/o significant revenue loss; slightly reduces the injury risk by allowing extra off days and shortening the calendar.

NHL's Olympic break is longer that the All-Star break. What can they do? Update: This year's Olympic break was a lot shorter - started pretty much the day before the first Olympic hockey game. A good move IMO as the Vancouver games' break was too long.

NFL is fine, but should they expand the reg. season in the coming years? Update: CBA provision says that they will have to vote on it. I'm not sure whether I'd vote yes or no if I was a player...

NBA: CBA in progress... we'll see.

First Post

We recall that a few of the games during the 2009 NLDS between the Colorodo Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies were played in cold weather. We recall that the World Series that year between the Phillies and the Yankees went longer than usual - past Halloween. It is now May (2 months into Spring) and the Stanley Cup teams are decided but that series will start on Sunday and end between 6/3 and 6/9.

So, the question to ask is: What can the sports heads (i.e. Commissioners) do to shorten the postseasons? Proposals include shortening the regular season, less games even in the postseason, playing games two days after the teams are decided (like the Flyers-Blackhawks should start tomorrow), number of teams in the postseason should be less, single-game tournaments, etc. Any other creative things?