Great news! No need for drastic scheduling upheaval!

[Reg]

So, it was quickly discussed at the end of the winter meetings that there might be concern that a 13 SL / 13 IL split might create an impossible scheduling situation, since there would always be a team in each league not playing on any given night. The dreaded "I-word" (inter-league) was brought up.

Well, it just so happens that schedule-making is one of my OOTP side-projects!

I am here to reassure everyone! No need for inter-league play! We can keep the traditional scheduling format!

I spent the last few days trying to create a new, one-off scheduling structure that would preserve PEBA's league-only format. As of this afternoon, I can confirm that all 2107 PEBA games fit into that new format, so, crisis averted!

A few notes:

- No, inter-league play will not need to be implemented.
- Teams will have a chance to play all the other teams in their league, in each team's park.
- Yes, every ~13 series or so, a team will have 3 days off, along with sporadic days off in between. But, if you look below, you will see it is not all that disruptive.
- The season's length was more or less preserved. Instead of the 182 days of the previous season, the upcoming season will be 1 week longer (189 days). It will stretch from April 1st to October 6th.

To show you an example of what this new schedule will look like, I have attached a provisional schedule for the brand-new San Juan Coqui !

(Again, I still need to do some data checking to make sure I didn't slip any errors in there, but it is quasi-official).

[roncollins]

Cool. Will the mean we'll need to change service year lengths going forward?

[Reg]

It can perhaps be tweaked, but if anything, it would be minimal.

Previously it was 172 days vs. a 182 day season.

We can set it at 178 if we want it to be more or less proportionate (on a 189 day season).

[roncollins]

It's better for the players to leave it where it's at, I suppose.

[Borealis]

Well, because someone has to be the devil ('s advocate) multiple 3-days off create a potentially severe competitive disadvantage for teams. I'd sure hate to be the team that just is finishing a 20-game stretch, tired bullpen, having to face a team coming off three days off, and the chance to re-arrange their rotation.

That last thought - re-arranging the rotation definitely could create some artificial statistical anomalies...

Let Canton stick to the SL...

[DanD]

Wouldn't that even out in the end? Tired team facing a rested team would end up the rested team after their three days off.

[roncollins]

That probably depends on the rotation. On the whole, I'm guessing the gentleman from Aurora is right, but I'm fine however it goes. It could make things interesting in several ways, good and bad, depending on the situations overall. For example, my guess is that it would make the average bumps and bruises injury a little less impactful, hence help better players play a little more.

If nothing else it's the kind of thing that can be tried for a year and revisted if we don't like it.

The idea of 14/12 is probably workable, too.

Or we could just contract Aurora and Shin Seiki.

[Borealis]

Wouldn't that even out in the end? Tired team facing a rested team would end up the rested team after their three days off.

Maybe... You'd have to study it, but I'd be surprised if it was equitable across the board...

[Zephyrs]

I would like to know how this change impacts service time. With the change, what date would a call-up result in an extra year of service time for free agency?

[Alleghenies]

I like the idea of 14/12 if it is possible.

[Dinosaurs]

I would like to know how this change impacts service time. With the change, what date would a call-up result in an extra year of service time for free agency?

I'm curious about this too, though I think it should be workable otherwise.

[roncollins]

I would like to know how this change impacts service time. With the change, what date would a call-up result in an extra year of service time for free agency?

I'm curious about this too, though I think it should be workable otherwise.

If a year goes from 182 -> 189 days, then the 172 day service year date would be 17 days into the season rather than 10 days. Super 2 would still be in play, of course.

[Zephyrs]

I would like to know how this change impacts service time. With the change, what date would a call-up result in an extra year of service time for free agency?

I'm curious about this too, though I think it should be workable otherwise.

If a year goes from 182 -> 189 days, then the 172 day service year date would be 17 days into the season rather than 10 days. Super 2 would still be in play, of course.

Great, thanks for clarification. It will be interesting to see how the new schedule impacts managing decisions - utility players, bulpen, rotation, etc..

[Wind Dancers]

I'd rather have inter league play than having 3 days off at some points.

If 14-12 is an option, I'd pick that over 13-13 split as well.

[roncollins]

I don't like interleague play much, but if it comes down to it, I guess it's fine. 14/12 is okay. Three days off at 13/13 may or may not be cool. At the end of the day I think we're at the top of the roller coaster hill, and just need to grab on and let the season roll. So I'll just do whatever the board wants.